The initiative, which aims to raise funds for two high profile music charities, Nordoff Robbins and Live Music Now, has also received contributions from Grammy award-winning opera singer Sir Thomas Allen, comedienne Jenny Éclair and TV and radio presenter Maggie Philbin, amongst others.

The exhibition has been timed to coincide with the world famous Leeds International Piano Competition, which was recently called ‘one of the great classical music competitions’, by Prime Minister David Cameron.

The University of Leeds is a long standing supporter of the competition which is still run by Dame Fanny Waterman, one of the original founders.

University of Leeds’ Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Arthur, said: “The University has hosted ‘The Leeds’, as the competition is affectionately known, for much of its 50 year history. It is of international importance and enjoys a well-deserved reputation for excellence within its field, which very much fits in with our own ambition of securing a place within the world’s top 50 universities.  The competition is a great advert for Leeds, Yorkshire and indeed the whole country, and we are proud to be associated with it.”

“The Piano Postcards initiative is our way of strengthening these links, as well as supporting other areas of the musical community. We are grateful to all those who have lent us their support.”

Piano Postcards invites famous faces associated with Yorkshire or the music world to create a highly individual postcard celebrating music. All postcards will be framed and displayed as part of a special exhibition at the University before being auctioned on eBay after the Piano Competition ends later this month. Funds raised will be split between the two charities.

Lucy Galliard from Live Music Now commented: “This is a fantastic, imaginative initiative by the University which we are proud to be associated with; it’s a great example of how the musical world and artistic community can come together to lend mutual support.”

Jo Carter, Director of Fundraising and Communications for Nordoff Robbins commented: “Piano Postcards is an inspiring initiative forging together the world of art and music with some of the UK’s most admired celebrities. The funds raised will help Nordoff Robbins to continue to transform the lives of vulnerable children & adults through music therapy. As this exhibition coincides with the world famous Leeds International Piano Competition, it is a fantastic platform for emerging talent all round. We are honoured to be involved.”

The Leeds, which runs from 29 August – 16 September, has featured prize winners from 28 different countries since its launch in 1961. It has launched the careers of some of the world’s pre-eminent pianists including Murray Perahia, Radu Lupu, Andras Schiff, Mitsuko Uchida, Lars Vogt, Louis Lortie and Artur Pizarro. This year’s competition attracted 270 entries from over 20 countries and 63 selected pianists will compete in front of an international jury with the winner announced on Saturday 15 September.

The piano postcards will be on display at the University’s Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery which is supported by the Friends of University Art and Music (Leeds), a charitable organisation that promotes and supports art and music. The exhibition will be open to the public for three weeks from Monday 17 September 2012. For full details please visit www.leeds.ac.uk/leedspiano.

More information on the Leeds International Piano Competition can be found at http://www.leedspiano.com/. Tickets for the event can be purchased from http://www.leedsconcertseason.com/ or by phoning 0113 224 3801.

Further information:

Contact Matthew Balmforth, Jo Taylor, Kate Mathews or Gill Alexander, email: uofl@lucre.co.uk , Tel: 0113 243 1117

Or contact University of Leeds Press Office, email: pressoffice@leeds.ac.uk , Tel: 0113 343 4196