The event also inaugurated the founding of the Piotr Kler Foundation, which chose the first pianists to receive its scholarship: Łukasz Mikołajczyk and Gracjan Szymczak. They performed together with the Opole Philharmonics association, conducted by Bartosz Żurakowski. Two of Chopin’s concertos were played at the Gala: Piano Concerto in E minor, op . 11 and Piano Concerto in F minor, op. 21.
Piotr Kler decided to establish the foundation after 40 years of running his company in order to share his success with others. When he was young, he met someone who decided to give him a chance, believed in him and helped without asking for anything in return. The Piotr Kler Foundation was established to pay back this debt from all those years ago, to support the young and talented and to help them achieve success. “I have made this years-long commitment because, all my life, I have valued objects and words which are durable and last forever,” says Piotr Kler with seriousness.
