About Us

 

The Friends of Chopin Australia is a registered charity dedicated to the promotion of the music of Chopin in Australia through performance, research and public engagement.  It was established in 2012 and is honoured to have as its patron the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Australia.

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The mission of the Friends of Chopin Australia is to research, document and promote the role that Chopin has played and continues to play in Australia’s musical life.  It is also dedicated to supporting young and emerging artists to achieve excellence in their field on the world stage.

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The Friends of Chopin Australia is responsible for the Australian International Chopin Piano Competition (AICPC) and has held three successful editions of the Competition in partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Canberra, and the Australian National University and its School of Music, in 2011, 2014, and 2017.

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In 2012, the Friends incorporated and changed its name to the Friends of Chopin Australia Incorporated and widened its remit to include a broader scope of activites relating to Chopin and a more active partnership role in planning and managing the Australian International Chopin Piano Competition. It also became a member of the Council of Polish Organisations in the ACT, and as such a member of the Polish Community Council of Australia.

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In 2014, the Friends of Chopin Australia was recognised as an organisation of cultural significance by the Australian Government and placed on the Register of Cultural Organisations by the Ministry of Arts.

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In 2015, the Friends of Chopin Australia were accepted as members into the International Federation of Chopin Societies. It is currently the only Australian member organisation, though there have in the past been Chopin societies in Sydney and Melbourne who were members.

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In 2022, the Friends changed it's legal structure and became a company limited by guarantee, and was registered as a charity by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).