The festival is organized by the Culture and Art Foundation (Fundacja Kultury i Sztuki) to mark the 85th anniversary of the death of Ignacy Jan Paderewski – pianist, composer, statesman and philanthropist, who died in New York on June 29, 1941. The gala recalls a man who used his fame and talent not only for art but also for the common good. We first previewed this year’s edition in October: “Paderewski Returns to New York”: Gala Concert Marks 85 Years Since Paderewski’s Death.
When and where is the “Paderewski Returns to New York” gala?
The gala begins on Saturday, November 14, at 6 PM in Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 W. 67th Street, between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. The evening is subtitled “Music, Stories & Glamour of Old New York.”
Paderewski and Old New York
New York holds a special place in Paderewski’s life. It was here that he triumphed as an artist, built ties with Polish Americans and the wider American public, and took part in social and charitable work. He also used his international standing to speak up for Poland and the Polish people. The organizers want to take the audience back to an era of elegant salons, grand stages and gatherings of the artistic elite, when Polish culture met New York’s musical and social world.
What is on the program?
The program pairs Polish and European music into a portrait of Paderewski’s era, with works by Frédéric Chopin, Stanisław Moniuszko, Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Mieczysław Karłowicz, Maurice Ravel, Charles Gounod and George Frideric Handel; the festival poster also lists Franz Schubert.
Premiere: “Paderewski, The Legacy Lives On – In Paderewski’s Footsteps, New York Then and Now”
A highlight of the evening is the premiere of a new documentary that follows the artist through the city, shows New York through his eyes and looks at how much of his presence remains in the city today. The trailer is already online:
Who are the 2026 Young Paderewski Ambassadors?
As part of the festival, students took part in the “Young Paderewski Ambassadors” competition on the theme “What does Ignacy Paderewski’s story mean for my generation?” The organizers wanted Paderewski to inspire young people to reflect on responsibility, service to the community, courage and attachment to their own heritage. From several dozen entries, the competition jury selected 18 winners, who will be introduced at the gala:
- Nicolaus Copernicus Polish School, Mahwah, NJ: Gabriela Pytel, Anna Markiewicz, Agata Rojek, Maksymilian Gaska
- St. Faustina Polish Supplementary School, Ozone Park, NY: Lukas Maleszewski, Mikołaj Paparoussopoulos, Anna Paparoussopoulos, Leon Nicpon
- Zbigniew Herbert Polish Supplementary School, Copiague, NY: Julia Sikorski, Gabriela Szczech, Paulina Piela
- Henryk Sienkiewicz Polish Supplementary School, Brooklyn, NY: Matthew Kiciński, Dawid Niedźwiecki
- St. Stanislaus Kostka School of Polish Language and Culture, Garfield, NJ: Gabriela Szacka, Linda Daniszewski
- St. Stanislaus Kostka Polish Supplementary School, Wallington, NJ: Julia Gurdak
- Maria Konopnicka Polish Supplementary School, Yonkers, NY: Łukasz Wójcik
- American school student: Natalia Drezek
In the organizers’ words, the students’ passion and knowledge are the best proof that Paderewski’s legacy is still alive.
Patrons and partners
The festival is held under the honorary patronage of Ambassador Krzysztof Szczerski, Permanent Representative of Poland to the United Nations; Mateusz Sakowicz, Consul General of the Republic of Poland in New York; the Ignacy Paderewski Center in Kąśna Dolna – the only surviving Paderewski residence in the world; and the Polish Museum of America.
Festival partners: Steinway & Sons, the Polish Army Veterans’ Association of America (SWAP), The Sembrich – Marcella Sembrich Foundation, Polish American WE, the Józef Piłsudski Institute of America, the Polish Cultural Institute New York, the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America (PIASA), the Maria Skłodowska-Curie Professional Women’s Association, the Polish & Slavic Center, Apteka Markowa and the Polish Music Information Centre POLMIC. Media patrons: TVP Polonia, Dziennik Polonijny, Dziennik Związkowy, White Eagle, Tygodnik Plus, Kurier and Super Express US.
The project is co-financed by the Senate of the Republic of Poland as part of its 2026 support for Polish communities abroad.
Paderewski Gala 2026 at a glance
- When: Saturday, November 14, 2026, 6 PM
- Where: Merkin Hall, Kaufman Music Center, 129 W. 67th St. (between Broadway and Amsterdam Ave.), Manhattan
- Program: Chopin, Moniuszko, Paderewski, Karłowicz, Ravel, Gounod, Handel; premiere of “Paderewski, The Legacy Lives On”; 18 Young Paderewski Ambassadors
- Tickets: online at the Kaufman Box Office, phone (212) 501-3330, email [email protected]; the poster also lists Polonia Bookstore, 882 Manhattan Ave., Greenpoint, phone (718) 389-1684
- Organizer: Culture and Art Foundation / Fundacja Kultury i Sztuki
The Polish supplementary schools behind this year’s ambassadors, along with other programs for children, are listed under Schools & Education in the Polish Pages directory.
Get the PolishPages app: App Store and Google Play
Steinway & Sons is a trademark of Steinway & Sons. YouTube is a trademark of Google LLC. Poland.us is not affiliated with or endorsed by these companies.
