Young pianist Klara Kliszczak was born on July 2012 in Poznań, Poland. She studies piano in Mrs. Agnieszka Liman's class at the 1st Degree Self-government Music School in Tarnowo Podgórne. Klara garnered numerous prizes in national and international prestigious piano competitions.


Q: What inspired you to start playing music, and how did you get started?

"I was born in Poznan, which is a central part of Poland, in 2012. When I was pretty young I used to enjoy listening to classical music. The initial pieces I remember were the compositions by Vivaldi and Mozart. There was a white piano of my mother in the house and it attracted me from the beginning. It was it that I willingly spent time playing simple melodies. When I got a little older, my parents decided that I needed to find a teacher. Then the music school in Jankowice was chosen, and it was placed in the commune of Tarnowo Podgórne near Poznań. Thanks to this I found a wonderful professor of piano Agnieszka Liman. This is how my adventure with the piano began. From the first lessons, Mrs Agnieszka and I got on well, I loved meetings with the Professor at the piano. The professor has a wonderful and unique approach to children. There is a lot of laughter and fun in the lessons and I love spending time with her. Thanks to this unique relationship, I was willing to engage in even more difficult exercises. I love going to my music school. It's a unique place. The school is located away from the hustle and bustle, in a beautiful palace surrounded by a park where I can relax in the fresh air. There are wonderful teachers working there and I have wonderful friends. What I want to do is to greet each one individually right in here."


Q: Can you describe your practice routine and how it has helped you develop as a musician?

"I always look for the best way to practice. For now, I just play when I feel like it. And most often I do! The professor chooses pieces for me and I can decide which ones I like the most. What motivates me the most is that I can play what I like. The professor always gives me several suggestions from which I can choose what I want to learn. Time at the piano goes quickly and it is difficult for me to even determine how much time it takes me to practice. I like it very much."


Q: How did you choose the piece you performed for the competition, and what do you think sets it apart from other pieces you've played?

"The Professor helped me in my choice. She knows my character and predispositions very well and she thought that Chopin's Nocturne was something what I would be able to show my best side at the moment."


Q: How did you feel when you found out you were a winner of the London Young Musician of the Year?

"I was very surprised and of course really happy. It was an amazing feeling especially since I saw how many great young talented musicians took part in this competition."


Q: What advice would you give to other young musicians who aspire to achieve success in music competitions?

"It's simple - find the best teacher! And if you already manage to win a competition, keep working for more."


Q: How do you stay motivated to continue practicing and improving, especially during times when progress feels slow or difficult?

"When motivation drops, taking breaks works for me. Then I do a lot of other fun things. I like traveling with my parents, discovering new places or meeting new people. I love reading books and a sort of active leisure. I love sport, especially snowboarding and windsurfing. However, when I no longer play the piano, it turns out that I miss it very quickly."


Q: What's the most challenging piece of music you've ever learned, and how did you approach it?

"So far, it was Variations on a theme of Paganini by I. Berkovich which I mastered as a 9-year-old. The piece was a big challenge for me both technically and musically but I enjoyed playing it so much that it ended up working quite smoothly for me. And Bach's Three-Part Invention. Bach is beautiful but leading three voices at once is never simple."


Q: What does music mean to you now?

"Music is life and I love the piano so I hope I will always be able to play it. I would like to share music with as many people as possible so that as many people as possible experience how classical music can touch the heart. When I play I'm happy, music is happiness."


Q: How did you prepare for Musician of the Year? Did you record the whole performance many times? During your recording for this annual competition, is there any interesting story you would like to share with us?

"Recording a new piece is always very captivating for me. A camera and a microphone motivate me a lot to present the piece in the best possible way. We usually do several trials to have a choice. Ultimately, however, it turns out that the first recordings are the best. Recordings for competitions are a sort of a big celebration for me. During the recordings, my mom lets me some chocolate, hihi."


Q: Anything else you would like to share with our music community?

“I would like to thank all the people who support me. First of all, my irreplaceable and best Professor Agnieszka Liman who believes in me and guides the development of my passion for music. I would like to thank the organizers of the London Young Musician for the opportunity to take part in the competition and the jury for appreciating and distinguishing my performance. I wish the organizers that the competition will develop, because it is wonderful and that there will be as many participants as possible every year.”