Monday 3 March 2014 There was a new look to GSAL’s annual piano competition this year, with all competitors having their performances appraised by an experienced concert pianist. Pianist Julian Saphir was the external adjudicator for the Tebb Piano Competition, now in its sixth year thanks to the generosity of musician and Old Leodensian Robert Tebb who donates the prizes. For the first time the adjudicator was involved in selecting the finalists, attending the preliminary round, a workshop during which he heard 15 performances and gave constructive feedback on each. A week later Julian returned, keen to see how the eight finalists had progressed when they performed to an audience including Dame Fanny Waterman, founder of the Leeds International Piano Competition, and Robert Tebb. One key recommendation made by Julian was to play from memory if at all possible and many of the competitors took this advice to heart. Upper sixth student Bhanhee Kim won with his programme which included three contrasting pieces by JS Bach, CM von Weber and Oscar Peterson. Runner-up was Isobel Rose, also upper sixth. Julian said: “Bhanhee’s playing felt like a performance, and had really improved by playing from memory. The Bach showed beautiful phrasing and long melodic passages, the Weber came alive today and the Peterson showed a good sense of style.” Julian’s attendance was made possible thanks to generous sponsorship from The Piano Man Pictured: l-r Isobel Rose, Julian Saphir, Bhanhee Kim, Dame Fanny Waterman and Bob Tebb General Senior School Sixth Form News
