Part of Chetham’s International Piano Summer School 2026.
Between Wednesday 12 – Saturday 22 August, Chetham’s International Piano Summer School brings world class and legendary musicians to a vibrant, supportive community in central Manchester, now celebrating it’s 25th anniversary year. Alongside lectures, open lessons and opportunities to develop new skills, you can discover a daily programme of recitals from world-class performers.
Seating for these events will be unallocated. If you have any access requirements, please do let us know at boxoffice@stollerhall.com or on 0333 130 0967. You can find out more about access in our building here. Our venue will be open half an hour before each public performance and will close in between performances.
Day Two
Lunchtime Recital: Ariel Lanyi, 1.45pm-2.30pm
Tickets £5.50. Students/U18 Free
The first in the series of lunchtime recitals for 2026.
In March 2023, Ariel Lanyi was honored to receive the Prix Serdang, a Swiss prize awarded by the distinguished Austrian pianist Rudolf Buchbinder. The prize is endowed with CHF 50,000 and is not a competition, but a recognition of a young pianist’s achievements and an investment in their future.
Prior to this, Ariel won 3rd prize at the 2021 Leeds International Piano Competition, performing Brahms Concerto No. 2 with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Andrew Manze in the finals. In the same year, he was a winner of the Young Classical Artists Trust International Auditions.
Current highlights include returns to the Wigmore Hall and to the Miami International Piano Festival, as well as a tour of Asia.
Programme:
BEETHOVEN Diabelli Variations
Piano Summer School Lecture: “What about the Twiddly Bits?” with Charlotte Turner, 5.15pm-6pm
Tickets £11.50, Students/U18 £5.50
This lecture explores how to approach ornamentation in Baroque keyboard music by understanding the expressive logic behind it. Charlotte Turner will discuss the principles of preparation, dissonance and resolution, showing how ornaments arise naturally from harmonic tension and release. Participants gain practical tools for shaping “twiddly bits” with stylistic confidence and musical purpose.
Raculty Gala Recital, 7pm
Tickets £22.50, Students/U18 £5.50
The now traditional Gala Recital featuring some of the outstanding members of the faculty.
Heidi Rolfe and Ben Frith:
Martin ELLERYBY 5 Lowry Pictures – No. 2 and 5
John Thwaites:
BRAHMS Intermezzo Op. 119 No. 1
BRIDGE “Rosemary”
Honor O’Hea and Robert Andres:
DEBUSSY Scottish March on a Popular Theme (Earl of Ross March)
Nikita Fitenko:
PROKOFIEV Sonata No. 6 4th movement “Vivace”
Nellie Seng:
SCRIABIN Fantasie
Nina Tichman and Callum McLachlan:
KURTÁG Erinnerungsbrockenaus einer Kolindenmelodie (Játékok III)
J.S. BACH Allein Gott in der Höh´sei Ehr (BWV 711)
KURTÁG Zorniger Chorale (Játékok IV)
J.S. BACH Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir (BWV 687)
KURTÁG Hand in hand (Játékok VIII)
J.S. BACH Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit/Actus tragicus (BWV 106)
Douglas Finch:
Improvisation on themes from the audience
Leon McCawley, 8.30pm
Tickets £22.50, Students/U18 £5.50
“One of today’s most impeccably musical pianists.” International Piano, January/February 2021
Praised for his unfailingly communicative playing, British pianist Leon McCawley has been delighting audiences worldwide since winning, in 1993, First Prize in the International Beethoven Piano Competition in Vienna and Second Prize at the Leeds International Piano Competition. His many concert performances and extensive discography have established him as a pianist of great integrity and variety, bringing freshness and vitality to Classical, Romantic and 20th century repertoire. McCawley’s latest CD of Haydn Sonatas Volume IV for SOMM Recordings is no exception: “There is real freshness to McCawley’s playing throughout, concomitant with a sense of Haydn’s delight in playing with form. Captured in superb sound, this is one of McCawley’s finest discs to date”. (International Piano, December 2021).
MOZART Sonata in G major K283
Fanny MENDELSSOHN: Notturno in G minor H337
FAURÉ Nocturne No. 4 in E flat major Op. 36
BEETHOVEN Sonata in C major Op. 2 No. 3
