What makes this Competition different, is that it represents the culmination of many local existing Beethoven competitions held in the UK’s leading music colleges and conservatoires. The winners go on to compete in this ‘higher order’ competition so that music lovers can enjoy the thrill of ‘spotting’ top young Beethoven interpreters of the future even before the general concert-going public gets the chance. That is why the outright winner is presented by the Master of the Worshipful Company of Musicians with the Company’s Beethoven Medal and why winners from the last four years have also been auditioned and awarded Wigmore Hall debut recitals by the Company.

The Competition begins at 2pm, when candidates are grouped into three rounds of three pianists, each of which performs a complete Beethoven Sonata of their own choice together with an obligatory Bagatelle by Beethoven. By 6pm the Jury is ready to withdraw to consider its verdict, during which time refreshments are served followed by the Presentation of Prizes at 6.30pm. Juries in the past have included the many internationally known authorities, among them: Stephen Kovacevich, Peter Frankl, Radoslav Kvapil, William Kinderman, Bernard Roberts, David Wilde, Jerome Rose, Murray McLachlan, Sulamita Aronowsky and Alan Walker. Already in the calendar is a Beethoven (Junior) Intercollegiate Piano Competition which will take place on 18th March 2012.