On 23 May 2026 the Ignacy Paderewski Music School Complex in Białystok hosted the final of the 5th Podlasie Violin Competition for pupils of first- and second-level specialist music schools. For the second year running, Fundacja Via Sonoria had the honour of co-organising this special event, which has become a fixture in the calendar of musical initiatives in the Podlasie region.
This year’s edition brought together young violinists from many towns in north-eastern Poland, including Białystok, Suwałki, Augustów, Ełk, Giżycko, Olsztyn and Olecko. The competition had two rounds – the first held online on 11–15 May and the final auditions on 23 May in Białystok.
Performances were judged by a professional jury chaired by Prof. Stanisław Kuk, with Prof. Małgorzata Skorupa and Dorota Obijalska, MA. The jury praised the participants’ high artistic level, musicality and interpretative sensitivity. The Grand Prix went to Diana Magdalena Sidoruk of the Ignacy Paderewski Music School Complex.
The prizewinners represented many music schools in the region; among them were:
- Liliana Fedorov and Emilia Misiak – first prize in Group I,
- Anita Gąsiewska and Hanna Wnuk – first prize in Group II,
- Aleksander Kamiński – first prize in Group III,
- Tomasz Sertel – first prize in Group IV.
Fundacja Via Sonoria is proud to support initiatives that develop young artists and promote the region’s musical culture. This year’s competition showed once again how much potential and passion young musicians from Podlasie and the whole of north-eastern Poland have.
We thank all the participants, teachers, parents, jurors and partners for creating this special musical celebration together.
Special thanks go to the Marshal’s Office of the Podlaskie Voivodeship for supporting the competition and for its consistent support of cultural and educational initiatives in the region. It makes it possible to create space for young talent to grow and to strengthen Podlasie’s musical identity.
