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Pupils welcome Royal Scottish National Orchestra
North Ayrshire primary schools have joined more than 2,000 school children across Scotland to experience an immersive Royal Scottish National Orchestra performance of Yoyo & The Little Auk.
An orchestral co-production animated by Visible Fictions, North Ayrshire pupils were invited to explore themes of community, kindness and multiculturism in the recent mixed media orchestral session at Montgomerie Park Primary School in Irvine.
Primary 3 pupils in the school were also joined by young people already learning musical instruments from Woodlands, Lawthorn, Loudoun-Montgomery, Springside and Elderbank Primary Schools.
The free concert experience was performed live by Scotland’s National Orchestra with an accompanying animation following the story of little girl Yoyo, who lives in Inverkithkin, a fictional Scottish town where she and her new friend, the Little Auk, get ready for her favourite night of the year, the Inverkithkin Ceilidh.
Offering an introduction to classical music and storytelling, the animation and accompanying resources have also been adapted into BSL and Gaelic, and are available for free online.
Quote: Thank you to everyone involved in this incredible music event for our local authority. It’s not every day that pupils get to see professional Royal Scottish National Orchestra musicians playing live in their school to an original animation, hearing all about the instruments and harnessing the power of music. This is a brilliant example of how North Ayrshire Council is upholding its commitment to the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (Article 31), providing opportunities for pupils to learn new skills, hone their talents and participate freely in cultural life and the arts.
Quote from: Councillor Jean McClung, Cabinet Member for Education and Young People
North Ayrshire Provost Anthea Dickson closed the proceedings, and said afterwards: “Thank you to the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Visible Fictions for travelling to Irvine to provide our pupils with a marvellous musical experience to remember.
“Events like this one are so important to our young people as being exposed to live music from a young age not only provides an understanding of live music, it also encourages exploration of potential future pathways to sound engineering, animation and production, inspiring an understanding of how music can be used to shape their everyday lives.
“It is also wonderful to learn that this accessible animation has also been adapted for BSL and Gaelic audiences too.
“Opportunities like this one might be the only opportunity some children may have to see a live orchestra, and what a big positive this must have been for them. Thank you to North Ayrshire Music Service for organising the event and to Montgomerie Park Primary School for hosting the concert to provide a memorable and immersive experience for all!”
Photo credit: Royal Scottish National Orchestra Official and Martin Shields Photography 2026
Published: 24 September 2026