The George Frederick Boyle Third Prize valued at $20,000 will be awarded from the stage of the Concert Hall at the Sydney Opera House in the 2023 Sydney International Piano Competition. The prize value is generated from 20 individuals all donating $1,000 each and we invite you to donate towards this collective prize.
Australia has proudly produced some of the world’s greatest pianists and we have welcomed pianists from other parts of the world who have contributed to Australian pianism. The prizes continue to be named in honour of significant and influential Australian pianists.
George Frederick Boyle (1886 – 1948) was born in Sydney and at the age of 15, gave concerts in 280 towns throughout Australia and New Zealand. Paderewski suggested he study with Busoni, his teacher from 1905 to 1910. Through Busoni’s interventions, he debuted under Sir Henry Wood at the Proms in London and succeeded Ernest Hutcheson as Head of Piano at the Peabody Institute (1910-1922) in the United States, where he premiered Debussy’s Preludes. He then taught at the Curtis Institute (1922-1924) and the Julliard Scholl (1923-1940). His students included Aaron Copland and Samuel Barber.