After receiving permission from the board a decision was taken to organise an educational visit to the Rhineland in Germany. In May a pre tour inspection of the hotel, concert venues and places of interest was made by the Music Service. Places were offered to members of the senior orchestra, senior wind band and intermediate orchestra and after the year’s regular rehearsals and concerts had finished at the beginning of May, a 57 piece hybrid orchestra known as the North East Northern Ireland Youth Orchestra was formed and intense rehearsals commenced under the supervision of 9 orchestral coaches.
By the beginning of July preparations were almost complete. The Association of Friends, students and parents raised a substantial amount towards the cost of the tour. Fund raising activities included a recital and dinner in the Templeton Hotel at which students and staff performed. Sincere gratitude is owed to the Association of Friends and to the students and staff of the Music Service who gave freely of their time.
REVIEW
It was a great honour for me to act as tour director and co-conductor. The dedicated staff of the NEELB and in particular the Music Service ensured that our young musicians received another experience of a lifetime. The orchestra members themselves made an enormous contribution to the success of the tour. They performed to a level far beyond anything I’d expected, they behaved in a manner their parents, schools and the Board would have been proud of and they gave their time, support and friendship freely to one another. The warm responses from audiences were a wonderful reward for our hours of practice and travel.
COMMENTS
“Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. Been on 3 tours with NEELB and they have been amazing! Great work!”
“I’d like to thank you for the opportunity to go on this great tour with these great people. It was absolutely brilliant! Thank you so much.”
“This has been the best tour so far. After ten years of Saturday rehearsals I don’t know what I shall do.”
“I’ve been on 2 tours and have been SO happy in Germany. I am very sad to be leaving now. Thank you for everything. I love orchestra with all my heart.”
“It was a while good tour hi.”
“The tour was awesome as was Belgium. I had a ball and am sad it’s over. I’ll be on tour next year. I want to thank all the staff for making it possible and for being such craic all week.”
“For once I don’t know what to say. It has been a great tour and wasn’t half bad craic. I’d a great time.”
“What can I say! Has to be the best six days with the NEELB.”
Two great tours with the NEELB. Enjoyed every minute of them along with many other years playing in the orchestras. Good times.”
“Was a good wee tour hi! More tours please.”
“Two amazing tours have been had and I am so sad that this is my last. I have enjoyed them both so much and made a lot of friends due to the traumatizing long bus journeys from Ballycastle on Saturday mornings! Thank you so much for the experience and you won’t get rid of me until the Ballycastle residential orchestral course is no longer around the corner from my house. Thank you so much. Germany was class!”
“This is my first tour and it has been an amazing experience.”
“This is my third tour so far. Italy was brilliant, Belgium was good but Germany has been the icing on the cake. Fantastic work with everyone involved. It has made my year.”
“Tour should be longer.”
“Please don’t take us home.”
“Where are we going next year?”
“I’d like to thank you all for the trip. It was really good and I very much enjoyed it.
“Thanks for making this trip so great.”
“Thank you for the brilliant trip to Germany. I had an amazing time.”
CONCLUSION
The Music Service is very grateful to the NEELB for its support for this venture.
We can justify the sacrifice of time and the expense because of this single affirmation: Music in it’s creation of cultural understanding really is the universal language.
