Win Two VIP Tickets for Newcastle Piano Festival's Benefit Gala

The Newcastle Piano Festival (Newcastle's first and only festival celebrating all things piano) is an innovative music festival created to inspire and empower the community of Newcastle. The festival launched last year and is the brainchild of Annie Ball and Victoria Robinson; two classically trained pianists from the North East. ‘We believe there is a need to break away from the standard concert hall scene and make classical music accessible to people from all walks of life,’ they say. 'There is an abundance of research showing the importance of music in enriching quality of life, boosting overall mental wellbeing, reducing stress, improving memory and even improving children’s performance in school.

‘Our dream is to create a festival that offers a range of different concerts boasting a high quality and professional roster that appeal to a variety of different audience groups whilst simultaneously providing a platform to help support struggling artists in the North East. We want to create our own, local industry for freelance musicians as well as being a soundboard to amplify our local musicians on the national and international stage.’

Community, innovation and excellence are the pillars of The Newcastle Piano Festival. ‘In addition to this year’s Under 25s theme, we strive to target people of all ages and backgrounds by creating a diverse programme which caters for all,’ they add. ‘We are following in the footsteps for what orchestral playing has done for young people in the region with Sistema and In Harmony and we’re using the piano as the instrument of choice as the vehicle for growth and transformation.’

This fabulous celebratory evening will include a recital from international award-winning Murasaki Duo and a VIP pre-concert event with Champagne and canapés (where you can meet the artists and hear more about The Newcastle Piano Festival).

Erik and Miko from the Murasaki Duo are coming all the way across the pond to perform. Since its founding in 1996 at the Juilliard School, the Murasaki Duo has been dedicated to performing the cello and piano literature as chamber music. Named in homage to Lady Murasaki, who is thought to be the author of the world’s first novel, cellist Eric Kutz and pianist Miko Kominami weave their instruments’ voices together in a unique and compelling equal partnership.

To be in with a chance of winning two VIP tickets to the Benefit Gala on 31st May, simply enter our competition below.

Enter by post

Send your name and contact details on a postcard to Living North, Studio 2, St Nicholas Chare, Newcastle NE1 1RJ. Mark your entries, Piano.

Enter online

Simply log in and enter using the online form linked to this competition, see below. All entries to be received by 19th May.