Federico Colli wins the 2012 Leeds International Piano Competition

Italian pianist performs Beethoven’s Fifth Piano Concerto

Published: September 17, 2012 at 11:24 am

Federico Colli performing in the final. Photo: SWPIX

Federico Colli, a 24-year-old pianist from Italy, has won the 2012 Leeds International Piano Competition and £18,000 prize money.

Colli performed Beethoven's Fifth Piano Concerto with the Hallé Orchestra and conductor Sir Mark Elder to claim the top prize and the Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Gold Medal – named after the Burmese politician who became an honorary ambassador for the competition earlier this year. In addition, Colli won the Champs Hill Records Award giving him the opportunity to record his debut record at the Music Room, Champs Hill.

Colli said: ‘It has always been my dream to win the Leeds International Piano Competition and I am absolutely overjoyed.’

Another competitor, 25-year-old Andrew Tyson from the US was awarded the first ever Terence Judd-Hallé Orchestra Prize. The prize includes £5,000 prize money and three paid engagements with the Hallé.

Louis Schwizgebel from Switzerland (aged 24) took the second prize. The other finalists were 22-year old Jiayan Sun from China, Andrejs Osokins from Latvia (aged 27) and Jayson Gillham, aged 26 from Australia.

Dame Fanny Waterman, chairman and artistic director of the competition said: ‘The standard of this year’s competition was exceptionally high and the six prize winners were all truly remarkable.’

Radio 3 broadcast the final live and you can listen again to all the finalists’ performances on iPlayer. BBC Four will be broadcasting a six-part documentary about the competition starting this Friday, 21 September at 7.30pm.

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