Our Friends

Borders Music and Arts Society is based in the Scottish Borders, which has an historic reputation for culture and enlightenment. From the wonderful Music festival at Paxton House, the many village and town exhibitions of local art and a thriving traditional music scene, the Borders is a vibrant place to live (and visit!)

Below we list some of our favourite events and partners, do visit them too.

Paxton House Festival

Music at Paxton was established in 2006 to present high quality performances of chamber music at Paxton House. 

Over the past decade the festival has grown to a ten-day summer festival, bringing international artists to the Scottish Borders such as Alasdair Beatson, Adrian Brendel, Mahan Esfahani, Joanna MacGregor, Alina Ibragimova and Cedric Tiberghien, Steven Osborne, Pascal Rogé, the Doric, Carducci, St Petersburg, Edinburgh Endellion and Heath Quartets, the Primrose and Frith Piano Quartets, Scottish Ensemble, Avison and Hebrides Ensembles, James Baillieu and the Scottish Flute Trio. 

Concerts are held in the stunning Picture Gallery, an intimate venue seating 140. With its wonderful acoustics, domed roof-light that lets in the summer sun and walls hung high with paintings from the National Galleries of Scotland’s collection, it is an idyllic setting for chamber music.

Kelso Music Society

Kelso Music Society aims to bring the finest musicians from the UK and from all over the world to play for you in the heart of the Scottish Borders in our new venue, the beautiful old 18th Century Kelso Old Parish Kirk with its marvellous acoustic.

The concert season at Kelso Music Society always has a wonderful line-up of players, please visit their website for more details.

Melrose Music Society

Melrose Music Society has been bringing classical and contemporary music of international standard to Melrose and the Scottish Borders for over 50 years.

Every year since its founding in 1962 the Society has presented a season of chamber concerts, running from September to March, performed by artists of national and international renown. Some of the visiting musicians are young performers in the early stages of their professional career, while others have well-established reputations. The Society also likes to encourage home-grown talent from Scotland.

The concerts and recitals take place in Melrose Parish Church Hall.