Sydney International Piano Competition juror Noriko Ogawa has achieved considerable renown throughout the world since her success at the 1987 Leeds International Piano Competition. Ogawa frequently appears with all the major European, Japanese and US orchestras and recent and forthcoming engagements include performances with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Czech National Symphony Orchestra and the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra. Ogawa is also renowned as a recitalist and chamber musician and toured Japan with the Berlin Philharmonic Wind Ensemble and the leader of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Rainer Honeck. In addition to recording and performing, Ogawa is a sought-after presenter, both on radio and television, recently appearing on BBC Worldwide in ‘Visionaries’ as an advocate for Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu, as well as in programmes for NHK and Nippon Television in Japan.

1. As a juror, what do you look for in a pianist taking part in a competition? 
Nowadays, young pianists have amazing technical abilities. I will be looking for a pianist who can interpret what composers have written down in manuscript and communicate this through music.

2. Did you ever compete, yourself, and if so, what do you recall as being good and...