Leon McCawley leapt into international prominence in 1993 when he won both the Ninth International Beethoven Piano Competition in Vienna, and second prize in the Leeds International Competition, building on earlier successes as winner of the Piano Section of the BBC Young Musician of the Year, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s Pioneer Young Soloist of the Year.

McCawley’s deeply committed performances and engaging musicality have made him a favourite wherever he performs. In recent seasons he has given highly praised recitals at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Wigmore Hall and at the Philharmonie and Konzerthaus in Berlin, the Prinzregententheater in Munich, the Musikverein in Vienna, Tonhalle in Zurich, The Frick Collection in New York, Rudolfinum Prague and Washington DC’s Kennedy Centre.

As a concerto soloist, McCawley is frequently heard with leading British orchestras including the Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, CBSO and Halle. He is regularly broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in recital and has performed at the BBC Proms several times.

He was born in 1973, and studied at Chethams School of Music with Heather Slade-Lipkin before continuing his studies at the Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia with Eleanor Sokoloff. He also acknowledges Nina Milkina for her inspiration and guidance.