Leeds International Piano Competition finals to be held in Bradford

The finals of Leeds International Piano Competition will conclude in St George's Hall, Bradford, in September

The finals of a prestigious piano contest will be held outside of its home city for the first time this year.

Leeds International Piano Competition will conclude in St George's Hall, Bradford, in September.

The event, which started in 1963 and is held every three years, attracts musicians from around the world, with 65 pianists taking part this year.

Early stages of the contest begin next week, with first rounds being held in Paris, Beijing, New York and Seoul.

Bradford Council secured the finals after awarding the competition a £13,000 grant from its Arts, Culture and Heritage Grants fund, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

'Inspirational young talent'

The finals, which will be broadcast online, will be held on 20-21 September.

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: "This is the first time the competition has left Leeds in its 60-year history, establishing deeper roots in the Bradford community and engaging with new audiences.

"This positions Bradford at the centre of a prestigious international arts event, offering a unique opportunity to showcase the discovery of inspirational young talent to a global audience of millions."

Fiona Sinclair, the competition's chief executive, said: "We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Bradford Council as we bring our world-famous piano competition to Bradford.

"Bradford is a warm and welcoming host for our international pianists, who will come to St George's Hall to compete in a nail-biting showdown of exceptional talent."