PADEREWSKI, IGNACE JAN, a Russian pianist; born in Podolia, Rus sian Poland, Nov. 6, 1860. At seven his father placed him under the care of a teacher, Pierre Sowinski. In 1872 he went to Warsaw, where his knowledge of harmony and counterpoint was ac quired from Roguski, and later from Frederick Kiel, of Berlin. At 18 he was nominated Professor of Music to the Warsaw Conservatory. In 1884 he held a professorship at the Conservatory of Music in Strassburg, but he resolved to become a pianistic virtuoso. He re moved to Vienna, placed himself under Leschetizky, and made his debut before the Viennese public in 1887, and was at once proclaimed to be one of the most remarkable pianists of the day. He paid several visits to the principal towns throughout Germany, always with in creasing success, and in 1889 made his first appearance before a Parisian au dience. He visited the United States
four times. He composed more than 80 vocal works, a concerto in A minor for piano and orchestra, an opera "Man fred," a suite for orchestra in G, and many pieces for the piano. His "Polish Fantasie" was produced at the Norwich Festival in 1893.
In 1900 he established the Paderewski Fund in the United States for the encouragement of American composers. In the first competition (1902) three prizes of $500 were awarded to Henry Hadley, Horatio Parker and Arthur Bird. Only one award, to Arthur Shep herd, was made in 1906. Paderewski married Madame Gorski in 1899. Dur ing the World War he was busy pressing the claims of Poland as a na tion and raising money for his suffering countrymen. He was appointed Pre mier of the Polish Republic 1919, and resigned in 1920.