Dame Fanny Waterman: My Life in Music

About Fanny Waterman

Born in Leeds Dame Fanny Waterman studied with Tobias Matthay and later as a Scholar at the Royal College of Music London with Cyril Smith. After a notable performing career she felt that her real vocation was as a teacher. Over the years she has given masterclasses on six continents appeared on television and radio and with Marion Harewood has compiled a series of publications entitled Piano Lessons which has achieved sales of two million copies.For the last thirty years she has become a highly sought-after jury member of international competitions including the Tchaikovsky Beethoven Horowitz Hamamatsu Chopin Bach Vina del Mar and UNISA. Several of her students have been prize winners in the Leeds Tchaikovsky Rubinstein Busoni London and Geneva competitions.In recognition of her services to music Dame Fanny was awarded the OBE in 1971 the CBE in 1999 and in 2005 she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. She has also been awarded Honorary Doctorates by the Universies of Leeds Leeds Metropolitan and York and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Music. For nine years she served as Vice-President of the World Federation of International Music Competitions from which she received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002. Earlier in 2001 the Incorporated Society of Musicians bestowed on her its Distinguished Musician Award for her outstanding contribution to music in this country. She is also Vice-President of the European Piano Teachers' Association (EPTA).In 2004 Dame Fanny received the Freedom of the City of Leeds the highest honour the City can bestow and in 2009 was to be invited to become President of the esteemed Harrogate International Festivals. Dame Fanny was made an Honorary Member of the Royal Philharmonic Society in 2010.- See more at: http://www.fabermusic.com/composers/fanny-waterman/biography#sthash.Q9i6gR02.dpuf