Zofia Anna Olesik is the only Pole among the 12 violinists competing for the awards.
The other contestants come from China, South Korea, the United States, Germany and Italy.
Born in 2005, Olesik is a student at the Ignacy Jan Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań. She has participated in masterclasses with Anne-Sophie Mutter, Julia Fischer, Midori and Vadim Gluzman. This year, she received a grant from the Anne-Sophie Mutter Foundation.
The third stage begins on Saturday, with contestants expected to perform one of four compositions: Mikołaj Górecki’s Concerto-Notturno, Op. 13; Andrzej Panufnik’s Violin Concerto; Pēteris Vasks’ Vox Amoris: Fantasy for Violin and Strings; or Mieczysław Weinberg’s Concertino, Op. 42.
They will be accompanied by the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra.
Six contestants will advance to the fourth stage.
The prizewinners will be announced on October 22.
The first-prize winner will receive EUR 60,000, along with a range of career-development opportunities. Many special prizes will also be awarded, as well as the audience prize.
The 10-member international jury is chaired by Polish violinist Bartłomiej Nizioł, who won the 1991 Wieniawski Competition.
The Wieniawski Competition is the world's oldest international violin competition, according to its organisers.
It was first held in Warsaw in 1935 and moved to Poznań after a 17-year hiatus. It has been held in Poznań since 1952, usually every five years.
Past winners have included David and Igor Oistrakh, Ida Haendel, Ginette Neveu, Agata Szymczewska and Veriko Tchumburidze.
Henryk Wieniawski, the Polish virtuoso after whom the competition is named, was a child prodigy who entered the Paris Conservatory at age 8.
He is widely regarded as one of the greatest violinists of the 19th century after Niccolò Paganini. He died in 1880 at the age of 45.
Henryk Wieniawski (1835-1880). Image: Polona/Public domain.
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