Two American Pianists Among the 63 Competitors Announced for the 20th Leeds International Piano Competition
Eric Lu, Edward Gardner and the Hallé on stage at Leeds Town Hall at the Finals of the Leeds International Piano Competition in 2018. Credit: Simon Wilkinson Photography.
Two American pianists have been confirmed as Competitors for this year’s The Leeds International Piano Competition 2021. Anna Han (25) and Kate Liu (26) are two of 63 outstanding pianists who have been invited to participate in the 2021 Competition.
The First Round takes place in early April (6-8) across seven cities (London, Berlin, Paris, New York, Beijing, Tokyo and Seoul). Following the First Round, 24 pianists will be selected by the Jury to go to Leeds in September to take part in the rest of the Competition.
Born in Arizona, Anna Han has been praised by The Washington Post as ‘prodigiously gifted’, and performs regularly in major concert halls all over America. Currently studying at the Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance, she recently won third prize at the 2019 Hilton Head International Piano Competition, and was a semi-finalist at the China International Piano Competition the same year. She received her Bachelor and Masters at the Juilliard School under the tutelage of Robert McDonald. During her time at Juilliard, she won the Gina Bachauer Piano Competition and also received the Kovner Fellowship. Upon graduating last year, she received the William Schuman Prize for outstanding achievement.
Kate Liu gained international recognition after winning Bronze at the 17th International Chopin Competition in Warsaw, also receiving the audience favourite prize. Born in Singapore, Kate moved to the US when she was 8 years old. In America she won the first prize at the Asia-Pacific International Chopin Competition as well as the New York International Piano Competition. She is currently pursuing her graduate studies at The Juilliard School, also studying under Robert McDonald.
This year marks the 20th edition of the competition. The pre-selection Jury, chaired by the Competition’s Artistic Director Adam Gatehouse, listened to a total of 264 applicants for this year – a 43% increase in applications from the last Competition in 2018. The jurors commented on how difficult it was to choose 63, thanks to this year’s “exceptionally high quality of applicants.” The 63 pianists represent 28 nationalities, with over 40% selected from East Asian countries. Competitors have been selected from countries including Bulgaria, Croatia, Japan, Kazakhstan and Israel among many others.
The jury for the first round is to be chaired by Adam Gatehouse and includes American pianist Simone Dinnerstein, Japanese pianist Noriko Ogawa (who in fact came third in the competition herself in 1987) and German pianist Martin Sauer. The Jury will hear a 25-minute recital from each of the 63 pianists before selecting just 24 to go through to the Second Round in Leeds, UK in September 2021. ‘The Leeds’, as the Competition is often referred to, has long attracted some of the most talented pianists of the time, with previous winners including Federico Colli (2000), Alessio Bax (2000) and Murray Perahia (1972).
With the current pandemic, detailed safety measures are being put in place at all venues. Local film crews are being deployed in each venue, and will be centrally directed and produced from London, helping capture the performances in high-definition sound and vision that The Leeds is known for via its partnership with classical music channel medici.tv. Viewers will be able to watch the performances from the International First Round this summer, and the rounds happening in Leeds will be streamed by medici.tv on their dedicated platform, which is free to watch in 190 countries around the world.
Adam Gatehouse, Artistic Director, Leeds International Piano Competition. Credit: Simon Jay Price.
Adam Gatehouse, Artistic Director of The Leeds said “It is of paramount importance that our artists and jurors are able to take part as safely as possible, whilst maintaining the integrity of the Competition experience. This means we have decided to make the First Round ‘virtual’, by filming Competitors’ performances in a small selection of venues closest to them. With the amazing support and enthusiasm of conservatoires and venues around the world, we can ensure the pianists have the shortest possible journey to their First Round performance. Our partners also enable us to make sure that all our pianos are of the world-leading standard we demand and that we can capture the highest quality performances for our remote Jury to hear.”
Given the current rate of vaccine rollout in the UK, The Leeds organisers are confident that the September rounds will be able to host audiences in their iconic venues at the University of Leeds and Leeds Town Hall. As well as all rounds being streamed worldwide by medici.tv, people will be able to tune in to hear the competition on BBC Radio 3. The finals will be covered on British TV Channel BBC Four TV. The Concerto Final performances take place with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic conducted by Andrew Manze, their Principal Guest Conductor.
The prize for winners of the Leeds are really unlike any other piano competition in the world. Not only are the cash prizes worth over £90,000, but the winner also comes away with a host of incredible prizes. The winner will be granted an artist management contract with Askonas Holt, one of the world’s most renowned music management agencies, as well as guaranteed concerts and engagements with some of the world’s premiere venues and orchestras, including London’s Wigmore Hall, South Bank Centre and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. The winner will also secure concert and recording engagements with BBC Radio 3, a media partner of The Leeds, a European tour organised with partners Steinway & Sons, a studio recording with Warner Classics, a programme of recital engagements in Yorkshire and other UK venues, and finally, mentoring from Artistic Director Adam Gatehouse and other members of the performer-led Jury. The Jury this year is chaired by Imogen Cooper (England), and includes Inon Barnatan (Israel/ USA), Adrian Brendel (England), Gaetan Le Divelec (France), Ingrid Fliter (Argentina), Ludovic Morlot (France/ USA) and Steven Osborne (Scotland).
Adam Gatehouse said, “It is clear from the large increase in the number of applicants we’ve received that musicians have a strong need to be heard and connect with their audiences. We are here to support all our pianists on their Leeds journey, and will provide a programme of advice, masterclasses and industry insights to help build their careers, no matter how far the journey with the Competition takes them. We aim for everyone to be transformed by the experience of coming to our city and taking part, whether that’s through the friendships they make or the opportunities they find.”
Find out more about The Leeds International Piano Competition 2021, as well as the full list of competitors selected for this year’s first round.
