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August 04, 2023
The Hampshire County Youth Band celebrated their 60th anniversary with a wonderful 10-day, three-country music tour to Europe.
They performed six fabulous concerts across Italy, Switzerland and Germany. Here their music director, Jon Cranston looks back on the band’s tradition of overseas tours and tells us why this tour was so special.
When we began thinking about a tour as part of our group's 60th anniversary celebrations, we knew that Club Europe would be able to put together a trip that would be really special. In every way, our expectations were exceeded. During the preparations, communication was fast and effective, with any questions that we had answered speedily and satisfactorily.
The tour itself was outstanding - amazing performing venues, superb itinerary across three countries, and wonderful accommodation. Throughout the tour we were looked after by the exceptional and ever helpful Sabine, who really became one of the team.
It has been wonderful to be part of many 'once in a lifetime' moments whilst on tours. Performing as part of the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ypres was a particularly moving experience for band members. I also remember performing two concerts in one day in Switzerland - the first in the heat of the summer sun on the shores of Lake Geneva, followed by a second on the top of a mountain surrounded by snow!
As well as the fantastic opportunity to perform concerts across three countries, band members were able to experience different cultures, cities, and communities. From pizza making in Italy to watching riverboat jousting in Germany, seeing the alleyways and squares of Venice and the picturesque mountainside towns of Switzerland, our band members enjoyed a range of cultural experiences not normally available in the UK.
Tours provide the opportunity for students to strengthen social bonds within the group, developing a community of young musicians from a range of backgrounds and life experience that share in a life-enriching experiences in other countries - performing to new audiences in exciting and amazing venues.
Tours create moments that are difficult to reproduce in the day-to-day activities of ensembles. Not just in terms of locations to see and experience, but rather more in the social development of the group.
Travelling with a professional tour operator gives me the confidence that the trip is in safe hands.
They provide years of experience working with partners and venues across the world, enabling the highest-quality tour opportunity for our ensembles. The attention to detail, and flexibility to work alongside my own preferences allows for every tour to be unique and appropriate for the young people attending.
One of our student's commented on our tour:
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