Hastings International Piano
Timeline
Hastings Musical Festival founded and includes Concerto classes until 1993
1908
White Rock Theatre, then known as White Rock Pavilion, opened by HRH Edward, Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII. Henry Wood, founder of the BBC Proms, conducts the inaugural concert given by Hastings Municipal Orchestra.
1927
1930s
Piano luminaries such as Vladimir Horowitz and (left to right) Artur Rubinstein, Sergei Rachmaninov and conductor Sir Edward Elgar perform at White Rock
BBC broadcasts the first of three consecutive Christmas Day concerts from the White Rock, after the King's Speech.
White Rock Pavilion modified including an upgrade of the acoustics, making it one of the most acoustically advanced concert halls in the UK
Decca Records use White Rock Pavilion as a recording studio and BBC broadcast radio concerts.
1935
1946
1937
Bexhill schoolboy Philip Ledger, later an eminent musician and director of the choir of King's College Cambridge 1964-82, wins Musical Festival Under 9 Pianoforte class
Philip Ledger wins first prize in the Senior concerto class in the Hastings Musical Festival.
Frank Wibaut, future Artistic Director of HIPCC, wins First Prize in Hastings Musical Festival concerto class
1983-93
Hastings Musical Festival concerto class adjudicators include oboist Lady Evelyn Barbirolli and composer, conductor and musician Ruth Gipps
1985
1956
1968
Jonathan Marten proposes that the piano concerto competition should be relaunched and an organising committee formed with Molly Townson as chair and Sir Philip Ledger CBE as Artistic Adviser
White Rock Pavilion undergoes £1m refurbishment and reopens as White Rock Theatre
1993
Last year that Hastings Musical Festival included an adult concerto class
2004
1st Hastings Piano Concerto Competition takes place, with Sir Philip Ledger as chair of the competition jury until 2011
Blüthner Pianos [UK] becomes chief sponsor
Accompanying orchestras: Sussex Concert Orchestra under Kenneth Roberts and Finchley Chamber Orchestra led by David Lardi
2006
1st Competition
2007
2nd Competition
2008
3rd Competition
2005
5th Competition. Michael Foster, MP for Hastings & Rye, introduces the Kowitz Family Foundation who become principal sponsors of the competition
2010
6th Competition
2011
7th Competition
2009
8th Competition. Death of Sir Philip Ledger
Frank Wibaut appointed Artistic Director of the competition
2012
9th Competition. Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra performs for the finals under conductor Brian Wright. The association continues until 2016
Public and schools engagement programme begins with funding from the Arts Council of Great Britain and Hastings Borough Council.
Music in the Meadow' takes place in Priory Meadow, Hastings
2013
2015
2014
10th competition
Yamaha becomes instrument sponsor
Dame Fanny Waterman, co-founder of the Leeds Piano Competition, presents prizes at the competition final
11th Competition
Live auditions take place for the first time
Oscar-nominated director Mike Figgis makes short film of 11th competition titled 'The Battle of Hastings'
12th competition
New work commissioned from Paul Patterson to be performed by competitors: 'Hastings Toccata' Opus 123
Finals held over 2 nights for the first time
2017
2016
13th competition
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performs for the competition finals under conductor Timothy Henty. Bill Turnbull, presenter on Classic FM, acts as compere
2018
14th Competition. RPO performs for the finals, with conductor Jac Van Steen, and compere Bill Turnbull
Directors' Circle founded
15th competition.
RPO become Orchestra in Residence to HIPCC and performs for the finals under conductor Rory Macdonald. John Brunning, presenter on Classic FM, comperes.
Death of Molly Townson
Competition to be biennial in future
2019
Prof Vanessa Latarche appointed curator and Chair of Jury for 2021 competition.
In February, the first Hastings Internation Piano Festival takes place a month before the Covid lockdowns. Performances by artists including Rufus Wainwright, Martin James Bartlett, BBC Young Musician of the Year Fumiya Koido & Sylvia Jiang with the RPO.
Hastings International Piano is registered as an independent charity with
In November, HIP Digital Festival is live-streamed
HIP announces a partnership with Steinway who will supply instruments for the 2021 competition
2020
2021
16th Competition postponed due to COVID, first to summer 2021 and then to 2022
20 HIPCC finalists from previous competitions present on-line recitals from around the world during lockdown
Vanessa Latarche appointed Artistic Director of Hastings International Piano
16th Competition: Stages 1 and 2 held at Rye Creative Centre for the first time
An orchestra - RCM Prince Consort Orchestra, under Simon Crawford Phillips - plays for the semi finals for the first time.
RPO, conducted by Rory Macdonald, performs for Finals
2022
2023
Prize Winners' Concert at White Rock Theatre with soloists Shunta Morimoto and Mariamna Sherling with the RPO. The concert is broadcast by Classic FM
Sir Stephen Hough becomes Patron of HIPCC
17th Competition
Southbank Sinfonia performs for Semi-finals and RPO for Finals, both conducted by Rory Macdonald
New work commissioned from
Lera Auerbach, ‘Time Unredeemable’ performed by all competitors in Stage2
2025
Patron Stephen Hough gives recital in aid of Hastings International Piano and agrees to write new work for 2026 competition
