This year's Ribble Valley International Piano Week takes place from Sunday, July 6th, until Saturday the 12th at the usual venue of the Centenaries Theatre, St Mary's Hall, Stonyhurst College.

Paul Lewis – whose teacher was the famous Alfred Brendel – will give a thrilling opening concert with a programme of Mozart, Schubert and Ligeti. Another exceptional pianist, Noriko Ogawa, will be featured for an evening of Debussy, Chopin and Mussorgsky's brilliant "Pictures at an Exhibition". The Musical Director, Martin Roscoe, always provides inspirational performances and this year will be performing on three occasions.

He is giving a solo concert of Beethoven and joining ensembles to play, amongst other items, Brahms' "Horn Trio", Beethoven's "Violin Sonata in F" (Spring) and Piano Quartets by Mozart and Brahms.

Following a standing ovation last year for his gala performance with Martin Roscoe in a two piano concert, Ashley Wass is returning to perform works by Mozart, Liszt and Elgar (his own piano version of the "Enigma Variations").

To keep ticket prices similar to last year, Piano Week organisers hope to attract sponsorship. If you have a special anniversary, event or birthday to celebrate, you could have a concert bearing your name to mark the occasion.

Sponsorship packages, all including tickets, are available. Anyone interested in sponsorship or becoming a Friend or Patron of the Piano Week should contact committee member Dorothy Richards on 01254 249694 or e-mail: andrewfrichards@talk21.com

Tickets for this year's concerts should be available in early May and Friends and Patrons of Piano Week will receive an early mailing with the opportunity to reserve specific seats for each event.