A BORDERS church is hosting its first music festival this weekend, featuring the acclaimed touring opera company Raucous Rossini for its finale.

Holy Trinity church in High Cross Avenue, Melrose, has organised a three-day festival, which it hopes will be the first of many and will build on its growing reputation as a centre for music in the Borders.

The music begins this Saturday (July 22) with the church’s state-of-the-art digital organ starring in a recital by Chris Achenbach, director of music at Holy Trinity. 

A Festival Evensong continues the celebrations on Sunday, with opera from Raucous Rossini rounding off the festival on Monday.

Chris Achenbach said: “Music is very important to the members of Holy Trinity church and when I started work there two years ago we launched a new programme of music.

“At the same time, our state-of-the-art digital organ, which is the best of its kind in Britain, was installed, providing us with a unique instrument on which to build an increasing repertoire.

“We want to share our music with the rest of the community and are hoping this inaugural festival will be the first of many which will become a regular fixture in the Borders calendar.”

Raucous Rossini will showcase a range of ensembles and solos, featuring conductor and tenor soloist Max Fane, as well as soprano Barbara Cole Walton, who will be adding a different flavour to the evening with lieder by Schubert and Schumann, Italian songs and arias, and ‘golden oldies’ from the musicals.

On Saturday, admission is £10 for the organ recital by Chris Achenbach at 7.30pm.

Admission is free on Sunday for the Festival Evensong at 6.30pm. On Monday, the Raucous Rossini performance starts at 7pm. Tickets cost £10 and includes a glass of wine.

For further details, email Chris Achenbach at chris.achenbach@btinternet.com or call 07595 024123.