Polish Teen Wins Eurovision Young Musicians 2016

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COLOGNE: This year’s Eurovision Young Musicians competition for classical musicians between the ages of 11 and 19 was won by Łukasz Dyczko, an 18-year-old saxophonist from Poland.

The final round of the biennial contest took place on September 3 at the Roncalliplatz in Cologne, Germany. It was broadcast live in 10 of the 11 participating countries by European Broadcasting Union (EBU) members WDR in Germany, HRT in Croatia, CT in the Czech Republic, MTVA in Hungary, PBS in Malta, NRK in Norway, TVP in Poland, SMRTV in San Marino, RTVSLO in Slovenia and SVT in Sweden. The program will air on Austria’s ORF on September 11.

The 11 finalists performed their pieces live in front of an audience of around 2,000 people. They were then judged by five world-renowned musicians: cellist/conductor Jonathan Cohen, trumpet soloist Tine Thing Helseth, tuba player Andreas Martin Hofmeir, pianist Alice Sara Ott and the 1988 Eurovision Young Musicians winner, violinist Julian Rachlin (jury chair).

Dyczko, who has been playing the sax since he was 10 years old, performed Rhapsody pour Saxophone alto by André Waignein. He received a prize of €10,000 and the chance to perform with the WDR Symphony Orchestra. Prizes were also awarded to second and third placed pianist Robert Bílý from the Czech Republic and double bassist Dominik Wagner from Austria.

Dyczko commented: “I really didn’t expect this. I don’t have a plan now I’ve won, it was such a surprise. Being in Cologne was a great experience, it was incredible to me and I’ve made many friends. Thank you to all the people who have supported me.”

Jean Philip De Tender, EBU’s media director, added: “Previous winners of Eurovision Young Musicians have gone on to huge success in the classical world. This edition of the competition shows, once again, that public service media is providing an international platform to the best young classical talent. WDR created an exciting and fresh show and we wish Łukasz well in his future career.”

Eurovision Young Musicians 2016 was co-produced by the EBU and Member Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR).