This year’s Ribble Valley International Piano Week, from July 10 to 16, is set to be held at a new venue in Blackburn.

After many years at the Centenaries Theatre, Stonyhurst, the annual festival featuring pianists from around the world is moving to Westholme Theatre, Blackburn.

The theatre at Westholme School offers a larger seating capacity and state-of-the-art facilities.

And 2011 will see Yamaha providing one of their newly-launched and re-designed CFX Concert Grands.

Starting on Saturday, July 10 with daily concerts throughout the week, the festival has been named by BBC Music Magazine and Classic FM as a highlight of the UK’s classical music calendar.

Artistic director Martin Roscoe features in both the first and the last nights of the festival and also gives a solo lunchtime recital.

He is joined for the opening concert on July 10 at 7.45pm by Peter Cropper and Moray Welsh in an evening of music for piano trio, (programme includes Haydn piano trio in A, Liszt Tristia, Beethoven piano trio in D (ghost) and Dvorak’s piano trio in F minor.

The Cropper/Welsh/Roscoe trio are regular and popular performers at Piano Week.

Martin will also participate in the closing concert of the festival on July 16 with his long-term piano duo partner, Peter Donohoe with a hotly-anticipated and exotic two piano concert.

Evening concerts will begin at 7.45pm, lunchtime concerts at midday.

The Ribble Valley International Piano Week takes place from July 10 to 16. All performances will be held at the new venue, Westholme Theatre, Meins Road, Blackburn. Tickets start from £12-£30 visit www.rvipw.org.uk for details.