Queen Elisabeth Competition: Public Prize for Valère Burnon

Created in 1937 by the great music lover Queen Elisabeth, wife of King Albert I, the competition aims to offer young musicians the opportunity to develop their careers at an international level. 

This international Queen Elisabeth Competition has several original features, the first of which is that the members of the jury, composed of internationally renowned musical personalities, do not discuss together; the results are announced on the basis of confidential notes. This is followed by the study of an unpublished work during a week-long retreat for the candidates at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Waterloo. The final usually takes place at Bozar in Brussels.

A different instrument is highlighted each year: the violin, singing, the cello or the piano, as will be the case in 2025.

Twelve pianists made it through to the final round of a competition involving the performance of a set piece by the Belgian Kris Defoort, and a concerto of their choice.

And while first prize went to Dutchman Nikola Meeuwsen, Belgium's Valère Burnon achieved the wonderful feat of finishing third, also winning the Public Prize. Only once in the history of the competition has a Belgian pianist achieved such a ranking, and that was in 1964, when Jean-Claude Vanden Eynden finished third.

There is no doubt that this pianist from Marche-en-Famenne is opening the doors to a successful international career!