The Final Gala was met with great interest from the public. It was lead by the journalist from RMF Classic Magdalena Miśka Jackowska and Piotr Urbaniak. The audience saw all of the finalist videos that were accompanied by a live performance of Beethoven Academy Orchestra conducted by Tomasz Tokarczykt. Head of the jury, American composer and pianist William Goldstein, after his performance spontaneously rewarded the orchestra and the conductor with applause, emphasizing what difficult job they had – time the music perfectly that it would fit the images on the screen. William Goldstein while commenting on the idea of the festival said that it like his dreams have came true, a change of roles in which the artist ‘composes’ the images for music. He also surprised the audience with his improvisational composition the he created from three tones picked by the winner of the grand prize. 

 

During the Gala the orchestra also performed a piece by the creator of the Festival Janusz Bielecki and, as a premiere, William Goldstein’s newest composition entitled “On the Path”.

 

The evening was crowned by Piotr Orzechowski’s performance. The artist, primary known under his alias Pianohooligan, is a jazz pianist and composer, one of the most talented musicians of the young generation. The turning point in his career was receiving the 1st awards during the prestigious Montreux Jazz Solo Piano Competition that was held as a part of Montreux Jazz Festival 2011 in Switzerland. He won and gained recognition during major competitions and festivals in Poland. He is appreciated not only as a pianist and a composer but also as a leader of a jazz quarter High Definition, with which he has won several international competitions, including Jazz Hoeilaart 2011 in Belgium. Piotr Orzechowski was named the „Artist of the Year 2011” by readers of Gazeta Wyborczas and he is the laureate of the „Kryształki Zwierciadła 2012” (Crystals of mirror) award granted by Zwierciadło magazine. He was nominated for many music awards such as Koryfeusz Muzyki Polskiej 2012 in the category “Osobowość Roku”(Personality of the Year) or Fryderyki 2013 in the category “Debiut Roku”(Debute of the Year). During the Gala Pianohooligan captured the audience attention with his virtuoso skills and unusual interpretations.