Leeds International Piano Competition, The Leeds, has announced a new partnership with The Royal Liverpool, Orchestra (RLPO), which will create new opportunities for the competition’s finalists.
RLPO and The Leeds have had a long-standing relationship that began at the inaugural competition in 1963. The orchestra will return to accompany the concerto finals for the first time since 1975 at the next competition in September 2021, conducted by principal guest conductor Andrew Manze.
The partnership will also add more performance opportunities for The Leeds pianists via a concerto performance for the winner as part of RLPO’s 2021-22 season and lunchtime concerts for the second and third prize winners in the week immediately following the final. Further, RLPO will offer laureates the chance to give additional recital and chamber music performances as part of its Liverpool Philharmonic Chamber Music series.
Commented The Leeds artistic director Adam Gatehouse: “I am hugely excited about the new partnership with RLPO, which promises a richer and deeper partnership that will bring new and wide-ranging benefits to both competitors and the wider community.”
The Leeds also announced that pianist Imogen Cooper will chair the jury for the next edition, and that Ken Beaty has been appointed as chair of its Board of Trustees.
