Uchida is a co-director, alongside the American pianist Richard Goode, of the Marlboro Festival in Vermont. Its format, bringing together young musicians and seasoned artists, who rehearse chamber music and only perform when they feel ready, is one she finds invigorating.

Each time I come out of Marlboro thinking I've learnt something. As I don't teach, this is my chance to be a repenting pianist doing community service!

The other area she regards as 'close to teaching' is her work for the newly formed BB Trust.

BB stands for Borletti-Buitoni. It all began when I was talking to a friend of mine called Ilaria Borletti, under a beautiful Italian sky and over a glass of wine. We were discussing how difficult life is for young musicians. She came back to me and said she wanted to start a trust for young musicians, and would I help, and I said "Of course". Now we have already had the first five award winners. And there are grants for other people who were not award winners.

It is for people who have left college and are out in the big world. We give them a bit extra to further their careers and make their lives as musicians possible. For example, if one of the scholarship winners needs to travel to study, think of the cost of two airline tickets, one for the cello. One of the award winners wanted to go back to college to study something other than music. Would we support it? One hundred times, yes. It's quite flexible, tailor-made for each performer.

Interview by Brian Hunt