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The Leeds International Piano Competition 2021

Congratulations to our 2021 winner Alim Beisembayev Congratulations to our 2021 winner Alim Beisembayev Congratulations to our 2021 winner Alim Beisembayev
Congratulations to our 2021 winner Alim Beisembayev Congratulations to our 2021 winner Alim Beisembayev Congratulations to our 2021 winner Alim Beisembayev

Relive the magic, get to know the competitors, and rediscover awe-inspiring performances

After a year like no other, The Leeds welcomed 22 pianists from 18 different countries to compete for one of the greatest prizes in the music industry.
The Leeds International Piano Competition 2021 soared back to public life with an electrifying display of talent and passion, captivating audiences from around the globe. Twenty-two of the world’s most exceptional young pianists took the stage, each eager to claim the coveted Gold Medal.

From breathtaking interpretations of classical masterpieces to dazzling displays of contemporary virtuosity, the competitors demonstrated an unparalleled command of the piano, leaving both judges and audiences inspired and uplifted.
First Prize & The Waterman Gold Medal Winner

Alim Beisembayev

Alim Beisembayev won First Prize at The Leeds International Piano Competition in September 2021, performing Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Andrew Manze. He also took home the medici.tv Audience Prize and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society Prize for contemporary performance, with The Telegraph glowing ‘There’s no other pianist under 30 in the world I would rather hear.’

Watch Alim’s winning performance Watch

2021 Competitors

2021 Highlights

Performance
2021
Second Round
Scrolling Score
2021
Second Round

Kaito Kobayashi Claude Debussy – Feux d’artifice (Fireworks) – score

Scrolling Score
2021
Finals

Alim Beisembayev Sergei Rachmaninov – Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini – score

Performance
2021
Finals

Alim Beisembayev Sergei Rachmaninov – Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini – Final

Performance
2021
Finals
Performance
2021
Finals

Ariel Lanyi Johannes Brahms – Piano Concerto No. 2 – Final

Performance
2021
Finals

Ludwig van Beethoven – Piano Concerto No. 3 – Final

Performance
2021
Finals

Thomas Kelly Ludwig van Beethoven – Piano Concerto No. 4 – Final

Performance
2021
Semi Finals

Semi Final