Tribute to Leonard Bernstein
Closing Concert of the Austin Polish Film Festival
The 2026 Austin Polish Film Festival will conclude with a unique concert celebrating the artistic legacy of Leonard Bernstein and one of the most remarkable stories in the history of Polish-American musical collaboration.
The evening is inspired by the extraordinary relationship between legendary American conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein and internationally acclaimed Polish pianist Marek Drewnowski. After hearing Drewnowski’s recording of Domenico Scarlatti’s sonatas, Bernstein invited the young pianist to perform with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood. Their collaboration continued with another historic performance conducted by Bernstein during the internationally televised concert commemorating the 50th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II.
Nearly four decades later, Marek Drewnowski returns to these unforgettable experiences in a concert that combines music, history, and personal memories.
The program will present two generations of distinguished Polish pianists. Marek Drewnowski will perform works by Frédéric Chopin, while his son, Michał Drewnowski—an internationally acclaimed concert pianist and Professor at the Chicago College of Performing Arts, Roosevelt University Michal Drewnowski—will perform music by outstanding Polish composers whose careers were closely connected with the United States, including Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Alexandre Tansman, and Józef Hofmann. Michał will also guide the audience through a conversation with his father, sharing the remarkable story of Marek’s artistic collaboration and personal friendship with Leonard Bernstein.
The evening will conclude with both pianists performing celebrated works by Leonard Bernstein for four hands, creating a musical tribute to one of America’s greatest artists.
More than a concert, In Tribute to Leonard Bernstein is a journey through music, memory, and history—a celebration of artistic excellence and the enduring cultural dialogue between Poland and the United States.
MAREK DREWNOWSKI
Marek Drewnowski is one of Poland’s most distinguished pianists. He gained international recognition when Leonard Bernstein invited him to perform with the Boston Symphony Orchestra after hearing his recording of Domenico Scarlatti’s piano sonatas. He later appeared with Bernstein again during the internationally televised concert marking the 50th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II.
Since then, Marek Drewnowski has performed in many of the world’s leading concert halls across Europe, the United States, and Japan. His extensive discography includes acclaimed recordings of works by Chopin, Scarlatti, Weber, Tansman, and Szymanowski, and he has devoted many years to recording the complete piano works of Fryderyk Chopin.
A celebrated educator, conductor, and cultural leader, he is the founder and president of the Joseph Hofmann Foundation, founder of the Chopin Soloists Orchestra, and director of the J. Hofmann and I.J. Paderewski Festivals. He has taught at leading music institutions in Poland and abroad and currently serves as Professor at Hacettepe University Ankara State Conservatory in Turkey.
His artistic achievements have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Orpheus Award, Chopin’s Passport Award, the Gloria Artis Medal for Merit to Culture, and the Grand Prix du Disque Frédéric Chopin.
MICHAŁ DREWNOWSKI
Michał Drewnowski is an internationally acclaimed Polish concert pianist, educator, and artistic director. A graduate of the University of Music in Łódź and the Conservatory of Music in Geneva, he has performed throughout Europe and the United States, appearing in prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, and the Palau de la Música Catalana. Michal Drewnowski
A passionate advocate of Polish music, he has championed the works of both renowned and lesser-known Polish composers and has premiered numerous contemporary compositions. Since the 2024/2025 academic year, he has served on the piano faculty of the Chicago College of Performing Arts, Roosevelt University. Michal Drewnowski
For the Austin Polish Film Festival Closing Concert, Michał Drewnowski will perform works by Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Alexandre Tansman, and Józef Hofmann, and will lead a conversation with his father, Marek Drewnowski, about his extraordinary artistic collaboration with Leonard Bernstein.
