British pianist Julian Trevelyan, from St Albans, has earned a place in the grand final of the prestigious Leeds International Piano Competition, after receiving a last-minute entry. Trevelyan, who had initially failed to secure a spot in the selection rounds earlier this year, was contacted just two weeks ago while on his honeymoon in France. A contestant had dropped out due to visa issues, and Trevelyan was invited to take their place.
“I hadn’t touched the piano for a few weeks,” the 25-year-old told BBC News. “So I’ve only had two weeks to prepare four hours of music. But I feel wonderful to be here.”
With minimal time to rehearse, Trevelyan approached the competition as an opportunity to perform for a home audience and gain exposure, rather than focusing on winning. “For me, music is about touching people’s hearts. As Beethoven said, the only wrong notes are those played without feeling.”
The Leeds International Piano Competition, renowned for launching the careers of artists such as Andras Schiff and Murray Perahia, awards a £30,000 prize to its winner. Open to pianists under the age of 30 worldwide, it was founded in 1961 by Dame Fanny Waterman.
Trevelyan recalls being inspired to enter the competition after hearing Sofya Gulyak win as the first female contestant in 2009. “I remember listening to the coverage and telling my piano teacher, ‘I would love to play in the finals one day’. That was 15 years ago, and it feels like a dream come true to be here now.”
In the upcoming final, Trevelyan will compete against Kai-Min Chang (Taiwan), Junyan Chen (China), Jaeden Izik-Dzurko (Canada), and Khanh Nhi Luong (Vietnam). For his final performance, he will play Bartók’s Concerto No.3 alongside the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, a piece he’s been familiar with since his father gifted him the score at the age of eight.
Despite having to cut short his honeymoon, Trevelyan’s wife has been fully supportive. “Luckily enough, the competition called two days before the end of the honeymoon. We’d already had a great time, and there was excitement about going to Leeds. She’s very happy that I’m here,” he said.
Having previously won recognition in international competitions, including becoming the youngest prize-winner in the piano category at the Long-Thibaud-Crespin Competition in 2015, Trevelyan is no stranger to the competitive stage. Now, he looks forward to his final performance in Leeds and the possibilities it may bring.
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