Tim Lowe assembles his guest artists for fifth York Chamber Music Festival

This former York Minster chorister is now a leading cellist of his generation as a soloist, guest principal cello of the English Chamber Orchestra and professor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Lowe seeks to present the highest-quality chamber music and musicians at his annual festival. "I'm thrilled to bring my friends and colleagues to York; we simply enjoy playing together and want to share our pleasure," he says, as he looks forward to the arrival of his 2017 Festival Artists, violinists Martyn Jackson and Magnus Johnston, viola player Sarah-Jane Bradley, fellow cellist Pierre Doumenge and pianist Andrew Brownell.

Introducing next month's programme, Lowe says: "The six concerts have been chosen to represent some of the greatest 19th century chamber music and designed to showcase the mature works particularly of Schubert.

"The theme that emerges is how these genius composers, Haydn and Mendelssohn among others, responded as they approached the end of their lives; some with despair, some – as in the case of Schubert, who is featured in all the main concerts – with transcendent hope, others with sheer joy. Fauré was 76 and totally deaf when he wrote his incredibly joyous and youthful cello sonata. I think this sonata contains some of of the most beautiful music ever written. Come and join us!"

Viola player Sarah-Jane Bradley

Violin, cello and piano masterclasses will be given by the Festival Artists. "The idea is to bring a new generation of young musicians face to face with leading players who are all brilliant teachers as well as great musicians," Lowe explains. "Please come and support us."

The National Centre for Early Music, Walmgate, will play host to the opening 7.30pm concert of Haydn, Mendelssohn and Schubert string quartets on September 21; Andrew Brownell will give a lunchtime recital of Hummel's Fantasie in E flat and Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 1 on September 22 from 1pm to 2pm at the Unitarian Chapel, St Saviourgate, followed by Brownell's masterclass for young pianists, finishing at 3.30pm.

The Festival Artists will play Beethoven's Piano Trio No. 7 in B flat major ("Archduke") and Schubert's String Quintet in C Major that night at 7.30pm at the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York Lowe and Brownell's Unitarian Chapel masterclass on September 23 at 1pm will feature Beethoven's Seven Variations on Bei Männern, Welche Liebe Fühlen, from Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute, Fauré's Cello Sonata No. 2 in G minor and Bohuslav Martinu's Variations on a Theme by Rossini for cello and piano.

Lowe's masterclasses for young cellists will be held immediately afterwards, concluding at 3.30pm. Earlier in the day, Magnus Johnston will hold a 10.30am violin masterclass at the same location.

The festival will conclude with the Festival Artists performing Mozart's Piano Quartet in G minor, Schubert's Notturno in E flat major for piano trio and Brahms's Piano Quartet in G minor at the Lyons Concert Hall on September 23 at 7.30pm.

Tickets are on sale at ncem.co.uk or on 01904 658338; adult prices vary but at all events children and young people aged 18 and under enter for £5. Further information can be found at yorkchambermusicfestival.co.uk