Ten-year-old Cypriot pianist wins Grand Prix in London

Local musicTop News Ten-year-old Cypriot pianist wins Grand Prix in London Leonidas Vieni 3 1024x634 Relevant News Ten-year-old Cypriot pianist wins Grand Prix in London 8 August 2026 Two men arrested in Ayia Napa after police find 300 laughing gas capsules 8 August 2026 Monk faces attempted murder investigation after monastery attack in Paphos 8 August 2026 Theodora Nicolaou 8 August 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber The story of Leonidas Nikolaou is one that can inspire younger generations. At just 10 years old, the talented pianist has already made his mark on the international music scene, winning awards and distinctions while representing Cyprus. His biggest achievement so far came in June, when he won the Grand Prix at an international piano competition held at Duke’s Hall at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Leonidas performed Mozart’s famous “Alla Turca” from Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major (K.331) and won the 8–10 age category. A total of 35 young pianists from different countries took part in the competition, with Leonidas the only participant representing Cyprus. His parents told Phileleftheros that his love of music emerged at a very early age. Before he was even two, he showed a strong interest in every musical instrument he came across. He began piano lessons at the age of five, and music has been a central part of his daily life ever since. He now practises for at least an hour and a half every day, while also having three additional lessons each week with his teacher. Leonidas himself says the piano is his great love and that he hopes to make music his profession when he grows up. Asked by Phileleftheros what kind of music he enjoys, he said classical music is his favourite, although he has recently started learning electric guitar. “I want to become a musician and focus more on the piano. My dream is to play piano in the Symphony Orchestra,” he said. His father, Dimitris Nikolaou, said: “Leonidas started playing piano at the age of five, following in the footsteps of his mother, who was a pianist when she lived in Russia. From a young age, it was clear that he liked music. He had the talent, but also the desire to play piano. So he progressed quickly.” Despite being only 10, Leonidas has already competed internationally in Austria and Germany. “One of his most important distinctions came in 2023, when, at the age of seven, he went to Vienna for the first time for the 15th international piano competition. Following his successful appearance, he was invited to the international Clavis music festival in Füssen, Germany, in 2024 and 2025,” his father said. But according to his father, Leonidas’s latest achievement is also his biggest: winning the Grand Prix in London in June, the highest award available at the competition. Another important achievement came in May, when he won the first-prize “Laureate” award at a Cyprus-wide competition held in Paphos. Leonidas’s musical interests extend well beyond the piano. He is a member of a children’s choir and takes part in productions by the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra. He also attends the GC School of Careers and is part of the Academy of the Cyprus Youth Symphony Orchestra, where he studies double bass. Over the past year, he has also started playing electric guitar, expanding his musical interests beyond classical music. Away from music, Leonidas enjoys reading, travelling, spending time with friends and visiting museums, galleries and theatres. One particular favourite is The Lion King musical, which he saw during his stay in London. He also has a strong love of animals and makes a point of caring for stray cats he comes across. His mother, Inna Nikolaou, told Phileleftheros that her son “does not have a desire to compete or to be better than other people”. “He is a very humble and modest child. When he goes on stage, his only aim is to show what he is capable of doing and to share his love of music,” she said. “He often says that he is proud of how well he plays the piano. If you ask him what he is most proud of, he will simply answer: ‘I am proud of how well I play the piano.’ For him, music is not about beating somebody else. It is about expressing himself, sharing his talent and showing, through the piano, the emotions he feels,” she added. “Even if he had not won the competition, he would not have been disappointed. He would have been happy simply because he had the opportunity to perform on such a wonderful stage, share his music with the audience and experience that unforgettable moment. He has a very pure heart,” his mother said. The people supporting him Leonidas’s father said taking part in international competitions, festivals and educational programmes comes with significant financial costs. The family covered the full cost of his participation in the London competition, without financial assistance from the state or any other source. His success at the Royal Academy of Music has since opened new opportunities for the young musician. Internationally renowned pianist and professor Grigory Gruzman, from Germany, invited Leonidas to attend individual masterclasses and begin online lessons with him, to prepare new concert repertoire. His success also moved people to offer practical support for his musical development. Dr Katherine Alexander from Limassol and her associates gave Leonidas a MacBook for his online studies and covered the full cost of one year’s tuition at the GC School of Careers. Leonidas’s family expressed its sincere gratitude to everyone who has believed in his talent and helped his development. They also thanked his piano teacher, Sofi Panagiotopoulou, whose dedication, experience and continuous support, they said, have played a decisive role in his musical development. ‘We are proud of our son’ Leonidas’s parents say they are very proud of what he has achieved. For the family, winning the Grand Prix is not the end of the journey but the beginning of a new chapter. With hard work, dedication and a love of music, Leonidas continues to pursue his dream, representing Cyprus at international music events. 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