On May 15, 1900, Paderewski established the
Ignacy Jan Paderewski Trust of $10,000. In November 1900, Paderewski defined a series of prizes, under the Paderewski Trust, for the encouragement of American composers. Initially the prize categories, limited to American composers, were (i) piece for full orchestra, (ii) piece for chorus with orchestra accompaniment, with or without solo voice parts (iii) a piece for chamber music for any combination of instruments. The works were submitted anonymously — under an assumed name or motto, accompanied with a seal envelope containing the composers name; and the works must never have been performed in public or offered at any previous competition. The prize was actually intended to launch in 1897. In a letter dated April 21, 1896, Paderewski expressed to
William Steinway his gratitude to Americans, with $10,000, his wish to establish a fund with
Henry Lee Higginson of Boston and
William Mason of New York serving as co-trustees. The initial prize sums were to be $500 for a full symphony work, $500 for a choral work with orchestra, and $200 for a chamber work.
William Steinway, who died in 1896, had added $1,500 around the time of his death, in order to make the prize immediately operative. == Trustees ==