The XXVII Autumn Music Festival “Alkagran” took place in Czechowice-Dziedzice, Poland, from September 30 to October 5, 2024. The festival featured a variety of concerts, including:

• A concert dedicated to Józef Świder’s works, titled “Concert for Youth” marking the 10th anniversary of the composer’s death.
• A recital by Radu Ratoi featuring transcriptions.
• A performance by the Groomy Bellows Quintet, presenting Andrzej Krzanowski’s Studies (I-V).
• A Conversation-Concert, “Poetics of Music,” where previous competition prize winners Jagoda Krzemińska-Chałupka, Przemysław Chałupka, Dawid Kosiński, and Krzysztof Polnik performed pieces by Paweł Sławiński Annunaki, Paweł Kruczek Lumen (world premiere), Volodymyr Runchak It was so (world premiere), and Krzysztof Penderecki Sinfonietta for Accordion.

During the festival, the XIII International Accordion Competition took place, featuring two categories: solo and chamber music.

Competition Results:

Soloist Category:

• 1st place: Dawid Rydz
• 2nd Equal : Shixian Zhao and Maciej Ochwat (pictured below)
• 3rd place: Łukasz Skubisz
• Distinction: Krzysztof Madyda

Chamber Music Category:

• 1st place: Duo Bukojemska (violin) and Majchrowski (accordion)
• 2nd place: Duo Chlap (flute) and Wajdzik (accordion)
• 3rd place: THREEK TRIO (Kacper Kaczmarek, Kacper Batycki, Krzysztof Polnik – accordions)
• Distinctions: KAT TRIO, Accordion Quartet (Music Academy in Katowice), BASZAK & KOSIŃSKI DUO

Special Awards:

• Best Interpretation of Andrzej Krzanowski’s Composition: Dawid Rydz (Four Bagatelles), Łukasz Skubisz (Sonata di Concerto), Shixian Zhao (Larghetto), Accordion Quartet (1st Accordion Quartet).
• “Creative Music” Prize for Chamber Music Performance: Duo Chlap (flute) and Wajdzik (accordion) for TARA VALKONEN’s “PLAY II – SPRINGTALES.”

The jury for the competition included prominent figures such as Prof. Dr. hab. Klaudiusz Baran, Prof. Vladimir Blagojević, Prof. Dr. hab. Marcin Bortnowski, Prof. Dr. hab. Bogdan Dowlasz, Prof. Geir Draugsvoll, Prof. Dr. Maciej Frąckiewicz, Grażyna Krzanowska, and Dr. Janusz Pater, who served as the jury’s secretary.

The festival once again demonstrated its commitment to celebrating accordion music and fostering new talent, offering a platform for both established musicians and rising stars in the accordion world.