Sylviane Deferne

Sylviane Deferne, born in 1965 in Geneva, Switzerland, is a pianist and music educator. She began piano studies at age five and earned the first prize for virtuosity with distinction from the Conservatoire de musique de Genève in 1977. Deferne achieved notable success in international competitions, including third place at the 10th Épinal International Piano Competition in 1985 and the first prize at the Frank Martin competition in Utrecht. She was also a finalist at the Clara Haskil competition and won second prize at the William Kapell competition in 1989. In 2007, Deferne collaborated with Charles Dutoit and the New Philharmonia Orchestra of London to record Francis Poulenc's Concerto for Two Pianos. She performed as a soloist with orchestras such as the Orchestre de la Suisse romande and the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington D.C.