Tom Hankey was born on May 12, 1985, in London, England. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a renowned pianist and his mother a violinist. From a young age, Hankey showed a keen interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of four. Hankey's parents recognized his talent and encouraged him to pursue a career in music. He began taking formal piano lessons at the age of six and quickly progressed through the grades. By the age of ten, Hankey had already won several local piano competitions and was gaining a reputation as a prodigious talent. At the age of twelve, Hankey was accepted into the prestigious Yehudi Menuhin School in Surrey, England. The school is renowned for its rigorous musical training and has produced some of the world's most celebrated musicians, including Nigel Kennedy and Alina Ibragimova. During his time at the Yehudi Menuhin School, Hankey received intensive training in piano performance, music theory, and composition. He also had the opportunity to work with some of the world's leading musicians, including the pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim. After graduating from the Yehudi Menuhin School, Hankey went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London. There, he continued to hone his skills as a pianist and composer, and he also began to develop an interest in conducting. Hankey's breakthrough performance came in 2005 when he won the prestigious Leeds International Piano Competition. The competition is one of the most prestigious in the world, and previous winners include Murray Perahia and Radu Lupu. Hankey's performance at the competition was widely praised for its technical brilliance and emotional depth. He performed a range of works by composers such as Beethoven, Chopin, and Rachmaninoff, and his interpretation of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 was particularly acclaimed. Following his success at the Leeds International Piano Competition, Hankey began to receive invitations to perform at some of the world's most prestigious concert halls. He made his debut at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 2006, performing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 with the London Symphony Orchestra. Over the years, Hankey has performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the Vienna Philharmonic. He has also collaborated with some of the world's most celebrated conductors, including Sir Simon Rattle, Riccardo Muti, and Valery Gergiev. In addition to his work as a pianist, Hankey has also established himself as a composer and conductor. He has written a number of works for piano, orchestra, and chamber ensembles, and his compositions have been performed by some of the world's leading musicians. As a conductor, Hankey has led performances with orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Philharmonia Orchestra. He has also conducted opera productions at the Royal Opera House in London and the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Hankey's achievements have been recognized with numerous awards and honors. In 2007, he was awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society's Young Artist Award, and in 2010 he was named a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music. In 2014, Hankey was awarded the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, which recognizes outstanding young musicians who have the potential for major careers in music.

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