One Australian player has made the long list of contestants for Japan’s prestigious Sendai International Music Competition, an event held every three years in the violin and piano disciplines.

Leanne McGowan is among the 41 violinists have been selected to take part in this year’s competition, the preliminary rounds of which will take place from 24 to 26 May 2025. Twelve competitors will progress to the semi-finals, which will be held 30 May to 1 June.

Six finalists will be chosen to perform in the final round from 5 to 7 June, with a prizewinners’ gala concert on 8 June.

Leanne McGowan

McGowan completed the Professional Performance Program at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) before earning her Bachelor of Music at the Colburn Conservatory, Los Angeles.

She has already collected several awards and honours including the Australian Music Foundation Nora Goodridge Developing Artist Award, the Aspen Summer Music Festival Fellowship, and the Dorcas McClean Travelling Scholarship for Violinists Competition.

McGowan was awarded the ANAM Director’s Prize in 2020.

McGowan has played with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, and the Colburn Orchestra and has performed as a chamber musician in various...