British Pianist Beats Odds to Reach Finals of Leeds International Piano Competition
Julian Trevelyan, a British pianist from St Albans, has defied the odds by making it to the grand final of the Leeds International Piano Competition. Trevelyan, who was given a last-minute entry to the competition after another contestant dropped out, beat 60 other musicians to secure his spot in the final.
Despite only having two weeks to prepare four hours of music, Trevelyan is thrilled to be competing in the prestigious competition. He views it as an opportunity to showcase his talent to a home audience and hopes to secure future concert opportunities through his performance.
The Leeds International Piano Competition, established in 1961, has launched the careers of renowned artists such as Andras Schiff and Murray Perahia. Trevelyan, who has dreamed of participating in the competition since he was a teenager, sees his current success as a dream come true.
In the final, Trevelyan will compete against pianists from Taiwan, China, Canada, and Vietnam. He will perform Bartók’s Concerto No.3 accompanied by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, a piece that has special significance to him as it was given to him by his father at a young age.
Despite having to cut short his honeymoon to participate in the competition, Trevelyan’s wife is fully supportive of his musical endeavors. The finals of the competition will take place on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 September, with highlights broadcast on BBC Radio 3. This year, the competition will be held at St George’s Hall in Bradford due to renovations at Leeds Town Hall.
