The Alexandra Dariescu Award at the Leeds International Piano Competition

Ladies and gentlemen, this year marks a historic milestone—not just for the 60-year legacy of The Leeds International Piano Competition, but for the classical music world at large. Tonight, we celebrate the extraordinary talent of our pianists, but also the groundbreaking contributions of female composers—voices that have too often been sidelined, neglected and underrepresented.

We’ve listened to works by Clara Schumann, Unsuk Chin, Sofia Gubaidulina, Kate Whitley, Lili Boulanger, Amy Beach, and Fanny Mendelssohn. This might be the first time such an incredible range of female composers has been highlighted in any major piano competition, and what better reflection of the world we live in today?

In that same spirit, the Alexandra Dariescu Award is committed to creating a platform for young musicians to continue exploring and celebrating these often-overlooked gems of our musical heritage. We challenge you to stay curious, to embrace the true diversity of classical music, and to break through the barriers that still limit us. Together, let’s inspire future generations to push those boundaries even further.

The Alexandra Dariescu Award winner will receive a £3000 cash prize but also crucial performance opportunities, including a concerto with the Romanian Radio Orchestra broadcast on national radio and a solo recital at Music in Lyddington. A heartfelt thank you to our partners for making this possible!

Today, The Leeds stands as a pioneer, showcasing works by composers at the pinnacle of excellence—no matter their gender or background. May this edition of the LIPC send a powerful message to the wider world of classical music and beyond: that change is not just possible, it’s already happening!

The Alexandra Dariescu Award 2024 goes to Junyan Chen!