MUSIC in Peebles will celebrate seven decades next week by welcoming the return of Michael Collins, one of the world’s foremost clarinettists.

And he will be joined at the birthday bash by The Heath Quartet, whose members are Oliver Heath and Sara Wolstenholme, violins, Gary Pomeroy, viola, and Chris Murray, cello.

The celebratory concert is doubling up as the grand finale concert of the 2017 Creative Peebles Festival .

Michael plays exclusively on Yamaha clarinets.

His dazzling virtuosity and sensitive musicianship have earned him recognition as one of today’s most distinguished artists and a leading exponent of his instrument.

In 2007, Collins received the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Instrumentalist of the Year Award in recognition of the pivotal role that he has played in expanding the clarinet repertoire, commissioning and premièring works by some of today’s most highly regarded composers.

His ensemble of 29 years, London Winds, maintains a busy diary with high calibre festival engagements. Collins’ success as Principal Conductor of the City of London Sinfonia is testament to the natural musicianship and galvanising leadership that is evident in both his playing and conducting.

The dynamic and charismatic Heath Quartet are fast earning a reputation as one of the most exciting British chamber ensembles of the moment.

In May 2013 they became the first ensemble in 15 years to win the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society’s Young Artists Award.

Formed in 2002 at the Royal Northern College of Music they were selected for representation by Young Classical Artists Trust, were awarded a Borletti-Buitoni Special Ensemble Scholarship and in 2012 won Ensemble Prize at the Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

While fulfilling duties as teaching staff at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, The Heath Quartet regularly enjoy working with a host of talented collaborators, recording and performing world-wide. Strong exponents of contemporary music, the Quartet have also worked with several leading composers to premiere their works.

Together Michael and The Heath Quartet will play two much-loved works - Weber Clarinet Quintet in Bflat, Op.34 and Mozart Clarinet Quintet in A, K.581, one of the most popular pieces in the chamber music repertoire.

The Heath Quartet will also play Jörg Widmann String quartet No.1, written in 1997 when he was 24.

The 70th Music in Peebles celebration concert is on Sunday, September 3 at the Eastgate Theatre from 7.30pm.

Tickets - £14 (£7 if accompanying a child under 12) and students up to age 25 FREE, are available from the Eastgate Theatre Box Office on 01721 725777 or www.eastgatearts.com

For details of future concerts are available from the MiP website www.musicinpeebles.org.uk