Recently appointed Artistic Director, Piers Lane AO announced last week important changes, both structural and cosmetic, to the Sydney International Piano Competition of Australia (SIPCA) and invited applications from across the globe for the eleventh contest in its eminent history, to be held in July next year.

Lane’s changes will be felt at all levels. One of the most significant moves he has made is to name the prizes in honour of respected Australian pianists. This year’s entrants will now compete for a first and second major cash prize which will honour Ernest Hutcheson and Percy Grainger respectively, as well as the Eileen Joyce Concerto prize. There is also a People’s Choice Prize named after Rex Hobcroft AM who founded the competition with Claire Dan, AM, OBE in 1977.

Lane, who has shared a long history with SIPCA, winning the prize for Best Australian Pianist in 1977 and also serving as a judge in 2004, said, “This competition is renowned as one of the greatest piano competitions in the world and it distinguishes Australia as the host nation, so it seemed an obvious opportunity to recognise the strength of Australia’s pianistic culture and celebrate some of our...