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Young musicians thrive at Arcangelo Day!
On September 13 2026 young musicians on our Thrive programme came together at Highgate Junior School, London for our first Arcangelo Day. This event was facilitated by the award-winning, internationally acclaimed period performance ensemble Arcangelo, and served as a hands-on introduction to period music and instruments.
Musical opportunities should be accessible to everyone, but too often finances and other obstacles get in the way. Young Sounds UK and Arcangelo were keen to introduce young people to period instruments and music – a performance practice that few Thrive musicians have had exposure to in their mainstream training. Through this introduction they engaged in a musical genre and style of performing that could now become their new passion.
Arcangelo are a historically informed performance group who delve into the origins of classical music. Using historical documentation, they explore how music might have been expressed to the audience at the time and reimagine what these pieces would sound like today.
Our Thrive musicians spent the day exploring period instruments and historical playing techniques. This included the opportunity to rehearse and work on repertoire together and talk directly with professional musicians about the discipline and craft of historical performance.
The musicians broke into sectionals so the young people could focus specifically on their instruments. This presented an opportunity to play on period instruments, such as natural trumpets and bows. These instruments, although visually similar, are made from different materials and have different shapes and setups, which opens up new ways of approaching the instruments. One of our trumpeters said:
“I thought it was amazing to hear classical music how it originally sounded on the instruments it would have been played on. And in the Baroque pitch, which is a semitone different to the modern pitch which we’re used to hearing. We’re so used to seeing the modern trumpets played by modern trumpeters and it’s really quite exciting to get to see a different world of classical music.”
To end the day the musicians came back together to perform for friends and family before a panel session with the Arcangelo team who also took questions from the audience. The Arcangelo musicians covered financially accessible ways to get hands-on experience with period instruments and talked about their own routes into the genre earlier in their careers. One of the facilitators was Emma Williams, an Australian violinist now based in the Netherlands. Emma said:
“Today has been such an inspiring and reinvigorating experience, especially as someone who’s been working and playing this music for quite a while now. It’s so nice to see the next generation start to see some links and some new worlds open up in the different ways
Prior to the day, a small group of Thrive musicians were invited to sit in on an Arcangelo rehearsal of Bach’s Mass in B Minor, giving them an early window into how a professional period-instrument ensemble prepares for performance. The rehearsal was in preparation for Arcangelo’s performance at the Royal Albert Hall for the penultimate night of the BBC Proms (their fourth appearance) which Arcangelo generously donated 20 tickets for Thrive musicians and their families to attend.
On the rehearsal a parent said:
“We have just finished watching the rehearsal, and it was absolutely brilliant. My daughter thoroughly enjoyed the experience and found it incredibly inspiring. She is beginning to get a real sense of what life in the profession could look like, which is wonderful to see.”
We’d like to thank the Arcangelo musicians and staff for taking time out of their busy schedules to facilitate activities, Highgate Junior School, all the parent/carers and most importantly the young musicians taking part.
Apply to Thrive today
This Arcangelo Day was one of many free musical opportunities offered to young musicians on our Thrive programme. Apply today and you could receive funding and opportunities like this to support your musical journey!