Foul play fears prompt piano prize shake-up

PIANO competitions might not be an obvious hotbed of corruption.

But the contests have been dogged by rumours that teachers fix results by voting for their own pupils.

Now one of the UK’S leading events is so concerned about the issue that it has barred teachers from its jury.

One of the directors of the Leeds International Piano Competition, Adam Gatehouse, a former BBC radio boss, said he had in the past judged alongside teachers whose protégés were among the hopefuls.

“I would not feel comfortable sitting in a jury – which has happened to me in the past – with people performing whose teachers are on the jury. Even if those jury members are absolutely completely honourable, it is saying something to the outside world which I feel uncomfortable with,” he said.

Mr Gatehouse said the experience prompted the decision along with co-director Paul Lewis, the pianist, to limit its judging panel to renowned performers.