The finals with Manchester Camerata were held in Manchester cathedral on August 16 th and 17 th, and a distinguished panel of judges, including Noriko Ogawa, Howard Shelley, Radoslav Kvapil, Dina Parakhina, Martino Tirimo, and Bernard Roberts, under the chair of Murray McLachlan, were highly impressed with the overall standard.

Anja German is a student of Karl Heinz Kammerling and wins the first prize of £1000 plus a substantial series of engagements around the UK. She will also release a debut solo cd on the Dunelm label.

Eligiusz Skoczylas has already won competitions in Poland and will also be given a concert as a result of his win.

The other finalists in the under 22 category were: 12 year old Jan Lisiecki from Calgerry, Canada who played Chopin’s 2 nd piano concerto. He took the joint 2 nd prize along with 18 year old Jamie Bergin of the UK, who played the Schumann concerto. Jamie has just left Chethams school of music. Third prize went to Walid El-Yafi, also a student of Chethams School of Music and he played the Saint Saens 2 nd concerto.

In the 16 and under category, second prize winner was Yun Jae Lee from Korea, playing Mozart’s concerto number 9, K271. Third prize winner went to 15 year old Olga Tynyankina playing the Mozart concerto number 13, K415. Fourth prize was given to Sarah Zejtmann from France, who played the Bach concerto in F minor BWV 1056.