Canadian pianist Jaeden Izik-Dzurko, 24, has won the 21st edition of the prestigious Leeds International Piano Competition.
The announcement followed his performance of Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra under chief conductor Domingo Hindoyan at St George’s Hall in Bradford.
Who is Jayden Izik-Dzurko?
Named one of '30 hot Canadian classical musicians under 30' by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in 2021, Jaeden Izik-Dzurko is a graduate of the Juilliard School and the University of British Columbia. With a passion for contemporary music, he also won first prizes at the 2022 Hilton Head International Piano Competition and the 2022 Maria Canals International Music Competition.
In addition to his £30,000 Leeds Competition cash prize and the Dame Fanny Waterman Gold Medal, Izik-Dzurko also receives a concerto engagement with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, a Wigmore Hall debut, recitals across the UK, international tours with Steinway Prize Winner Concerts Network and Global Music Network, and more.
Dame Imogen Cooper, chair of the jury, said:
'It has been extraordinary to witness the remarkable artistry showcased at every stage of the 2024 Leeds International Piano Competition. The 24 pianists who performed in Leeds and Bradford exemplify the highest standards of musicianship, and it has been an immense privilege for all of us on the jury to experience it.
'Our aim was to find not just the finest pianist, but the most complete musician, and with Jaeden we have achieved that. He demonstrated exceptional artistic maturity and imagination, remarkable technical command, and a profound ability to captivate and transport the audience through his storytelling and poetry throughout the competition, culminating in a truly unforgettable final performance. We wish him, and all of the competitors, every success in the future, and have no doubt we will hear from many of them again.'
Further prizes at Leeds International Piano Competition 2024
Second Prize and the Marion Thorpe Silver Medal went to Junyan Chen from China, while third prize and the Lady Roslyn Lyons Bronze Medal went to Khanh Nhi Luong from Vietnam. Kai-Min Chang (Taiwan) won Fourth Prize, and Julian Trevelyan (United Kingdom) took Fifth Prize.
The medici.tv Audience Prize went to semi-finalist Tomoharu Ushida (Japan). Selected by online public vote via medici.tv, Ushida will receive a future broadcast performance on the platform.
Who was on the Leeds Competition jury?
Dame Imogen Cooper chaired the international, artist-led jury. The other jurors included Adam Gatehouse, Eleanor Alberga, Ingrid Fliter, Mariam Batsashvili, Pavel Kolesnikov, Sa Chen, Till Fellner and Adrian Brendel.
When and where can I watch the Leeds International Piano Competition 2024?
The Leeds Media Hub and YouTube channel, medici.tv and Amadeus.tv broadcast the Finals live to audiences across the globe.
BBC Radio 3 In Concert also broadcast the Finals, presented by Andrew McGregor with pianist and broadcaster Lucy Parham – listeners can listen back via BBC Sounds. BBC Four will broadcast a 120-minute programme showcasing highlights from the Finals and coverage from previous rounds later this Autumn.
A live EP with a selection of works from the winner’s performance will be released on Warner Classics on Friday 11 October, with a studio recording to follow.
History of the Leeds International Piano Competition
Established by Dame Fanny Waterman, her husband Dr Geoffrey de Keyser and pianist Marion Thorpe in 1963, the triennial Leeds International Piano Competition has been broadcast on television and radio since 1966. Its stellar list of alumni include Murray Perahia, Radu Lupu, András Schiff and Mitsuko Uchida. Kazakh pianist Alim Beisembayev won in 2021, while 2017's winner was American Eric Lu.
Historical footage of piano legends in their formative years can be found in The Leeds archive.
The next Competition will take place in 2027.