Thoughts on Competition by Patron of the Leeds International Pianoforte Competition, Dame Janet Baker CH DBE
Competition has always been part of the human experience and is at the moment an unfashionable word. We do, however, learn many valuable lessons on the playing field and on the track about how to lose with dignity and win with grace and humility. It is not always necessary to win though; athletes will know the individual satisfaction of achieving a personal best, beating their own best time; any mountain climber who reaches the peak knows the exhilaration and pride in having got to the top even though perhaps not the first person to do so. All competition is primarily competing with oneself; if we strive for the best we are capable of in any sphere there are no losers.
To enter ‘The Leeds,’ one of the most important pianoforte competitions in the world, is to enter an arena where the individual will be tried and tested to the limit.
The rewards are huge. Prize-winning and the engagements which usually go with it, together with the attendant publicity are enough to provide all that is necessary to kick-start a world-class career; the two final nights engender enormous interest and all six finalists come away with something.
What of those who don’t survive the earlier stages, do they benefit too? I believe they do. They have had an opportunity to learn, to broaden their experience, to stretch and test themselves against musicians from many other countries. They can speak to the members of the jury, all distinguished professionals and receive valuable advice; they can develop new strengths from the sheer stress of competing at such a high level and find out how well their control of nerves, memory, self confidence and presentation stand up.
Most valuable of all, those who are able to produce their own personal best performance under these most testing conditions go away with their heads held high, self esteem intact and with pride. To achieve that personal best means there are no losers; every entrant can gain his or her laurel wreath.