Ignacy Jan Paderewski Quotes

Ignacy Jan Paderewski was born in Kurylivka, Podolia, Ukraine. He was a Polish pianist, composer, politician and spokesman for Polish independence. He studied music from 1872 at the Warsaw Conservatory and from 1878 taught piano there. Encouraged and financed by the actress Helena Modrzejewska, he studied in Vienna from 1884 to 1887 under Theodor Leschetizky, who did much to improve a limited technique. During this period he also taught at the Strasbourg Conservatory. Between 1887 and 1891 he made his first public appearances as a pianist, in Vienna, Paris, London, and New York City. He was a favorite of concert audiences around the world. His musical fame opened access to diplomacy and the media. He was the Prime Minister of Poland and also Poland's foreign minister in 1919, and represented Poland at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919.