PIANISTS of all abilities and ages have been honing their skills at a piano masterclass run by Kent Music School in Maidstone. A total of 35 piano players aged from eight to 79 were at the intensive three-day course held at the home of Kent Music School at Astley House.

The course culminated with a performance on Saturday night by well-known concert pianist Andrew Haigh. The event was attended by the deputy Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Pat Marshall.

Awards were presented on the evening to the three pianists who put the most in and got the most out of the course. The Denis Loveland shield was won by Aruni Ratnayake, a pupil at Ashford School. The Michael Wearne trophy was won by Charles Andrews of Kings School, Rochester, and the Harry McAuley award went to nine-year-old Oliver Cave, from Ashford.

The course, set up in memory of former KMS teacher Denis Loveland, began in a small way but has continued to grow thanks to the support of Maidstone Lions Club. The charity has confirmed it will be sponsoring the masterclass for three more years to the tune of £3,000.

The money will be used as a bursary to help pay for people to go on the course - people who would not otherwise be able to afford to do so. One of this year's recipients is a young girl from Kosovo.