Musicians make magical memories in French capital
Stockport Grammar musicians had an unforgettable time during their tour to Paris.
After boarding a coach and a ferry, the travelling party were excited to arrive at their hotel in the French capital. A lovely meal, entertaining quiz and fun free time rounded off the first day.
Waking up refreshed on day two, the pupils headed to Parc Georges Brassens for an informal concert at the bandstand. Over 90 minutes First Orchestra, Wind Orchestra, Concert Band, Junior Chamber Choir and Chorus regaled the crowd in the park close to Porte de Versailles with a host of great pieces.
A boat cruise on the River Seine allowed the musicians to see Paris from a different perspective and, before heading to bed, Jazz Band, Big Band, Brass Ensemble and a number of soloists delivered an hour-long informal concert at the FIAP Hotel, much to the delight of fellow guests at the hotel, many of whom were in attendance to help create a great atmosphere.
Day three saw the pupils head to Jardin d’Acclimatation, a public park with historic gardens opened by Napoleon III in 1860. The park features beautiful gardens with exotic species of plants and animals and outdoor concerts are frequently hosted at the bandstand.
Jazz Band, Big Band, Brass Ensemble, Concert Band, Junior Chamber Choir and Chorus took advantage of the wonderful surroundings by putting on an informal concert that was delightfully received by the watching crowd.
A formal concert at the iconic Église de la Madeleine witnessed stunning performances from String Orchestra, First Orchestra, Wind Orchestra, Junior Chamber Choir, Chamber Choir and Chorus. It was amazing to perform in such an incredible venue and to experience first-hand the echo that lasted at times between five and ten seconds.
A visit to the Sacré-Coeur and Montmartre area kicked off day four splendidly and set the musicians up brilliantly for their formal performance at Église Saint-Sulpice. The venue is one of the tallest churches in Paris and one of the most popular due to its role in the novel and film ‘The Da Vinci Code’. String Orchestra, First Orchestra, Wind Orchestra, Junior Chamber Choir, Chamber Choir and Chorus delivered fantastic performances during the impressive 90-minute concert.
In the evening, pupils and staff took in the stunning Parisian views from the top of Montparnasse Tower, a 210-metre office skyscraper.
The penultimate day of the trip saw the excited travelling party spend a full day at Disneyland Paris.
The final day was spent travelling back to Stockport, full of memories that will last a lifetime!
Reflecting on the tour, Fourth Year James Caine said: “I really enjoyed it as I feel it really showcased the hard work that is put in by all the pupils and staff over the year.”
Upper Sixth student Tori Rees commented: “I really liked the relaxed and fun feel of the informal concerts, and the balance between that and the incredible formal venues,” whilst Fifth Year Sophia Horne added: “It was a really great trip and the venues were amazing – especially Saint-Sulpice which was gorgeous inside, and the size of the Église de la Madeleine.”
Fifth Year Toby Wells said: “My favourite part of the trip was the first church we played in because it was so ornate and the sound was immense. Sam’s solo in Wind Orchestra was beautiful as the acoustic played it back to him perfectly.”
Second Year Alicia Holden commented: “We were very lucky to be able to perform concerts in such beautiful buildings. I found going up the Montparnasse Tower very exhilarating. It was incredible to see the views of Paris from so high up. I also really liked Disneyland – it was a great way to end the trip.”
Lower Sixth student Anjali Abraham remarked: “I loved everything about the trip! Getting to see so many parts of Paris with amazing views was so lovely. All of the concerts were so much fun. The outdoor concerts were really new to me but I loved them. The church concerts where an extraordinary experience that I don’t think I’ll ever be able to replicate. I also really liked that we had good audiences of people we didn’t know who either lived, or were on holiday, in Paris. The best part of the trip was definitely the friendships formed with both teachers and students. It was a trip I will never forget.”
Arlo Beer in Fourth Year summed the trip up: “The whole trip was amazing and I loved getting to know people better. The concerts were amazing and I enjoyed every second!”
Director of Music Mr Michael Dow concluded: “The Paris Music Tour was an incredible success. The concerts took place in amazing venues and it was lovely to have very appreciative audiences at all of them.
“The pupils performed magnificently and were a great credit to the school. It was also a lot of fun sightseeing in Paris. I would like to congratulate and thank all the pupils and staff in helping to create such an enjoyable experience that will live long in the memory of all involved.”
