▁he ▁received ▁his ▁Di pl ôme ▁Sup érieur ▁for ▁the ▁piano ▁and ▁joined ▁the ▁Chap elle ▁Music ale ▁Re ine ▁Elisabeth ▁for ▁a ▁three - year ▁term ▁of ▁study . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 2 , ▁Alf idi ▁entered ▁the ▁pr estig ious ▁Queen ▁Elisabeth ▁Music ▁Compet ition ▁in ▁Br uss els ▁and ▁won ▁ 3 rd ▁prize ▁in ▁a ▁tight ly ▁cont ested ▁field , ▁placing ▁ahead ▁of ▁the ▁Polish - American ▁E manuel ▁Ax ▁and ▁French man ▁C yp rien ▁K ats aris , ▁highly ▁celebrated ▁pian ists ▁in ▁their ▁own ▁right . ▁ ▁The ▁following ▁year , ▁he ▁took ▁First ▁Prize ▁at ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 3 ▁Conc ours ▁Comple t ▁International ▁in ▁Our ense , ▁Spain . ▁ ▁Several ▁of ▁Alf idi ' s ▁performances ▁from ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 2 ▁Queen ▁Elisabeth ▁Compet ition ▁were ▁issued ▁on ▁LP , ▁including ▁his ▁live ▁Rach man in ov ▁ 3 rd ▁Con cer to ▁from ▁the ▁final ▁round ▁with ▁the ▁Belg ian ▁National ▁Orchestra ▁( on ▁the ▁Deutsche ▁Gr amm oph on ▁label ), ▁and ▁various ▁solo ▁and ▁du o ▁pieces ▁including ▁works ▁of ▁Samuel ▁Bar ber ▁; ▁Fr éd éric ▁Ch op in ▁( B alla de ▁No ▁ 1 , ▁Bar car ol le , ▁Sch er zo ▁N os ▁ 2 ▁& ▁ 4 ); ▁Be eth oven ▁( M oon light , ▁Path étique , ▁App ass ion ata ▁Son at as ); ▁Rach man ino ff ' s ▁P iano ▁Su