A NEW season and seven exciting concerts for Biggar Music Club to brighten the autumn and winter months. The winter programme will open with an unmissable concert presented by the gifted young cellist, Laura van der Heidjen, accompanied by the brilliant pianist, Tom Poster, in the Municipal Hall, Biggar, on Friday, October 9, at 8pm.

The duo are also playing for Music in Peebles in the Eastgate Theatre on Tuesday, October 6.

Laura and Tom's programme in Biggar will include music by Schnittke (Suite in the Old Style), Glinka, Sonata in D minor, and two sonatas for cello and piano by Beethoven, Op. 69 in A major, and Rachmaninov’s Russian Romantic Sonata in G minor, Op. 19.

At the age of 15, Laura won the BBC Young Musician Competition 2012, performing the Cello Concerto by William Walton. She has already made a name for herself as a special emerging talent with many other prizes and awards bestowed on her. Since 2008, Laura has been a student of the renowned British-Russian cellist, Leonid Gorokhov.

After completing her A-levels, Laura is spending a gap year dedicated to the cello. In October 2016 she will join St John’s College, Cambridge to extend and deepen her understanding and knowledge of music. She plays a 1906 cello by Giuseppe Pedrazzini.

Tom Poster is internationally recognised as a pianist of outstanding artistry and versatility, equally in demand as soloist and chamber musician across an unusually extensive repertoire. Biggar is looking forward to welcoming him again after his appearance here with another BBC Young Musician winner, Jennifer Pike. Tom won First Prize at the Scottish International Piano Competition in 2007.

To inaugurate the season, the music club is offering the audience an invitation to the 2015 Welcome Supper, relaxing with food and a glass of wine - to book a place please phone Hannah on 01899 220 513.

A subscription for the whole series of seven concerts is £50. An invitation is extended to everyone - tickets for each individual concert cost £11, and are available at the door. Students and accompanied children are free.

For further information, or to request a brochure for the whole season, with a wide range of critically acclaimed musicians, contact the secretary, Margaret Filshie, 01899 220 119, or visit the website, www.biggarmusic.org.uk