Following last year's successful Pianothon event, BBC Radio 3 has joined forces with the Leeds International Pianoforte Competition for Pianothon 2009. The event takes place in Leeds University's Clothworkers Concert Hall, on Saturday 12th September.

The non-competitive celebration of amateur piano-playing will once again be hosted by Sarah Walker, with pianists of all ages and abilities encouraged to take part. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 21st August; entry forms are available here.

Concert pianists Benjamin Frith and Noriko Ogawa will be giving master classes to selected participants throughout the day. Tickets are free if you would like to go along and watch, and audiences are encouraged to come and go as they please.

All of the performances will be recorded and put on the Pianothon website, and some will be broadcast on Radio 3 at a later date. With the Pianothon held on the same day as the Leeds finals, September 12th looks set to quite a day for pianists and pianophiles!

Update:

Last year's Pianothon performances from Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow, London and Manchester are available to download from the BBC Radio 3 website.