2025 in Review
It has been a banner year for the Chopin Foundation. From the successful presentation of the 11th National Chopin Piano Competition hosted by the University of Miami Frost School of Music in January, to witnessing two of our American winners earn top medals at the International Competition in Warsaw in October, there have been one milestone after another. And all in celebration of the first US Chopin Competition in 1975!
The 11th National Chopin Piano Competition
January 4 - 12,2025
It was an exhilarating start to the year! It is impossible to sum up the excitement and musical talent that converged at the University of Miami from January 4 - 12. Twenty-three Contestants brought their A-game to the “Olympics of the Piano,” and Chopin’s music delighted the audience in the concert halls, where both days of the Finals were sold out. The livestream was hosted by Ben Laude (host of The Chopin Podcast), whose engaging commentary and interviews with contestants have been viewed 385,000 times. The Chopin Foundation is grateful to the wonderful Jurors who had the very difficult assignment of selecting the winners. The impeccable Maestro Ramon Tebar led the fine musicians of the National Chopin Piano Competition Orchestra through six exhilarating concerto performances.
We invite you to re-live all the excitement on the Chopin Foundation’s YouTube Channel where all live rounds are available to view!
PHOTOS: Alex Markow
The Season of Winners
February through May, 2026
The Chopin Foundation was delighted to bring the laureates of the 2025 National Chopin Piano Competition back to Florida for a “Season of Winners.” There were even a few surprise guests including Ben Laude who helped us celebrate Chopin's birthday in February. Click on the video links to enjoy the edited livestream performances from the Granada Church CHOPIN for ALL concerts.
February 2025
CHOPIN for ALL
Second Prize winner, Anthony Ratinov gave two excellent performances on February 15 (Fort Lauderdale) and February 16 (Coral Gables.
Anthony’s performance featured a variety of solo pieces, including waltzes, nocturnes, preludes, impromptus, mazurkas, and the Polonaise-Fantasy.
February 15, Granada Church, Coral Gables
CHOPIN in Key Biscayne
Ben Laude got to wear his concert artist hat to celebrate CHOPIN’s Birthday at the Annual CHOPIN in Key Biscayne concert. Ben’s music was interspersed with enlightening commentary and there was even birthday cake for everyone after the performance.
February 23, Key Biscayne Community Center
March 2025
CHOPIN for ALL
Seventeen-year-old pianist Nathaniel Zhang, Third Prize and Best Concerto Prize winner of the 11th National Chopin Piano Competition, presented a thoughtful and stylistically varied program of Chopin works.
March 9, 2025 Granada Church, Coral Gables
CHOPIN Salons
On March 23 the CHOPIN Salons welcomed William Yang, the First Prize winner of the 11th National Chopin Piano Competition. William’s award package included a concert tour that took him from Sanibel to Minneapolis and from Virginia to Alabama - and Carnegie Hall! He ultimately reached the grand stage in Warsaw, where he was awarded the 6th Prize at the International Chopin Piano Competition in October.
March 23, 2025 Miami Beach Woman’s Club
APRIL 2025
CHOPIN for ALL
Angeline Ma, Fourth Prize Winner of the 11th National Chopin Piano Competition, appeared in the Chopin for ALL free concert series. Representing emerging American talent, Ma performed works that highlighted both Chopin’s expressive depth and her own musical maturity.
April 6, 2025 Granada Church, Coral Gables
CHOPIN Salons
On April 27, the CHOPIN Salons presented Eric Lu, the internationally acclaimed American pianist. Ten years earlier, Eric made his Chopin Salon debut as the first-prize winner of the 9th National Chopin Piano Competition. It has been inspiring to witness his growth. In October 2025 the whole world watched as Eric’s dream of winning the International Chopin Piano Competition came true. Congratulations, Eric!
April 27, 2025 Miami Beach Woman’s Club
May 2025
CHOPIN for ALL
William Ge earned the 5th Prize at the 11th National Chopin Piano Competition and was invited back to Florida for the final CHOPIN for ALL free concert of the Season of Winners. His Sunday concert at the Granada Church was the most well-attended, with over 500 people in the audience.
May 17, 2025 African American Research Library & Cultural Center, Fort Lauderdale
The New Season Launched in November!
November 8, 2025 Master Class at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center, Fort Lauderdale
November 9, 2025 Granada Church, Coral Gables
CHOPIN for ALL
Jonathan Mamora was the first pianist of the new season and is having a great year. In March he won first prize at the Hilton Head International Piano Competition and in June was one of only four American pianists selected to the 2025 Cliburn International Piano Competition. Four local pianists were treated to a master class with Jonathan on November 8 in Fort Lauderdale. His musical knowledge was on full display as he deftly engaged each of the young musicians in an exciting learning experience. He then thrilled audiences with two well-attended and profound performances.
CHOPIN Salons
On November 23, the Chopin Salon invited acclaimed pianist Ian Hobson and violinist Andrés Cárdenes for a chamber music program at the historic Miami Beach Woman’s Club. Hobson is a laureate of the first National Chopin Piano Competition, and Grammy-nominated Cárdenes, a celebrated violinist, offered an intimate afternoon of exceptional repertoire.
November 23, 2025 Miami Beach Woman’s Club
Founder and President Lady Blanka Rosenstiel and pianist Ian Hobson shared fond memories of the first US Competition in 1975.
December 2025
CHOPIN for ALL
Tim McKay is the young American pianist who won the MTNA Young Artist Piano Competition in March of 2025. Audiences enjoyed two impressive concerts, and both venues were beautifully decked out for the holidays.
December 6 AARLCC, Fort Lauderdale
December 7. 2025 Granada Church, Coral Gables
The Chopin Podcast - Season 2
And The Opus Index
What began as a four-month project leading up to the 2025 National Chopin Piano Competition grew into fourteen months of content spanning Chopin’s vast musical universe.
Click on any of the above episodes to watch one of the Chopin Podcast videos from Season 2. OR you can watch ALL of the Chopin Podcast videos from BOTH Seasons HERE. When Chopin Foundation Executive Director Barbara Muze invited Ben Laude to host the 2025 National Chopin Piano Competition, he said, “Sure, on one condition: we produce the Chopin Podcast together in the months leading up to the Competition.” Barbara instantly saw the logic behind this, and knowing Ben’s knack for producing engaging content, the Chopin Podcast was born. And then it took on a life of its own. Who knew that Ben would subsequently be invited also to host the Chopin Talks at the International Chopin Competition in Warsaw?
The Opus INDEX
The Chopin Foundation was pleased to indulge Ben Laude’s creative vision for the Chopin Podcast, which released its final episode on October 5th, just as the International Chopin Competition was taking flight. As a companion piece to the Podcast, the Opus Index is where you can discover the complete works of Frédéric Chopin, explore his compositions, learn about his life, and dive deep into the world of classical piano music. Simply browse by timeline or genre, and go straight to the specific piece you’d like to explore.
A Final Note
The results of the International Chopin Competition saw two American pianists on the winners' podium: Eric Lu with the first prize win, and William Yang earning the sixth prize. It has been an exhilarating year, albeit somewhat exhausting!
We are looking forward to 2026, which promises more memorable musical moments. We wish everyone a happy, healthy, and rejuvenating New Year!
Barbara Muze and Ben Laude at the International Chopin Piano Competition, Warsaw October 2025