COMPETITIONS
As this issue of Pianist goes to print, both the Leeds and Hamamatsu International Piano Competitions are gearing up to test the mettle of the world’s most talented young pianists. The Leeds has swept through its preliminary judging round and begins in earnest during the first week of April with the first round. The televised finals take place on 20-21 September at St George’s Hall in Bradford, while the competition’s familiar home of Leeds Town Hall undergoes a renovation programme. The Hamamatsu is still taking applications (until the end of March) for competitors to meet in late November. Their destination is the concert hall of the ACT CITY arts complex in the coastal city of Hamamatsu, roughly mid-way between Tokyo and Osaka.
Recent Leeds competitions have trialled some eye-catching initiatives, and in 2024 one particular innovation stands out: blind listening
