Former pilot wins prestigious piano comp for second time

Ian Lucas says playing an instrument is wonderful emotional therapy.

by Richard Bruinsma 

Montville’s Ian Lucas has achieved a remarkable feat by winning the prestigious Sydney Piano Lovers Competition – open to amateur Australian and New Zealand pianists over 30 - for the second time in a row.

Ian started playing at a very early age and gave it up totally in his late teens as he pursued a 30-year aviation career culminating as an airline pilot.

“I entered for the challenge of entering, so I was way more pleased than I thought I would be, the surprise was very unexpected and nice,” Mr Lucas said.

Ian paid tribute to his late mother Joan, his first piano teacher when he was a child, for persevering and planting the seeds for his later-life persistence to work hard to be the best musician he can be.

“She always insisted I play whatever piece I could manage as beautifully as I can,” Mr Lucas said.

“She was also the most amazingly patient teacher I ever had because I’m not a natural at anything really, and she taught me to just practice and if you don’t get it right, just practice it again, and you’ll improve anyhow, and I did.”

Mr Lucas said playing the piano was useful emotional therapy for him. 

“The mental health of people is often discussed now, and I really do believe that playing the instrument and doing what I’ve done, has actually helped me emotionally. It’s given me something to look forward to and work for. And when I was preparing for the comp I was really enjoying using the actual energy required to prepare, and it made me feel energised, as if going on a run and doing better and better each day, and I felt great; playing an instrument is a wonderful release.”  

The Sydney Piano Lovers Competition is held every second year in conjunction with the Sydney International Piano Competition. As part of his first prize, Mr Lucas has been invited to play live at the 2023 competition in Sydney.

“It’s a personal thrill. The Sydney competition is very well attended – it’s presented in a hall that holds 2500 to 3000 people and it always sells out, so it’s playing to a big audience … the prize is worth the thrill of participation,” Mr Lucas said.