▁taking ▁a ▁" l ifest yle ▁approach " ▁and ▁foc uss ing ▁on ▁music , ▁wine ▁and ▁food . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 8 ▁P iers ▁Lane ▁A O . ▁Lane . ▁passed ▁the ▁Art istic ▁Director ship ▁to ▁his ▁friend ▁and ▁colle ague , ▁Kath ry n ▁St ott , ▁also ▁a ▁leading ▁international ▁pian ist ▁based ▁in ▁Manchester ; ▁The ▁ 2 0 1 8 ▁programme ▁& ▁Festival ▁was ▁a ▁res ounding ▁success ▁with ▁the ▁second ▁highest ▁box ▁office ▁on ▁record . ▁The ▁ 2 0 1 7 ▁Festival ▁- ▁the ▁last ▁under ▁P iers ▁Lane , ▁was ▁the ▁highest ▁on ▁record . ▁ ▁A udi ence ▁Festival ▁attend ance ▁has ▁reached ▁over ▁ 1 7 , 0 0 0 ▁in ▁recent ▁years , ▁with ▁the ▁free ▁concert ▁in ▁the ▁park ▁attract ing ▁close ▁to ▁ 5 , 0 0 0 ▁at ten de es . ▁About ▁ 6 0 % ▁of ▁the ▁Festival ▁audience ▁are ▁visitors ▁to ▁Town sv ille , ▁mostly ▁intr ast ate ▁and ▁inter state ▁visitors . ▁International ▁guests ▁make ▁up ▁ 2 - 3 % ▁of ▁the ▁audience . ▁ ▁Winter school ▁An ▁important ▁element ▁of ▁the ▁festival ▁is ▁its ▁education ▁program . ▁The ▁A FC M ▁Winter school ▁provides ▁young ▁emer ging ▁mus icians ▁and ▁school ▁students ▁with ▁co aching ▁and ▁development ▁opportun ities . ▁Master classes ▁by ▁visit ing ▁mus icians ▁are ▁offered ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁Winter school ▁program . ▁Each ▁year ▁approximately ▁ 2 5 ▁t ert i ary ▁level