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“ALL roads lead to Leeds and all roads lead from Leeds:” The legendary Leeds piano teacher who died last month, delivered her strapline to a glittering audience at the Finals of the 14th Leeds International Piano Competition. One summer night in 1961, Fanny Waterman discussed with husband Dr Geoffrey de Keyser her audacious proposal for a world class piano competition in the city. The popular Morley family doctor with an encyclopedic knowledge of piano music, was at first dismissive: “This must be held in London”. Geoffrey’s response merely stiffened Fanny’s resolve. A steering committee soon swung into action. Those on the “key board” were Fanny, Geoffrey, Roslyn Lyons - wife of the Leeds financier and arts philanthropist Jack Lyons, and concert pianist Marion Lascelles (nee Stein) Countess of Harewood from 1949-67. Fanny had taught the Lascelles boys to play the piano. She later confided in David, now Lord Harewood, that he had been one of her worst pupils.
Dame Fanny Waterman (1920-2020) - some recollections, with love and affection | reviews, news & interviews Dame Fanny Waterman (1920-2020) - some recollections, with love and affection
Dame Fanny Waterman (1920-2020) - some recollections, with love and affection
The Leeds International Piano Competition s Artstic Director remembers its founder
by Adam GatehouseTuesday, 22 December 2020
Dame Fanny Waterman (centre) with 2018 Leeds international Piano Competition Winner Eric Lu (left) and megastar pianist Lang Lang
Dame Fanny Waterman was a true force of nature, in the best sense of the word. Her diminutive height belied a giant intellectual force and a steely determination to achieve the seemingly unachievable through every means she could muster.
DAME Fanny Waterman, founder and President Emeritus of The Leeds International Piano Competition, died peacefully yesterday at her residential care home in Ilkley, Yorkshire at the age of 100. Born in Leeds (22 March, 1920), Dame Fanny Waterman founded the Leeds International Piano Competition in 1961 with her late husband Dr Geoffrey de Keyser and Marion Thorpe CBE, then the Countess of Harewood. The first event followed in 1963 and she remained its Chairman & Artistic Director until her retirement in 2015 at the age of 95. As President Emeritus she attended live concerts and events until the beginning of 2020, although ambitious plans to celebrate her 100th Birthday in March 2020 had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
BBC News
Published
image captionDame Fanny s exacting teaching style saw her dubbed Field Marshal Fanny
Dame Fanny Waterman, the legendary piano teacher who founded the world-renowned Leeds International Piano Competition, has died aged 100.
It was announced on Sunday that she had died peacefully in her residential care home in Ilkley, Yorkshire.
Dame Fanny was a gifted pianist herself before turning to teaching and setting up the competition she ran for 54 years before stepping down in 2015.
Its current artistic director said she was a force of nature [and] one-off .
Adam Gatehouse went on to call her a unique figure in our cultural firmament who infused everyone with whom she came into contact with a passion and enthusiasm and sheer love of music .