Salmon Arm's Jaeden Izik-Dzurko continues to garner global recognition as an outstanding pianist. 

From the stage of the St. George's Hall in Bradford, U.K., the 25-year-old Salmon Arm man performed a 50-minute recital, a passionate interpretation of Johannes Brahms' Concerto No. 2 – considered one of the more difficult piano concertos. Accompanied by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the performance ended not only to applause but with Izik-Dzurko being named the winner of the prestigious Leeds International Piano Competition. Held every three years, the competition is open to pianists ages 30 and under. 

In addition to a cash prize of around $54,000, Izik-Dzurko was awarded the Dame Fanny Waterman gold medal and, according to Leeds, he will receive a concerto engagement with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, a Wigmore Hall debut, recitals across the U.K., international tours and more. 

Izik-Dzurko's Leeds win follows his first-place performance in May at the 2024  

Over the past couple of years, Izik-Dzurko has won several international competitions including first prize at the 2022 Hilton Head International Piano Competition and the 2022 Maria Canals International Music Competition.

"Jaeden is a former Bastion, Shuswap Middle School, Jackson, and Sullivan student who was actively involved in Band and Jazz Band," wrote School District 83 in a media release congratulating Izik-Dzurko. "His newly-retired mother, Patricia, a teacher in SD83, was in Leeds to see the semi-final performance that advanced him to the finals. Unretired dad David, a music teacher at Jackson Secondary, remained home to help develop the next generation of great Shuswap musicians!"

After earning a Bachelor of Music degree from The Juilliard School in New York, Izik-Dzurko went on to earn a Masters in Piano Performance from UBC.

On Oct. 4 and 5, Izik-Dzurko will be performing Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30, with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at the Winspear Centre.