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.
EPTA UK Winners Recital, 1.45pm-2.30pm
Tickets £5.50. Students/U18 Free
Overall Winner of the 2026 EPTA UK Piano Competition Tiantian Gao
Tiantian Gao, aged 12, is a dedicated young pianist who started learning the piano aged 4. Since the age of nine, she has studied piano with Dr Murray McLachlan and received regular guidance from Professor Christopher Elton, while studying music theory and composition with Dr Michael Ball.Tiantian was awarded the ATCL diploma with Distinction from Trinity College London at age nine, followed by the LTCL diploma with Distinction at age ten. At the age of eleven, she achieved the FTCL diploma and a Distinction in ABRSM Grade 8 Theory.
Most recently, she was named the Overall Winner at the 2026 EPTA UK National Piano Competition. Her other competitive achievements include being awarded First Prize at the London Chopin Competition, the Claude Biggs Memorial Cup and the John Field Cup at the Feis Ceoil, and First Prize at the Euregio Piano Award.
Tiantian has been selected to participate in the Ettlingen International Competition for Young Pianists in Germany this August. Beyond her musical studies, her interests include reading, drawing, traveling and languages.
CHOPIN
Fantaisie in F minor, Op.49
Mazurkas Op.59 1 in A minor 2 in Ab major 3 F# minor
Variations on “Là ci darem la mano”, Op. 2
A Recital by Pavel Nersessian, 7pm
Tickets £22.50, Students/U18 £5.50
We are delighted to welcome Pavel Nersessian to the Stoller Hall and the summer school. “His performance brought a veritable roar of approval from the audience,” wrote the Irish Times, after Pavel Nersessian received the 1st Prize in the GPA Dublin International Piano Competition in 1991. Being one of the most remarkable pianists of his generation in Russia, he is known for his ability to play equally convincingly in the whole palette of the piano repertoire. He won prizes in the Beethoven Competition in Vienna in 1985, the Paloma O’Shea Competition in Santander, and the Tokyo Competition.
MENDELSSOHN 6 Songs without words Op. 67
FAURÉ Valse-caprice No. 2 Op. 38
FAURÉ Barcarolle Op. 41
FAURÉ Two excerpts from Pelleas and Melisande op. 80: Sicilienne (arr.by the author), La Fileuse (arr. by A. Cortot
RAVEL Gaspard de la nuit
A Recital by Peter Donohoe, 8.30pm
Tickets £22.50, Students/U18 £5.50
“Peter Donohoe played as if visited by the spirit of Rachmaninov.” The Guardian
“I cannot imagine a living pianist capable of improving upon Donohoe’s outstanding artistry.” Robert Matthew-Walker, Musical Opinion
We are delighted to welcome back Peter Donohoe, former Chetham’s student and a much loved regular on the faculty of the summer school.
BACH/BUSONI Chaconne in D minor BWV 1004
WEBERN Variations Op 27
SCHUBERT Sonata in A major D664
BACH/BUSONIPrelude and Fugue in Eb Major (‘St Anne’) BWV 552
