Summer Festival 2023: Lifting the Lid - Stories from the Piano

In collaboration with Leeds International Piano Competition.

An exploration of the incredible stories of pianists at different stages of their careers.

Programme

William Nguyen performs:

Ludwig van Beethoven – Piano Sonata no 8, op 13, "Pathetique", 1st movement - "Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio"

Frédéric Chopin - Prelude in F# major, op 28, no 13

Frédéric Chopin - Prelude in F# minor, op 28, no 8

Lucy Illingworth performs

In Conversation: Sally Egan (Head of Creative Learning & Engagement - LIPC), Daniel Bath (pianist, piano teacher of Lucy Illingworth) and Jayne Leadbeater (Music Educator Specialist, who first spotted William Nguyen’s musical talent)

Interval

Ariel Lanyi performs:

Ludwig van Beethoven - Sonata in A, op 2, no 2

Robert Schumann - Symphonic Etudes, op 13

The Leeds International Piano Competition (‘The Leeds’) is one of the world’s greatest music events, admired and respected by musicians and audiences around the globe. The Leeds is proud to discover, launch and champion the world’s finest young pianists, enabling the piano to enrich people’s lives. Its mission encompasses a lifelong pathway of learning and engagement for all.

For this concert, we are delighted to welcome Ariel Lanyi back to Leeds. Since winning third prize in the 2021 Leeds International Piano Competition, Ariel has been a prize winner in the inaugural Young Classical Artists Trust (London) and Concert Artists Guild (New York) International Auditions, appeared as a soloist with Israel Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony, and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestras, made his Wigmore Hall debut, and, in March 2023, was honoured to receive the Prix Serdang, a Swiss prize awarded by the distinguished Austrian pianist Rudolf Buchbinder.

Prior to Ariel’s performance of Beethoven and Schumann, we look forward to hearing the incredible musical talents of two young pianists from the Leeds area; Lucy Illingworth and William Nguyen. Lucy recently won the televised talent competition, The Piano, and has since performed at special occasions around the UK, including The Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle. William is currently studying at Chetham's School of Music, after his musical talent and ability to play by ear was spotted by staff at Castleton Primary School in New Wortley. An In Conversation with Sally Egan, Daniel Bath and Jayne Leadbeater will explore Lucy and William’s stories and what they reveal about the importance of musical education in children’s lives.

Go behind the scenes here.