Leif Ove Andsnes
(c) Simon Fowler
The Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University has awarded Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes the $75,000 Jean Gimbel Lane Prize in Piano Performance.
“I am very honored to receive the Jean Gimbel Lane Prize,” Andsnes said. “I am very much looking forward to spending some time at Northwestern University and connecting with the students and audience there.”
In addition to a $75,000 cash award, the Jean Gimbel Lane Prize includes a public recital and two nonconsecutive residencies at the Bienen School of Music. During his first residency in March 2026, Andsnes will engage with students and faculty in activities such as master classes, chamber music coachings, and question-and-answer sessions.
Established in 2005, the biennial Jean Gimbel Lane Prize in Piano Performance honors pianists who have achieved the highest levels of national and international recognition. Previous winners include Richard Goode (2006), Stephen Hough (2008), Yefim Bronfman (2010), Murray Perahia (2012), Garrick Ohlsson (2014), Emanuel Ax (2016), Marc-André Hamelin (2018), Sir András Schiff (2021), and Maria João Pires (2023).
