VIOLINIST Jennifer Pike and the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra open the Leeds International Orchestral Season 2016/17 at Leeds Town Hall on Saturday, October 8.

Jennifer performs Sibelius’ Violin Concerto which is regarded as one of the most challenging concertos to play. Under the baton of chief conductor Vladimir Fedoseyev, the orchestra performs Borodin’s Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor and Tchaikovsky’s epic Symphony No 5 which has been used by the choreographer Massine for a ballet and Glenn Miller set lyrics to the second movement for his song, Moon Love.

Jennifer has taken the musical world by storm with her unique artistry and compelling insight into music from the Baroque to the present day. She gained international recognition in 2002, when, along with becoming the youngest-ever winner of the BBC Young Musician of the Year, became the youngest major prize-winner in the Menuhin International Violin Competition. At 15 she made acclaimed debuts at the BBC Proms and Wigmore Hall, and soon after she became a BBC New Generation Artist, winner of the International London Music Masters Award and the only classical artist ever to win the South Bank Show/Times Breakthrough Award. She is in demand as soloist with major orchestras worldwide and appears frequently on radio and television.

For nearly 40 years, Vladimir Fedoseyev has led the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra. His interpretations are famous for their depth, artistic passion and great sensitivity for the national character of Russian music. Vladimir Fedoseyev has created in the Orchestra a specific melodious emotional style that distinguishes it from others and has helped it to earn worldwide acclaim. Vladimir Fedoseyev and the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra have recorded extensively for a variety of labels including Ariola, JVC, Musica, Philips, Pony Canyon, Relief Records and Sony Classical. The orchestra’s recording of Rimsky Korsakov’s May Night was awarded the Gold Orpheus Prize by the French National Recording Academy.

Tickets are £12.50-£33.50 and are available from the Box Office on 0113 376 0318 or book online at www.leedsconcertseason.com. Discounts are available for students, under 18s and jobseekers. If you’re under 26 you can purchase tickets for an orchestral concert for just £5 in the seven days before the concert.

To request a copy of the new season brochure, call 0113 378 6600, email music@leeds.gov.uk or download a copy at www.leedsconcertseason.com.