Press Releases

Performance by the best of international young piano talent is showcased across BBC Radio 3 and BBC Four as the broadcaster has signed an exclusive partnership with the celebrated Leeds International Pianoforte Competition.

Extensive coverage of the final rounds of this year's competition is broadcast on Radio 3 and BBC Four launching on Sunday 13 September 2009.

Across the same weekend, Radio 3 builds on the success of last year's Pianothon and invites amateur pianists of all ages and abilities to participate in an informal public concert with performances broadcast across the station and all available via the station's website.

Dame Fanny Waterman, DBE DMus FRCM, Chairman and Artistic Director of the Competition, says: "We are delighted that the BBC has become our official broadcast partner for 2009 and 2012. This is a landmark in the history of the competition and further cements the long-standing relationship we have had with the BBC. It will result in it being enjoyed by an even larger audience through the broadcasts on BBC radio and television with coverage and information about the competition also available online."

This is the 16th edition and 48th year of the prestigious international piano competition which has received 200 applications from pianists from the ages of 15 up to 30, drawn from more than 45 countries and all corners of the globe. Seventy-nine entrants have now been selected to participate in the competition.

Pianist and broadcaster Iain Burnside presents coverage of the final on Radio 3 on Sunday 13 September. Each competitor performs their chosen concerto with Sir Mark Elder and the Halle Orchestra and these performances are televised with one concerto broadcast nightly across six programmes on BBC Four.

Radio 3 also features the winner's Gala concert in which the finalists are brought together again in a programme of works taken from their repertoires throughout the competition. Their performances are broadcast in the second half of Performance On 3 from 12 to 16 July.

Sarah Walker presents this year's Radio 3 Pianothon which takes place at The Clothworkers Concert Hall, University of Leeds on Saturday 12 September.

Online registrations open today for this non-competitive event and entrants can perform solo or as part of a duo and can play any piece up to ten minutes' duration.

Pianist Benjamin Frith, one of Dame Fanny Waterman's most celebrated pupils, and Noriko Ogawa, a Leeds finalist from 1987, will each host a masterclass during the day and share their expertise with participants.

Performance and interviews from the event are broadcast across the following week in Afternoon On 3 and in Breakfast and all those who participate will be recorded and their performances made available on the Radio 3 website.

Sarah Walker says: "Radio 3's Pianothon is a wonderfully creative and inclusive way of celebrating the joy of making music at the piano. Linking Pianothon to this year's Leeds International Piano Competition celebrates piano-playing right across the spectrum – from talented amateurs to top ranking professionals."

The closing date for entries is 21 August; applicants will be informed within three working days as to whether they have been invited to attend the Saturday event.

Notes to Editors

Broadcast information

BBC Radio 3

Leeds Pianoforte Competition Final presented by Iain Burnside. Sunday 13 September, 2.00-4.00pm and 6.00-8.00pm.

The Gala Recital broadcast as part two of Performance On 3. Monday 14, Tuesday 15 (taking place on 13th), Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 September.

Highlights of Pianothons broadcast in Afternoon On 3 and Breakfast from 14 to 18 September.

The 2006 winner Sunwook Kim performs the world premiere of a new Radio 3 commission by Dai Fujikura as part of a recital at Leeds University on 11 October; Radio 3 broadcast the concert in Performance On 3 on 21 October.

BBC Four

Please note: broadcast details are subject to change.

19–25 September, time to be confirmed. In a series of six programmes about this year's competition, BBC Four features each finalist's concerto performance. These will include profiles on the finalists and discussion about each performance, repertoire information and a brief historical portrait about the competition. This is a BBC Wales production for BBC Four.

CF