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Rafal Blechacz - Polish pianist. Born on June 30th, 1985 in Nakło nad Notecią, Poland. In October 2005 he unanimously won the 15th International Frederic Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw (second prize has not been awarded). He also won three special prizes: the Polish Radio award for best performance of the mazurkas, the Polish Chopin Society award for best performance of the polonaise and the Warsaw Philharmonic award for best performance of the concerto. He is also the winner of the best sonata performance award founded by Krystian Zimerman.

He began his piano tuition at five. He attended the Artur Rubinstein State Music School in Bydgoszcz and now he's continuing his studies at the Feliks Nowowiejski Conservatory in Bydgoszcz with professor Katarzyna Popowa-Zydron.

The young artist has won many awards and distinctions by participating in piano tournaments, festivals and competitions worldwide. Among them were: Second Prize at the 5th International Young Pianist Competition in Hamamatsu, Japan (2003, first prize has not been awarded); First Prize at the 4th International Piano Competition in Morocco (2004); First prize and all non-statutory distinctions for best mazurkas, polonaise and concerto performance at the 15th International Frederic Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw (2005). It is also worth noting his participation in the 36th Polish Pianist Festival in Slupsk (laureate of the Young Pianist Awards, 2002) and his appearance in the prestigious International Chopin Festival in Duszniki Zdroj (2004).

Since the triumph in the Chopin International Piano Competition, he has been giving many concerts. Highlights of Mr. Blechacz's latest season included a tour to Japan with Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra under Antoni Wit, two performances at Grand Hall of Moscow Conservatory - recital (February 2006) and concert with the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra under Valery Giergiev (May 2006), and many performances in Philharmonics in Poland.

Artist's debut CD recording has been published in August 2005 by CD Accord, Poland. The disc contains piano music of Schumann, Liszt, Debussy, Szymanowski and Chopin and has received a very warm welcome of critics worldwide.