Dame Fanny Waterman dies at 100

She remained its chairman and artistic director until her retirement in 2015 at the age of 95.

Born in Leeds in 1920, she studied with Tobias Matthay, and later at the Royal College of Music with Cyril Smith. Following a notable performing career, she pursued a passion for teaching, and gave masterclasses around the world, appearing on television and radio. She compiled a series of publications entitled Piano Lessons with Fanny Waterman/Marion Harewood, which now runs to 30 volumes and has sold over 3 million copies.

In recognition of her services to music, Fanny Waterman was awarded an OBE in 1971, the CBE in 1999 and in 2005 she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. In 2004 Dame Fanny Waterman received the Freedom of the City of Leeds, the highest honour the City can bestow and, in 2009, was invited to become President of the esteemed Harrogate International Festivals. She was made an Honorary Member of the Royal Philharmonic Society in 2010.

Adam Gatehouse, artistic director of The Leeds, said: 'Dame Fanny was a force of nature, a one-off, 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, particularly piano music, that was totally impossible to resist.

'From nothing she created the world’s most prestigious piano competition and chose to do so not in London but in Leeds, at the time a dark, industrial but incredibly lively and vibrant town in the North of England. From small beginnings it swiftly grew as word spread that here was a competition where music and the musicians came first.

'The lives she has touched, both through the competition, but also through her teaching and piano books, are too numerous to mention. She was quite simply irreplaceable, and to have had the chance to work with her and eventually succeed her as artistic director of The Leeds has been one of the greatest privileges and joys of my life.'