11 May 2012
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New Prize added to The Leeds International Piano Competition
<p> The 17th Leeds International Piano Competition 2012 sees the addition of a major new prize – The Terence Judd-Hallé Award – An Orchestra Prize in memory of a brilliant young pianist and past pupil of Dame Fanny Waterman who was Third prizewinner in the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in 1978</p> ...
Members of the Hallé and their music director Sir Mark Elder will choose one of the six Leeds finalists to receive the award which will consist of a cash prize of £5,000, at least three paid engagements, and the possibility of a recording on the Hallé label.
More than 270 entries were submitted for the 2012 Competition, from which 80 pianists from over 20 countries have been selected to compete in front of a distinguished international jury, chaired by Dame Fanny Waterman. Speaking about this year’s entries Dame Fanny Waterman says: ‘The applications this year have been outstanding, some of the finest talent the Audition Panel has ever seen and heard. This will be a remarkable year as we will celebrate Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee, the Olympic Games and the 50th anniversary of the world’s greatest International Piano Competition. We hope to continue to help aspiring young pianists at the start of their careers and the prize winners will be offered a number of prestigious national and international engagements.’
Trevor Green, the new in post Chief Executive said this year promises to be a special year: ‘We are delighted to welcome many prize winners from other major international piano competitions to Leeds this summer and look forward to hearing some of the most extraordinary young pianists in the world at the 2012 Competition.’
The Competition is held every three years and the two finals in Leeds Town Hall are televised by BBC 4 and broadcast by BBC Radio 3. Six finalists will perform with the Hallé, conducted by Sir Mark Elder, at Leeds Town Hall on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 September 2012. Dame Janet Baker, the Competition’s Patron, will present the prizes. The winner will also receive an £18,000 cash prize donated by the Liz and Terry Bramall Charitable Trust and range of prestigious engagements with leading UK and international orchestras
The stages, semi-final and winners’ Gala Recital take place in the Great Hall at the University of Leeds. Tickets for the Competition are available from Friday 1 June.
Find out more about the Leeds International Piano Competition