Around the Music Festival

The Leeds International Piano Competition has announced that British pianist Stephen Hough will serve as Artistic Director and Jury Chair for the 2027 competition. The jury for 2027 will feature Piotr Anderszewski, Lucas Debargue, Janina Fialkowska, Alexander Gavrylyuk, Orli Shaham, Yeol Eum Son, Kathryn Stott, and composer Errollyn Wallen.

The competition was founded in 1961 by figures including Fanny Waterman, who passed away in late 2020. Held every three years since its inaugural edition in 1963, it has produced renowned pianists such as Radu Lupu, Murray Perahia, András Schiff, Mitsuko Uchida, Noriko Ogawa, and Lars Vogt.

Starting in 2024, the competition is introducing “blind judging”—a practice widely used in auditions—and the age limit will be raised to 35 for the next competition in 2027.

Upon assuming the role, Hough stated, “What is the purpose of a competition? To me, it should not be a place akin to the Colosseum, where gladiators battle to defeat one another. Rather, I wanted to create a space where talented, imaginative young pianists can express themselves and the music they love.

In today’s world, where the concert experience must compete with countless forms of entertainment and cultural options, we hope to discover artists who can captivate the jury and audience with their performances—and leave them wanting to hear more for decades to come.”

PHOTO：Hastings International Piano