Rafał Blechacz ([ˈrafaw ˈblɛxat͡ʂ] ⓘ; born 30 June 1985) is a Polish classical pianist who rose to fame after winning the XV International Chopin Piano Competition in 2005.

Blechacz began piano lessons at the age of five, and enrolled in the National Arthur Rubinstein Music School in Bydgoszcz three years later.

[1] In May 2007, he graduated from the Feliks Nowowiejski Music Academy in Bydgoszcz with professor Katarzyna Popowa-Zydroń.

[1] One of the judges, Piotr Paleczny, said that Blechacz "so outclassed the remaining finalists that no second prize could actually be awarded.

"[3] Another judge, John O'Conor, called Blechacz "one of the greatest artists I have had a chance to hear in my entire life".