THE 2010 York Late Music Concert Series will conclude with three events next Friday and Saturday at the Unitarian Chapel, St Saviourgate, York.

Richard Casey’s piano recital on December 3 will open with Richard Whalley’s response to MC Escher’s print lithograph Three Worlds, and his 7.30pm programme will interweave pieces by composers based in Manchester and York.

Two works by John Adams, China Gates and Phrygian Gates, will be complemented by a Late Music commission by composer-in-residence, Michael Parkin, founder of Soundpool in York, who will give a pre-concert talk at 6.45pm to introduce the world premiere of Preludes and Fugues.

Joe Howard, a sixth-form student at Lady Lumley’s School in Pickering, will contribute a further new work, Kaleidoscope. Joe, 17, incidentally is a composition student of regular Late Music contributor Edd Caine.

Next Saturday, the Late Music series will welcome back the third-year York St John University students for a 1pm recital. These performance students will present a lunchtime selection of solo, ensemble and original compositions and improvised pieces. The weekend will conclude with Panoply’s 7.30pm concert next Saturday, featuring Ching Ching Lim, piano and hand percussion, Carl Herring, guitar, mandolin and hand percussion, and Yi Yao, accordion, voice and hand percussion.

To celebrate the 60th birthday of Brighton composer Chris Gander, Panoply will perform The Chinese Calendar Unfolds, his magical musical theatre work based on the characters in the Chinese calendar, making 12 short movements in total.

“Using a variety of delicate instruments – guitar, mandolin, accordion, Chinese and Latin percussion, as well as piano and voice and masks – Panoply will musically narrate the story, bringing to life the personal characteristics of each animal,” says Steve Crowther, the Late Music artistic director.

“I was at Sussex University with Chris, and his music continues to radiate joy and generosity of spirit, so Late Music is thrilled to be able to stage this exciting, theatrical event.”

Gander’s work will be preceded by Chinese folk song arrangements by Panoply’s music director, Bobby Chen. Before the concert, Gander will give a talk at 6.45pm.

• Tickets for Richard Casey and Panoply each cost £8, concessions £6; York St John, £5/£3, available online at latemusic.org or on the door.