The other semifinalists come from Russia (three pianists), China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Ukraine and Italy.
A total of 45 pianists from 15 countries, including seven Poles, entered the competition when it began last Monday.
Pacholec, 21, is a student of the Music Academy in Katowice, southern Poland.
In the semifinals on Tuesday and Wednesday, the pianists will be accompanied by the Capella Bydgostiensis chamber orchestra conducted by Kai Bumann.
The competition's international jury, chaired by eminent Polish pianist Piotr Paleczny, includes Lilian Barretto (Brasil), Manana Doijashvili (Georgia), Janina Fialkowska (Canada), Vladimir Ovchinnikov (Russia), Ying Wu (China), Yukio Yokoyama (Japan) and Polish pianists Zbigniew Raubo and Waldemar Wojtal.
The prizewinners will be announced on Saturday.
Launched in 1961, the Paderewski International Piano Competition in Bydgoszcz is now in its 11th edition.
Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941) was one of the most outstanding figures in modern Polish history. The legendary pianist and composer was also a prominent statesman and one of the architects of the country’s independence, which it regained in 1918.
(mk/gs)