KU News Release

KU piano student wins top prizes in two symphony contests

Graciella Kowalczyk

LAWRENCE — University of Kansas piano student Graciella Kowalczyk recently won first place at two regional competitions and earned an opportunity to perform with the orchestras sponsoring the contests.

Kowalczyk, a doctoral student in piano performance, earned the $400 first prize in the Jefferson City Symphony Concerto Competition in February and an invitation to play with the symphony at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, at Richardson Auditorium on the Lincoln University campus in Jefferson City, Mo.

In March, her performance won the $500 first-place award in the Philharmonia of Greater Kansas City Concerto Competition. She will perform her winning piece, Chopin’s “Fantasy on Polish Airs,” at the Philharmonia Season Finale Concert. The concert will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 20, at the Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel on the campus of Park University in Parkville, Mo. The finale showcases the winners from each of the competition’s four divisions: piano, string, woodwind and voice.

Born in France and raised in Poland, Kowalczyk is studying in KU’s School of Fine Arts with Jack Winerock, professor of piano. She previously studied at the Chopin School of Music in Warsaw, Poland; Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, Russia; Texas Christian University in Fort Worth; and Park University. She has appeared in concerts and recitals as a soloist in more than 15 countries and on four continents.

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