In the finals, Pawlak, 24, performed Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Anna-Maria Helsing.
The Pole was awarded a cash prize of EUR 30,000.
Bogdan Dugalić of Serbia won second prize, and David Munk-Nielsen of Denmark placed third.
The Maj Lind Piano Competition was attended by 29 contestants selected from among 270 candidates. The event was organised by the Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts in Helsinki.
Pawlak’s victory was hailed by the Finnish daily Helsingen Sanomat with the headline “A mathematician at the keyboard,” a reference to the fact that before graduating from the Music Academy in Gdańsk, northern Poland, he earned a degree in mathematics.
Pawlak told reporters: “Mathematical logic helps me control my emotions on the concert platform." He added that even though he continued to deal with mathematics he was hoping to build a career as a pianist.
Pawlak has performed in many European countries, China and the United States, and is a prizewinner of several international competitions, including those in Budapest, Darmstadt in Germany, and Beijing.
He also has several International Mathematical Olympiad medals to his name.
(mk/gs)