Zbigniew Drzewiecki (; 8 April 189011 April 1971) was a Polish pianist who was for most of his life a teacher of pianists. He was especially associated with the interpretation of Frédéric Chopin's works. His pupils include several famous pianists of the 20th century, and his influence was therefore very pervasive.
Biography Drzewiecki was born in Warsaw. He commenced study under his father, and then, at Warsaw, under Oberfeldt and Pilecki. After he had matriculated he went (from 1909 to 1914) to Vienna to the atelier of Theodor Leschetizky, where he studied with Marie Prentner, the master's assistant. He gave many recitals in Polish towns, and also in Vienna, Prague and Berlin.
In 1916 he became professor of advanced pianoforte classes at the Warsaw Conservatory, and continued to teach there until his death in 1971. He assisted in establishing the International Chopin Piano Competition, and served upon their juries from the first occasion, 1927, until 1971. After the Second World War, and especially after the death of Józef Turczyński (1884–1953), he was considered the greatest Polish piano teacher.
Students
The following is an incomplete list of pianists who studied with Drzewiecki:
Ryszard Bakst Enrique Bátiz Campbell Felicja Blumental Walter Buczynski Paweł Chęciński Halina Czerny-Stefańska Jan Ekier Róża Etkin-Moszkowska Kazio (Kazimierz) Gelernter Lidia Grychtołówna Izio Hamerman Adam Harasiewicz Halina Kalmanowicz Władysław Kędra Bolesław Kon Li QiFang Helena Landau Hiroko Nakamura Edward Olearczyk Eva Osińska Regina Smendzianka Marta Sosińska Richard Spira (Ryszard Szpira) (1923-1942) John Tilbury Fou Ts'ong Roger Woodward Eva Maria Zuk Tea Zusman
Orders and Decorations Order of the Banner of Labour 1st Class (1959)'Dziennik Polski', Year XV, No. 172 (4793), p. 9. Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta (April 28, 1955) "for outstanding artistic achievements and merits in organizing the 5th International Chopin Piano Competition." Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (July 22, 1951) "for outstanding scientific activity." Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (November 8, 1930) "for merits in the field of artistic and pedagogical activity."
References
Sources
Bibliography A. Eaglefield-Hull, Dictionary of Modern Music and Musicians (Dent, London 1924). J. Methuen-Campbell, Chopin Playing from the Composer to the Present Day (Gollancz, London 1981). Drzewiecki, Zbigniew. Wspomnienia muzyka. (Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne, Kraków 2010).