Your support through what has been a difficult and challenging landscape has been unwavering, and audiences are again returning to our events in increasing numbers.

A full series of concerts and recitals for our 55th season is scheduled and it’s a huge personal milestone, as it will be my fiftieth year of programming concerts for you which has been a real pleasure. I was delighted to have been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Arts by Staffordshire University for this music provision in the city.

Next year will mark the Centenary of the City status award for Stoke-on-Trent and I will be adding several events to celebrate this including an Opera Gala with the BBC Philharmonic under the STOKE 100 banner.

The RLPO will be our guest orchestra again together with our ‘residents’ the BBC PHILHARMONIC and the HALLÉ. Amongst the conductors on the podium will be BBC Philharmonic’s Chief Conductor, Finnish born JOHN STORGÅRDS, American EUAN SHIELDS, Halle’s new Assistant Conductor, from Japan NODAKA OKISAWA and Germans, ERINA YASHIMA and CLEMENS SCHULDT. A truly international line-up.

Soloists include Leeds Piano Competition winner ANNA TYSBULEVA, pianist SIMON CALLAGHAN, Russian cellist ANASTASIA KOBEKINA and German violinist CHRISTIAN TETZLAFF, all making their débuts. Organist and broadcaster, ANNA LAPWOOD, will play the Poulenc Concerto.

MANCHESTER CAMERATA with the KANTOS CHOIR, will play a one-off matinee performance on the Sunday before Christmas of Handel Messiah.

At Stoke Repertory Theatre, our Piano Masters Series opens with four hands at one keyboard, when PAVEL KOLESNIKOV is joined by SAMSON TSOY with a wonderful programme including Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. Ukrainian born Australian pianist, ALEXANDER GAVRYLYUK, makes his debut and Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition winner, the popular LEON McCAWLEY returns. I am introducing a ‘Piano Extravaganza’ on May 8th when ARIEL LANYI will play a matinée performance. MARTIN JAMES BARTLETT and MARIAM BATSASHVILI appear in the evening.

An exciting season of wonderful music awaits you in the Autumn. Enjoy the summer and I look forward to welcoming you again in October.

Mike Lloyd OBE, Hon DArt.