The Adventure Begins
68 excited young musicians ranging in age from 11 to 21, 7 staff members (the Wombles) and a Dutch guide, two van drivers, two coach drivers (plus one in the UK) - all present and correct and ready for the next great Dark Peak adventure, Leipzig 2024
With 68 students from the Concert Band and Senior Strings the summer course started with rehearsals in the Victoria Hall. Travelling overnight in a luxury 90-seater coach the groups set out for Leipzig on 17th August. Our base was the H2 Hotel in the centre of Leipzig, a short walk to the old city centre and immediately next to the railway station - the largest in Europe (complete with MacDonalds!).
On arrival we made the pilgrimage to St Thomas' Church which was where the great J S Bach was the organist and composed many of his greatest works including the passions and cantatas. Later in the week the string ensemble had the privilege of performing under the Bach Monument, playing a movement from Bach's Double Violin Concerto.
The Concerts
The ensemble gave three concerts in fantastic venues in the Saxony region, all of which received standing ovations from packed audiences (very unusual apparently as the audiences in this area are known for being rather reserved)!
Two of the concerts were in beautiful cathedrals. The first was in Dom Halberstadt. The building dates from between 1236 and 1491 and is prized as one of Germany's finest surviving Gothic cathedrals, untouched by the war.
The second concert was at Jena Stadtkirk which was the church of one of the great figures in musical history, CPE Bach, one of the sons of JS Bach. This concert was in aid of the St Martin's Foundation which provides an annual feast for lonely, elderly and vulnerable people in Jena.
The final concert was in the Konzertsaal at the beautiful spa town of Bad Schmiedeberg.
Something for Everyone
The programme included many of the group's favourites such as Gallimaufry and Holst 1st Suite but also introduced new repertoire including Ellerby's Paris Sketches and a suite from Porgy and Bess.
In addition to the main concert which featured the Concert Band, Senior Strings and full orchestra, the audience was treated to a performance from our resident jazz quintet, with arrangements specially created by percussionist Matt Baynham.
The Excursions
As well as the concerts the group had excursions to visit Colditz Castle, the city of Dresden with a boat trip on the Elbe, Wittenburg Lutherstadt - the home of Martin Luther, and the Monument to the Battle of the Nations at Leipzig.
And on top of that busy schedule we still found time to spend a morning swimming and playing games on the beach at Cospudner See, a large lake just outside Leipzig.
If you'd like to relive the tour you can visit our communal gallery where everyone could upload their snaps. Communal Gallery