ACCLAIMED pianist Alessandro Taverna is opening the Avon Valley Concert’s 31st season of classical concerts on Friday.

Born in Venice in 1983, Alessandro is flying in from Italy for the recital, which is taking place at 7.30pm at the Trinity Centre in Christchurch Road, Ringwood.

He has performed throughout Europe and the US, including recitals in the Wigmore Hall, the Maggio Musicale in Florence and the Berlin Konzerthaus. He has also already won numerous awards in international competitions, including first prize in the Minnesota International Piano Competition, second prize in the London International Piano Competition and bronze medal at the Leeds International Piano Competition. In 2011 he won the Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli Prize and he has recently received the Premio Giuseppe Sinopoli Prize.

The prestigious Keyboard Trust has presented him in recitals in London, New York, Berlin and Hamburg and he opened the 2009/10 season of the Chateauville Foundation in Castleton, the Virginia estate of Lorin Maazel. His success at the Leeds Competition has led to many engagements throughout the UK including his debuts with the Royal Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

Tickets cost £12 for adults, (£2 students, under 16 free). For more information call 01202 487402, or visit avonvalleyconcerts.com.