Trio Archai

Founded in Switzerland, the Archai Trio is making a name for itself from its home cities of Basel and London. Already experienced chamber musicians, pianist Mar Valor, violinist Ayla Şahin and cellist Finn Mannion met at the Basel Music Academy and quickly realized that they harmonize exceptionally well as a trio.

As prizewinners of the ORPHEUS Swiss Chamber Music Competition 2023 and winners of the 72nd Royal Over-Seas League Competition 2024, they made their debut at Wigmore Hall in June 2024. Awarded the Philip and Dorothy Green Young Artist Award (PDGYA) by MakingMusic and winners of the Tunnell Trust Awards Scheme 2025/26, they can look forward to upcoming performances across the UK.

The Archai Trio has been studying with Claudio Martínez Mehner at the Basel Music Academy since 2023. It has also worked with renowned artists such as Patricia Kopatchinskaja, Alexander Lonquich, Robert Levin, Zoltán Fejérvári, Danjulo Ishizaka and Rainer Schmidt. The ensemble is a member of the ChamberStudio in London, where it is coached by cellist John Myerscough.

The name Archai (pronounced "Ark-eye") refers on the one hand to the spirits of personality, but as the plural of "Ark" in ancient Greek philosophy, it also refers to the beginning of the world. It is intended to stand for the origins of the three musicians with roots in Scotland, Turkey, Spain, Ireland and Germany, their principles and their desire to develop further together.