South Korea is represented by eight pianists, followed by Japan and China, each with seven entrants.
Poland has six participants, as many as Ukraine, whereas Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Spain, Slovenia, Taiwan, Britain and Italy each have one entrant.
The competition jury is chaired by Polish pianist Piotr Paleczny and includes Poland’s Rafał Blechacz and Vietnam's Dang Thai Son, both of them winners of the prestigious International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw.
The final stage of the Paderewski Piano Competition is scheduled for November 18 and 19. The prizewinners will then perform concerts in Bydgoszcz on November 20 and Warsaw on November 21.
The Paderewski Piano Competition, which is named after the legendary Polish pianist, composer and statesman, was launched in 1961. Since 1998, it has been held every three years, attracting pianists from around the world.
(mk/gs)