MUSICIANS from Lomond School in Helensburgh took a trip to their partner school to introduce their peers to traditional Scottish music and instruments.

Eight music pupils accompanied by three staff, made the trip to Evangelisches Schulsentrum, in Leipzig, at the start of the summer holidays in June.

The group were hosted and welcomed by the host schools advanced music class.

Over the course of their stay they collaborated to perform on three occasions learning six or seven ceilidh dance sets, performing for the middle school and culminating with the main concert of the tour with both Scottish and German pupils performing in a joint rendition of a traditional Scottish tune demonstrating the spirit and collaboration enjoyed throughout the trip.

As well as performing the Helensburgh pupils were able to take time to explore the city, where Bach, Wagner and Mendelssohn have worked and lived, and take in its culture.

The Lomond School pupils unanimously agreed the trip was a huge success.

Grace Girling in S6 said: “It was a lovely place and it was good to experience the culture and mix with other talented musicians.

Another S6 pupil, Sarah Clinch, said: “I really enjoyed the ceilidh and meeting new people allowing us to experience their culture”.

Lomond School regularly welcome pupils from Evangelisches Schulsentrum for a term or more in their penultimate year of school.

Johanna Urquhart, the school's principal, said: “Opportunities that these types of partnerships provide are invaluable in our opinion, allowing our pupils to not only take their learning outside of the classroom and their usual environment but also to enable them to directly experience other cultures and make meaningful connections which boost their all-round development and learning in a way that would be impossible to replicate in the classroom.”

Leipzig will feature again in Lomond School’s calendar for the new academic year as the school celebrates 40 years since its foundation, through the merger of St Bride's and Larchfield Schools, in 1977.

One of the celebratory events will be held in Leipzig, allowing friends and past pupils of the school to mark this milestone.