DISTINGUISHED and up-and-coming musicians will head to the Borders this summer for nine days of chamber music.

Paxton House, south of Chirnside, is set to host its popular event, Music at Paxton.

From July 21-30 the stately home will welcome a range of local and international musicians to perform in the famous Picture Gallery, surrounded by pieces from the National Galleries of Scotland’s collection.

Angus Smith, artistic director, said: "We are very excited to be welcoming an array of brilliant musicians to this year’s festival.

"Ranging from international stars to young emerging professional performers, all of them noted for being fantastic communicators, and amazing ambassadors for the music they perform, whether it be in solo recitals, chamber music repertoire, or irresistibly enjoyable folk and family events."

The Borders-based Andante Chamber Choir will join Music at Paxton this summer, performing uplifting classical pieces a cappella.

Joining the line-up of wonderful performers are: the award-winning Piatti Quartet; BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2022 finalists Sophie Joint (fiddle) and Breanna Wilson (keyboard); Paul Lewis (piano); Melvyn Tan (piano); Siannie Moodie (harp); Rowan Pierce (soprano), accompanied by Grammy winning pianist Christopher Glynn; Ruaridh Geddes (fiddle) and Neil Sutcliffe (accordion); Guy Johnston (cello), accompanied by Melvyn Tan; Peter and Zoltán Katona; William Thomas (bass), accompanied by pianist Malcolm Martineau; BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2022 winner Amy Laurenson (keyboard) and duo partner Portuguese guitarist Miguel Girão.

Melvyn Tan will also host a masterclass for amateur pianists of any age.

Music at Paxton's Associate Ensemble, Consone Quartet will make their festival debut as part of their three-year residency at Paxton House.

Consone Quartet said: "We are absolutely thrilled to have been appointed as the Associate Ensemble for Music at Paxton.

"We can’t wait to make music in this incredibly special and historic place, and to meet and connect with the festival’s audience.

"It is inspiring to be given so much artistic freedom and we are excited to share programmes over the coming years, featuring rarely-heard music as well as some familiar favourites!"

The festival's finale will see violin and piano duo Chlöe Hanslip and Danny Driver play a trio of elegiac pieces by Czech composers from the early 20th century.

Elizabeth Macdonald, general manager, added: "Alongside artists of international prominence, we are excited to celebrate the rich creative talents of new generations of musicians, including our new Associate Ensemble – the exhilarating Consone Quartet – and the early-career musicians appearing as part of our ongoing partnership with Live Music Now Scotland.

"Through our family-inspired events, we also hope to engage with a new generation of music-lovers and look forward to welcoming visitors to the beautiful Scottish Borders this summer."

Music at Paxton Plus, a series of free one-hour taster concerts, will also return this year, with the first concert on Sunday, May 7 with The Campus Trio (a saxophone duo and piano), and Rosie Lavery (soprano) and Anna Michels (piano) on Sunday, June 4.

Public booking for Music at Paxton is now open.

For more information on this year's line-up, and to book tickets, visit the Music at Paxton website.