Dame Fanny Waterman, 99, reveals her ‘hurt’ after being forced out of the contest she founded 

Piano legend Dame Fanny Waterman, 99, reveals her ‘hurt’ after being forced out of the contest she founded

  • Dame Fanny Waterman, now 99, ran the Leeds International Piano Competition
  • She stepped down saying at the time she felt ‘ready… to hand over the reins’
  • But now Dame Fanny has told the BBC that the decision was ‘misguided’

A legendary piano teacher has revealed she was ‘hurt’ to be asked to retire from running the world-renowned competition she founded – despite being 95 at the time.

Dame Fanny Waterman, now 99, ran the Leeds International Piano Competition for more than 50 years before stepping down five years ago, saying at the time she felt ‘ready… to hand over the reins’.

But now Dame Fanny, pictured, has told the BBC the decision was ‘misguided’. She said: ‘I didn’t think it was the right time. I wanted to be there for ever.’

Dame Fanny Waterman, now 99, ran the Leeds International Piano Competition for more than 50 years before stepping down five years ago, saying at the time she felt ‘ready… to hand over the reins’

She said the ‘powers that be’ wanted a change. Dame Fanny said she ‘had many, many years more to give of my own passion, my own knowledge and everything’. 

She said the 'powers that be' wanted a change. Dame Fanny said she 'had many, many years more to give of my own passion, my own knowledge and everything'

She said the ‘powers that be’ wanted a change. Dame Fanny said she ‘had many, many years more to give of my own passion, my own knowledge and everything’

Her series of teaching books, Me and My Piano, sold more than two million copies and has never been out of print.

The Leeds competition had planned a special day of events to mark her 100th birthday on March 22, but it has now been changed to a private gathering due to the coronavirus outbreak.

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