20-year-old Eric Lu, currently studying at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, has been awarded first place at the final of the Leeds International Piano Competition 2018, which took pace on Saturday 15 September.

The prize, decided by a 9-person jury, was presented by Lang Lang following Lu’s performance of Beethoven’s fourth piano concerto with the Hallé orchestra, conducted by Edward Gardner, in Leeds Town Hall. 

In addition to the £25,000 cash prize, Lu receives a portfolio prize designed with long-term career development in mind. It includes management with Askonas Holt, an album release on Warner Classics, and a range of performance and recording opportunities with BBC Radio 3. It also includes engagements with the Wigmore Hall and Southbank Centre, and the Hallé and Oslo Philharmonic Orchestras. 

Commenting on his win, Lu said:

Winning here is a great honour. This competition has such a rich history with so many of my idols among previous winners. Beethoven’s fourth is such a miraculous piece; it was an inspiration and a joy to play.

Second place, £15,000 and the Yaltah Menuhin Award for the greatest collaborative chamber performance, was awarded to 28-year old German pianist, Mario Häring. Xinyuan Wang, 23 from China, was third and received £10,000. The Audience Award also went to Wang.

All the prize winners will have long-term mentoring from Patron Murray Perahia, Co-Artistic Director Paul Lewis, and other members of the jury which included Sa Chen, Imogen Cooper, Adam Gatehouse, Henning Kraggerud, Thomas Larcher, Gillian Moore, Lars Vogt and Shai Wosner.

Watch the finals at www.leedspiano2018.medici.tv or listen back on BBC Radio 3. 

For more, visit www.leedspiano.com.