The London Piano Competition reached a final crescendo last week when musicians fought for the prize of overall competition winner.

For more than three hours pianists battled it out at Harrow School's Speech Room, playing in solo, duo and ensemble formations.

From little seven-year-old Luka Zatravkin from Russia playing Humoresque by Schedrin to the older Chinese Connie Ying Zhang playing Ravel's La Valse as part of a duo, passions ran high.

But the overall winner was 23-year-old Nata Tsvereli from Tbilisi, Georgia, who played Debussy's Images 1st book, No1. "I'm very happy to have won -- it's heaven being here in Harrow," she said.

Diplomas were handed out during the evening to both teachers and their participating pupils, including a laureate diploma to Ukrainian-born Alina Kabanova, who played a moving Study in F minor by Liszt.

Educated at Crimea's Sevastopol Music School No 1, Alina was equally ecstatic at being offered a bursary to study at the prestigious North London Piano School. "It's a very great prize," said the 16-year-old, "I will be back in the first week of August."

Presenting the prizes, Harrow's Mayor, Councillor Keith Toms, said: "It is a great credit to the organisers of this concert that the music is of such high quality. It is an immense privilege to have such an auspicious event held within the confines of this borough."

Lithuanian ambassador Justas Paleckis said he was pleased that so many Lithuanians were taking part. Looking around at the splendour of the hall and its past pupils, Mr Paleckis added: "Winston Churchill would have been pleased with this competition."

Competition organiser Dr Michael Schreider said: "This competition is a training field for musicians before they take part in such great competitions as the Tchaikovsky."

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