First Person: Alexandra Dariescu on highlighting women at the Leeds International Piano Competition

This year, I am delighted to be supporting the Alexandra Dariescu Award at the Leeds International Piano Competition for an outstanding performance of a work by a female composer. This marks a significant milestone in the 60-year history of The Leeds, as it is the first year a piano concerto by a female composer has been added to the repertoire of the Concerto Final round with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

Clara Wieck-Schumann's Piano Concerto (the composer/pianist pictured below) has garnered much attention in recent years, and I am hopeful that you will discover and love it just as much as I do. 

The idea for this new award came about through different angles, probably the most significant, my own experiences as a performer and the desire for more balanced programming on the international stage (works by female composers currently represent less than 8%, according to the Donne Foundation). I have also been involved with the Leeds International Piano Competition over the last couple of years, co-creating, performing and presenting a new show called Count Me In! together with Tim Redmond, aimed at Key Stage 2 pupils, inspiring them to be part of an interactive performance, that bridges music and maths to make learning fun and engaging. Collaborating with the LIPC team on the creation of this show reinforced my belief in the importance of integrating the arts into education to cultivate well-rounded, imaginative thinkers and what a profound impact it can have on young minds. 

I grew up, perhaps like most of you, with the works of our greats: Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Grieg, Rachmaninov, Ravel, and many others. However, over the years, I embarked on a fascinating journey of discovery, unearthing the often-overlooked contributions of female composers. It has become increasingly clear to me that it is crucially important for us to learn and understand the full picture of our musical heritage. Women have always been there, composing, writing and performing. Despite often being denied formal study or professional opportunities, their creative spirit has persisted. It is high time we give them the recognition and celebration they deserve, alongside the names we already know and love. 

Trailer for Count Me In!

Performance opportunities are vital for any young musician, and this award is designed to provide just that. The winner of the Alexandra Dariescu Award, in partnership with Radio Romania and Music in Lyddington, will receive a £3000 cash prize, a concerto performance with the Romanian Radio Orchestra in Bucharest, broadcast on national radio, as well as a solo evening recital at Music in Lyddington. I hope this award will serve as a great incentive for competitors and audiences to explore a side of musical history that has been neglected and to uncover some fantastic music that deserves to be heard.

Among the top global music competitions, The Leeds is a pioneer in championing women composers, featuring Clara Wieck-Schumann in the finals, and Unsuk Chin, Sofia Gubaidulina, Kate Whitley, Amy Beach and Fanny Mendelssohn in the Semi-finals, and inspiring pianists to present more women and diverse composers in the earlier rounds. By highlighting these composers’ work, we are not only honouring their legacy but also paving the way for future generations for a more inclusive society. The classical music world has made significant strides in recent years to address the gender imbalance, but there is still much work to be done. It is up to each and every one of us to ensure that, unlike my younger self, children today can learn from an early age about the great musicians of the past and present, regardless of their background and gender. This will inspire them to work hard, never give up, and continue to break down the unnecessary barriers that we, all too often, still put around ourselves today.

• The Leeds International Piano Competition takes place from 11 to 21 September – tickets are available on leedspiano.com. Broadcasts of the Competition will also be available on BBC Radio 3, BBC TV and medici.tv.
• Alexandra Dariescu’s new album, featuring piano concertos by Clara Schumann and Edvard Grieg, is released on 16 August on Signum Classics
• More classical music reviews on theartsdesk