Paderewski Festival comes to Paso Robles

In just over a month, the annual Paderewski Festival returns to Paso Robles with four days of concerts and special events. This celebration of the legacy of Ignacy Jan Paderewski, held on November 10-13, will feature internationally renowned performers, young pianists from the Central Coast region, master classes, wine tastings and a special lecture on Paderewski.

In the mid-1930s, Paderewski expressed a wish to establish free music education for talented youth in Paso Robles, a community where he owned large ranches with vineyards and almond groves. This year’s Festival will again honor Paderewski’s initiative to bring music to fellow Californians by making all concerts during the 2011 Paderewski Festival in Paso Robles free of charge. 

However, as a nonprofit organization, the Paderewski Festival welcomes donations.

A 2011 Friends of Paderewski VIP Pass, which includes the Sunday Epoch Estate Wines vineyard tour, concert and lunch with wine, plus preferred seating at the lecture and all concerts, is available for $150 per person.

The 2011 Paderewski Festival Event Calendar

Thursday, November 10:
• Festival Opening Concert of Polish Music with Cuesta College North County Campus Choir at Vina Robles Winery (3700 Mill Road, Paso Robles).  6 p.m. wine reception with concert to follow at 7 p.m.  Free.

Friday, November 11:
• Master Class with Gala Concert pianist Eduard Kunz at Cal Poly (Building 45, Room 218, San Luis Obispo).  2-4 p.m. Free.
• Polish Jazz Concert with Leszek Mozdzer at Cass Winery (7350 Linne Road, Paso Robles).  6 p.m. no-host wine reception with concert to follow at 7 p.m.  Free.

Saturday, November 12:
• Paderewski Lecture with History Professor Kenneth Marcus at the Paso Robles Pioneer Museum (2010 Riverside Road). 11 a.m. Free.
• The 2011 Youth Piano Competition Winners’ Concert at Paso Robles Inn Ballroom (1103 Spring Street, Paso Robles).  4 p.m. Free.
• The 2011 Paderewski Festival Gala Concert with Eduard Kunz at Paso Robles Inn Ballroom. 8 p.m. Free.

Sunday, November 13:
• Historic Paderewski Vineyard & Estate Tour, Jazz Concert and Lunch Fundraiser.  Tour at 10 a.m. at Epoch Estate Wines (541154 Vineyard Drive, Paso Robles); Lunch at 12 p.m. followed by concert at 1 p.m. at Epoch Estate Wines Tasting Room (7505 York Mountain Road, Templeton).  Admission from $125-$135; concert free.

 RSVP: To accommodate the highest possible number of concert-goers, Festival planners strongly suggest making reservations by visiting the website at www.paderewskifest.com, e-mailing info@paderewskifest.com, or calling (805) 769-4622. Otherwise, seating will be on a first-come basis.

 by Sasha Irving, Studios on the Park

 

Studios on the Park is a non-profit open studios art center in the heart of historic downtown Paso Robles! The center has a total of nine studios with 40 working artists and two galleries.