|
The 2009 competition was launched at a reception at No. 10 Downing Street. The former Prime Minister Gordon Brown said 'It was a great honour to have the Leeds International Piano Competition at 10 Downing Street, and to enjoy such illustrious company, and beautiful music.'
In recent years I have given Master Classes and served on several international piano competition juries in Dublin (Ireland), Hamamatsu (Japan), Hong Kong, Pretoria (South Africa), Seoul (Korea), Shaghai (China) and Switzerland. These visits have enabled me to discover fine promising pianists, some of whom accepted my invitation to enter 'the Leeds'. The 2009 entry attracted fourteen first prizewinners of other major international piano competitions, fourteen second prizewinners and twenty-two with other ranks of prizes.
A major development for our Competition was that 'the BBC was proud to be the Official Broadcast Partner of the competition for 2009 and also 2012'. The Vice Chancellor of the University of Leeds, Professor Michael Arthur, wrote 'it is my pleasure to confirm that the University of Leeds wishes to work in Partnership with the Leeds International Pianoforte Competition for the long-term future'. These developments are milestones in the 49 year history of the Competition.
I express my appreciation to our most generous sponsors, advertisers and hundreds of volunteers who enable the competition to continue to grow and develop. We are infinitely grateful to them.
Yet again, Leeds City Council continues to offer and emphasises its staunchest support for this great international event happening in our city which for three weeks, becomes a magnet for music lovers from all over the world.
Dame Fanny Waterman, DBE DMus FRCM
Chairman and Artistic Director
|