The Leeds International Piano Competition  Piano Trail Festival, is a rich array of music, arts and community events. The Festival programme highlights the transformative power of music and its role in enhancing wellbeing, through performances by Britain’s biggest stars, workshops, free piano lessons, Competition broadcasts, special sessions for parents and babies and more. A celebration of the piano, the Festival complements the final rounds of the world-renowned Leeds International Piano Competition, one of the most prestigious prizes in music.

The programme is split into four strands – ‘Connect’, ‘Listen’, ‘Learn’ and ‘Breathe’ – to highlight ways in which the events can support audience wellbeing. Audiences can connect through exciting open mic sessions, lively jazz performances at Headrow House, engaging family sing sessions and parent and baby sessions, highlighting music’s ability to bring people together. ‘Breathe’ sessions invite audiences to relax and unwind, through immersive soundscapes by Festival Composer in Resonance Ben Gaunt, leisurely walks around the Piano Trail, and Lazy Sunday Afternoons presented by Brudenell Piano Sessions. The Leeds is also offering 90 free piano lessons across the Leeds and Bradford Piano Trails, as well as open Play and Explore sessions where Piano Ambassadors, artists and volunteers will help members of the public engage and learn piano pieces.

Many of the ‘Listen’ events centre around The Leeds’ Sessions, Live @ the Pianodrome: this specially created 150-seat amphitheatre, built entirely from discarded pianos and repurposed as tiered seating, staircases, balustrades and balconies by LIPC Artists in Resonance Pianodrome, will be the main venue at Leeds City Museum’s Brodrick Hall. Pianodrome creators Tim Vincent-Smith and Matt Wright host a special Leeds Session, ‘How to Play a Pianodrome’, unlocking it as an instrument in its own right [7 September].

These events join a host of previously announced concerts and initiatives, including a special evening with stars of Channel 4’s The Piano, Lucy Illingworth and Brad Kella, performing together in public for the first time [31 August].

The full programme of the Piano Trail Festival can be found below. More information and tickets can be found on the Leeds International Piano Competition website.