The popular Australian pianist will be Artistic Director of the globally recognised award from 2016.

The Sydney International Piano Competition has announced London-based Australian pianist Piers Lane AO as the Artistic Director of the 2016 competition. Lane is already a distinguished figure within the Australian classical music scene, not only for his keyboard skills, but also for his credentials as an experienced curator, most notably as the Artistic Director of the annual Australian Festival of Chamber Music based in the northern Queensland city of Townsville. Lane has accepted the position following the death of Professor Warren Thomson, who had been the Artistic Director of the competition since its inception in 1977. Professor Thomson sadly passed away in February 2015 at his home in Melbourne.

Lane has shared a long history with the Sydney International Piano Competition, winning the prize for Best Australian Pianist at the inaugural SIPCA in 1977, and also serving as a jury member for the competition in 2004.

Commenting on his appointment Lane said he was looking forward to building upon the successes achieved over the competition’s forty-year history. “International competitions play a very significant role in the development of young pianists and their careers and also...