Sir Stephen Hough is to lead a major relaunch of the Leeds International Piano Competition as its new artistic director, introducing significant reforms that include free choice of repertoire and an increased upper age limit of 35. The triennial contest, first held in 1963, will also see Hough chair an international jury featuring pianists Piotr Anderszewski, Lucas Debargue, Yeol Eum Son, Kathryn Stott, and composer Errollyn Wallen, Master of the King's Music.
Competition reforms emphasise individuality
Hough, who never wanted to serve on juries, said he saw an opportunity to do something different at Leeds. “They can seem like a bunch of tests where you’re trying to trip up the competitors. That’s not what music’s about,” he said. “But, I thought, at Leeds, maybe there’s something slightly different we can do here, and find a way to give younger musicians a platform to show us who they are. Everyone isn’t good at everything.”
Competitors will have complete freedom to choose their repertoire, from Couperin to Copland or Boulez to Busoni. For the concerto final, finalists will submit three piano concertos of their choice, rather than selecting from a predetermined list. Hough, along with conductor Domingo Hindoyan and a fellow juror, will choose which concerto each finalist performs with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
Age limit raised to 35
The upper age limit has been increased to 35, a departure from most competitions that cap entrants at under 30. Hough explained the reasoning: “It’s not that we’re necessarily expecting to have a ton of people aged 33 and 34 entering – though they’re certainly welcome to do so. But I wanted to send a message to younger players saying there’s not a rush about this. Don’t feel that, you know, you have to compete suddenly before you get too old. You have time.” He recalled advice from his teacher Gordon Green: “I’m not interested in how you play now. It’s how you’re going to play in 10 years that interests me.”
Broadcasting and digital reach
The competition’s finals, once broadcast live on BBC Two, will continue to be available via BBC Radio 3 for semi-finals and finals, with livestreaming and catch-up on Medici TV. Content will also be on the Leeds’ YouTube channel and leedspiano.com. Hough, born on the Wirral and a Royal Northern College of Music alumnus, recalled his childhood awe of the competition: “It was both an exciting and an unattainable goal as the whole nation sat glued to the television to witness the finest piano playing.”
Past winners and diversity efforts
Previous winners include Radu Lupu and Murray Perahia, with finalists such as Mitsuko Uchida and Sir András Schiff. Only two women have won: Sofya Gulyak (2009) and Anna Tsybuleva (2015), both Russian-born. Blind listening for the first round, introduced in 2024, will continue in 2027 to counter unconscious bias. Hough noted that by the time competitors reach the stage, “it’s too late to think in terms of balance and representation. It has to start early, with parents and schools.”
Prizes and audience engagement
The main prize is £50,000, alongside awards for contemporary music, most outstanding encore, a new Leeds Piano Trail prize for community-focused projects, and an audience prize. Hough said, “If the audience disagrees with the jury, that, for me, would be a positive thing. This is not a test, but a platform. I want to get away from the idea that there is one single winner. Choosing a winner is an imprecise and subjective thing.” He added, “The Leeds put itself on the map looking for imagination, for poetry, for a deep kind of musicality. That remains. Ultimately, we just want to find someone who changes our lives during their performance.”
Applications for the 2027 competition open from today, with finals scheduled for 17-18 September 2027 at Leeds Town Hall. More information is available at leedspiano.com.
