Ladies and Gentlemen,

Tis is already the seventh edition of the International Music Competition dedicated to an outstanding Polish composer coming from our city. Michał Spisak was a very ambitious and talented man. He achieved great success despite many health problems. It was the support of his loved ones and his great determination that helped him. He proved that talent backed by hard work bring the best results. His success had an international range. Organising this competition we would like to commemorate and pay tribute to the composer’s great talent. In addition, we o er young people an opportunity to display their skills and to meet another artistic challenge.

Years ago, when we decided to expand the range of the competition, we did not expect that Dąbrowa Górnicza would be visited by young people from the whole world. is is wonderful that this year’s competitors include brilliant musicians not only from Poland but also from
China, Korea, Ukraine, Russia, the USA, Germany, Great Britain or Holland. For many of them, participation in our competition may become an onset of a fantastic career, others already have many successes to their credit. is will be great pleasure to watch their artistic rivalry.

I invite all music lovers to Bazylika NMP (Basilica of the Holy Virgin Mary) in Dąbrowa Górnicza for an Inaugural Concert and Laureates’ Concert nishing the music rivalry when the best musi- cians of this year edition are to be known. Both concerts, as well as auditions taking place at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice are open to the public.

I wish successes and unforgettable moments to our guests, competition participants and I invite you to visit our city again!

Zbigniew Podraza
Mayor of Dąbrowa Górnicza

The Michał Spisak International Music Competition in Dąbrowa Górnicza has already become a permanent and important address for young musicians from many countries in the world who wish to enter into a noble artistic rivalry. Today some of the laureates of previous editions are already renowned virtuosos, o en winning other competitions. is undoubtedly conrms an increasing prestige of the musical struggle in Dąbrowa Górnicza as well as the right choices of the Jury.

String instrumentalists: violinists, violists and cellists will enter into the artistic rivalry this year. With a large number of applicants, also from abroad, the competition seems excitingly promising. Musical literature for these instruments is very diverse, reaching the depths of expression but also virtuosity. is o ers the listeners an opportunity to delight in the works of the highest order and compared with young people’s skills they become unquestionably another look on the works from previous eras from the perspective of the 21st century. Such a scene may be very interesting. Likewise previous years, this year there are also compositions specially written for the Spisak competition. They have been created by an outstanding Silesian composer – Prof. Jan Wincenty Hawel. Again the literature of string instruments will be enriched with new pieces.

Auditions of all the three rounds will take place at the Academy of Music in Katowice, similarly to the previous year. You are therefore invited to this part to our Academy.

We are happy that there will be the subsequent competition; that thanks to Dąbrowa Górnicza; that there is such abundant response from young people from so many countries.

I wish all the participants an artistic ful llment on the stage, the jurors right choices and stamina and the audience a lot of emotions and pleasure resulting from listening to young people full of enthusiasm.

prof. Tomasz Miczka
Rector of the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music In Katowice