The sound of a piano captivates audiences, and the melodies played by pianists never fail to inspire. Many children and young people aspire to learn this instrument, but mastering it requires immense dedication and effort. Playing any musical instrument is a monumental task. Today, we delve into the life and work of Fanny Waterman—a British pianist and academic piano educator. She is also celebrated as the founder, chair, and artistic director of the Leeds International Piano Competition. Read more about her remarkable journey on leeds-trend.com.
About the Pianist
Fanny Waterman was born in Leeds in 1920 to Russian-Jewish immigrant parents. Her father worked as a jeweller in Leeds. Waterman attended Allerton High School and later studied at the Royal College of Music.
At the age of 21, she began performing publicly, opening the Leeds concert season with the Leeds Symphony Society. In 1942, she performed as one of the soloists at The Proms, playing Bach’s Concerto.
Career Development and Founding of the Leeds International Piano Competition
Waterman not only performed but also devoted herself to teaching future generations of pianists. In the 1960s, she founded the Leeds International Piano Competition, initially serving as its artistic director. From 1981, she became chair of the jury, a position she held until 2015. Waterman was also invited to serve on the jury for other prestigious international piano competitions.
Known for her conservative views, Waterman had a distinctive approach to piano pedagogy in the UK. She authored numerous piano instructional materials, including the “Me and My Piano” series, co-written with Marion Thorpe. This 30-volume series has sold over two million copies.
Waterman also held several leadership roles, including:
- Director of postgraduate piano studies at Leeds College of Music,
- Patron of the Purcell School for Young Musicians,
- Honorary Vice President of the British Society of Women Musicians,
- Honorary President of the Harrogate International Festivals.
Personal Life and Death
In her personal life, Waterman married Dr Geoffrey de Keyser in 1944. Six years later, they welcomed their first son, prompting her to step back from her performing career to focus on teaching. The couple later had another son, Paul de Keyser, who became a musician and composer. Geoffrey de Keyser passed away in 2001.
Remarkably, Waterman continued to participate in competitions and conduct masterclasses into her 90s. She lived to the age of 100, passing away in a care home in Ilkley.
Throughout her life, Waterman received numerous accolades, including:
- Appointment as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1971,
- An honorary Doctor of Music degree from the University of Leeds in 1992,
- Honorary degrees from Leeds Metropolitan University and the University of York.
Fanny Waterman’s Notable Students
Waterman mentored many successful and talented pianists. Here are a few of her distinguished students:
- Jonathan Mark Dansby: A British classical pianist, musicologist, author, and translator. Born in Wakefield in 1935, Dansby studied at Bradford Grammar School and spent 20 years as Waterman’s student. He pursued further education at New College, Oxford, and earned a PhD from the University of Leeds. Dansby won the Commonwealth Piano Competition in 1975 and gained fame for his research in music analysis.
- Paul Christopher Richard Crossley: A British pianist born in Dewsbury in 1944. Crossley graduated from Mansfield College, Oxford, and in 1968 won second prize at the Messiaen Competition in France. He served as artistic director of the London Sinfonietta for six years.
- Benjamin Frith: Born in South Yorkshire in 1957, Frith began studying with Waterman at the age of ten. In 1972, he won the Dudley National Piano Competition. Frith graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Leeds. He later won the gold medal at the Arthur Rubinstein Piano Competition and collaborated with leading orchestras and conductors worldwide.
- Michael Roll: Considered a prodigy of British music, Roll performed with the Birmingham Orchestra at just ten years old. At 17, he won the Leeds International Piano Competition, catapulting him to international fame. He later worked with world-renowned conductors.
We hope this insightful material has provided you with valuable information about the legendary pianist Fanny Waterman and her distinguished students.
