The Australian Festival of Chamber Music today announced that the 2017 festival will be Piers Lane’s final year as Artistic Director. English pianist Kathryn Stott – who will be a guest artist next year – will take over the reins from 2018 onwards.

“Piers has been a part of the AFCM family for such a long time that it is inevitably sad to say goodbye,” said Festival Chair Sandra Yates. “But over the past decade, the Festival has doubled in size, and Piers’ stature as an international concert pianist has grown exponentially too. This decision will create new opportunities for Piers, and the Festival, and we part with mutual regard, and the confident expectation that we will welcome Piers back as a performer many times in the years to come.”

Lane’s tenure as Artistic Director has been highly successful, his contract extended a number of times over his 11-year stint in the job. “My times in Townsville have been among the happiest in my career,” he said . “My mother’s side of the family were all born there, so the North is in my blood and my relationship with the Festival...