Trio Archai - Friday 31st October 2025

On the morning of the concert, 120 P5s and P6s from all the local primary schools, (the rural schools of Ednam, Morebattle, Yetholm, and Sprouston, plus the two town schools of Broomlands & Edenside) assembled in the church for their own concert from the Trio Archai.

The trio started by introducing themselves and their instruments and then ran a quiz; Guess the Tune, when they played music from some films. The hands shot up! Every time. Within two notes being played. Such enthusiasm! Having drawn the young people into their chamber sound world, they played some more challenging classical items including Saint Saens’ Swan, which was beautiful and a whole scherzo movement by Brahms. The children sat enthralled.

Then came a special moment when the musicians introduced a Beethoven movement as being Beethoven having a bit of a laugh. One of the Sprouston pupils called out “can WE laugh?” To which Ayla said “Yes you can clap if you like!” Well that started a magical performance with Ayla spontaneously reacting to the clapping, directing, via her body language, the clapping stopping and starting as the emotion of the music changed from dance to lyrical and back. The trio were amazed that the young audience was truly engaged with Beethoven’s emotions. Very special. This felt a very worthwhile event, and was most likely enhanced by Lis Dooner and Stephen Tees going into each school during the previous week to prepare the children for the experience of a live event that they had never experienced before. 

Evening Concert.