Fanny Waterman occupies a pre-eminent position in the world of piano teaching ‎and musical competitions- a position recognised with the award of a CBE in the ‎Queen`s birthday honours in June 2000 and followed by a DBE in the New Years ‎honours list in 2005. She was also awarded The Distinguished Musician Award of ‎the Incorporated Society of Musicians and a unique Lifetime Achievement Award ‎from the World Federation of International Music Competitions presented at the ‎Federation`s General assembly in the historic Italian city of Reggio Emilia.‎

The holder of honorary doctorates from the universities of Leeds and York, Fanny ‎Waterman was born in Leeds on March 22nd 1920. In 1941 she won a scholarship ‎to the Royal College of Music to study with Cryil Smith. In 1943 her studies were ‎curtailed by the war and she left the RCM with an outstanding testimonial from Cyril ‎Smith- “a brilliantly gifted pianist and musician who will be a source of inspiration to ‎her pupils”.‎

Her solo career flourished at national level after the war and she appeared in a ‎number of BBC recitals and concerts. Following the birth of her first child in 1950, ‎she decided to concentrate on teaching and established a national and ‎international reputation with many of her pupils making successful international ‎careers.‎
With her friend Marian Harewood, she has compiled and written over thirty tutorial ‎volumes which are widely used educational material for budding pianists. She has ‎given masterclasses on five continents and on television and radio.‎

In 1961 with the late Marian Thorpe, then Countess of Harewood, she founded the ‎Leeds International Piano Competition and, over the years, through Fanny`s ‎inspiration, sheer determination and energy, the Leeds has become established as ‎one of the world’s premier music competitions.‎