Seifert Competition 2026

His friends called him the man of light, and Tomasz Stańko described him as a national treasure. ‘Zbigniew Seifert was an extraordinary man, which is why we see the competition named after him as an event that is set to change the way jazz is perceived,’ says Aneta Norek-Skrycka, curator of the Seifert Competition. Held every two years, this event is aimed at improvising string musicians – violinists, violists and cellists – and since 2014 it has attracted artists from all over the world, becoming a place where new talents on the jazz scene emerge. The jury has selected ten instrumentalists from six countries to take part in the final auditions of the seventh edition of the event. Throughout the three-day competition, they will be accompanied by the trio led by pianist Dominik Wania, this year’s winner of the Fryderyk Award in the Jazz Artist of the Year category. The performances will be judged by a jury comprising Trilok Gurtu, Miroslav Vitouš and Markus Stockhausen, and the audience will be able to watch the auditions at Cricoteka and online. The winner of the audience award will also be chosen via an online vote. (Karnet 6/2026)