The Leeds International Piano Competition (6–15 September) has announced Piano+, a programme of events taking place in the lead-up to the competition itself. 

The Piano+ schedule will feature educational events, concerts and an exhibition of historic pianos from the Cobbe Collection. The programme will include five talks and conversation events at the University of Leeds, starting with pianist and broadcaster David Owen Norris discussing the Competition repertoire (6 and 7 September).

On 9 September, psychologist Charlotte Tomlinson will discuss the psychology of performance and competition, and jury members Paul Lewis and Imogen Cooper will be in conversation with presenter Petroc Trelawny about the careers of solo pianists and the importance of collaboration. Trelawny will also chair a session (12 September) with guests Ed Balls and Alistair McGowan on their experience of playing the piano. Finally, pianist Alfred Brendel will discuss his approach to the interpretation of Mozart on 13 September. 

The Leeds Piano Trail will see twelve pianos placed around the city, which will be available for the public to play and will be used for mini-recitals and pop-up performances. The ‘World’s Smallest Concert Hall’, an outfitted and decorated shipping container in Victoria Gardens, will also host free events such as short recitals, piano lessons and talks. The full schedule for the ‘World’s Smallest Concert Hall’ and Piano Trail is yet to be announced.

Piano+ will also feature a series of public masterclasses with Piano Competition jury members such as the Leeds Piano Competition co-Artistic Director Paul Lewis, who will work with competitors on competition repertoire. Also hosting masterclasses will be past Leeds Prizewinners Sa Chen (1996) and Lars Vogt (1990), as well as Shai Wosner, Henning Kraggerud and Imogen Cooper. 

For full details of the Piano+ and 2018 Leeds Piano Competition Schedules and tickets, visit www.leedspiano.com.

Piano+ Schedule of Events:

6/7 September, 10.30am: Welcome to The Leeds 2018: Bringing the repertoire to life! with David Owen Norris
9 September, 2pm: Psychology of performance and competition, with Charlotte Tomlinson
9 September, 3.30pm: A pianist’s life, with Paul Lewis and Imogen Cooper
10 September, 10.30am: Masterclass with Sa Chen
11 September, 10.30am: Masterclass with Shai Wosner
12 September, 10.30am: Masterclass with Lars Vogt
12 September, 2pm: Masterclass with Henning Kraggerud
12 September, 7pm: The piano and me, Petroc Trelawney in conversation with Ed Balls and Alistair McGowan
12/13 September, 10.30am/11.34am/2pm/3.15pm/4.30pm: Guided tours of the Cobbe Collection of historic pianos
13 September, 10.30am: Masterclass with Imogen Cooper CBE
13 September, 5pm: On playing Mozart, with Alfred Brendel
14 September, 10.30am: Masterclass with Paul Lewis CBE