5 – 10 July 2010

39 students and 13 adults participated in this highly successful educational visit.  Following intensive preparations, (and completion of the new Evolve Risk Assessment form), students and adults arrived at the Dryden Centre after 11pm on Sunday 4 July.  The coach was provided by Weardale Coaches and arrived in good time.

The trailer was an essential facility for the orchestra which included four double bases, a large consort of viols as well as the full range of normal (and abnormal) musical instruments.

The coach left the Dryden Centre soon after midnight, and the journey through England passed smoothly.  In addition to the Youth Orchestra and Wind Band, we were joined by String players from Whickham Chamber Orchestra, Strings Attached and Whickham Cello Ensemble.

After the required comfort stops arrival at Dover was ahead of schedule and an earlier ferry to Calais was boarded departing at 8.30.  English breakfast on the boat was available; there was several coach parties but it was not hard to monitor students al all times.

The journey across Europe to Boppard passed without incident and the Hotel L’Europe was reached in good time for the evening meal, which included soup, salad, vegetarian options, chicken, etc.  After a walk to the park curfew was set at 9.45pm and was meticulously observed.

Tuesday 6 July 2010

After breakfast at 7.30am two rooms were set out for intensive and rigorous rehearsal.  This continued until noon at which point packed lunches were devoured.  Students then changed into concert dress, boarded the coach at 1pm and travelled to Bad Neuenahr, for a performance in the Kurpart.

 This is an attractive small town.  The venue is a large space with a good acoustic and a pleasant ambience.  The concert was very well received by an appreciative audience who enjoyed an attractively varied programme which featured Orchestra, Wind Band and smaller String Ensemble performances, including contributions by the Viol Consort and Strings Attached.

After the concert the party walked along a pedestrianised area to the central zone (235 metres) of the town, also pedestrianised.  There were several shops and attractive cafes, which served soft drinks (kaffee und kuchen).

Then back to the hotel for the evening meal.  Tonight’s meal featured sauerkraut, wurst, kartoffel, salade and vegetarian options.

Curfew was extended to 10pm taking into account exemplary behaviour and an exceptionally high standard of music making.  Compliance with curfew regulations (standing order 1770 6ii) was absolute.

Wednesday 8 July 2010

After 7.30am breakfast the party travelled to Monchengladbach.  This is a town of 260,000 inhabitants which has strong connections with the North East of England.  The Gateshead Music Service enjoys a close relationship with the Monchengladbach Music School, who also educate a large number of young musicians (in the region of 4,000 pupils of all standards).  The Music School is a secure purpose built building with good facilities.  Today the temperature was high (over 32°) and students were reminded to drink, wear sun hats and put on sun cream at all times.

After a welcome drink (water, coke, orange juice) with the Monchengladbach Music School Senior Management Team and some students, the party proceeded to the Town Hall via a park adjacent to the Museum of Modern Art.  The town hall in the former Aldrott’ house.  We were welcome into the debates chamber, and the Mayor spoke in excellent English.  Gifts were exchanged and everyone signed the visitors’ book, and were photographs by the Monchengladbach press office.

Now followed a tour of the old town, expertly translated by Mrs Bridget King, Miss Macdonald’s school friend who now is a string teacher in Monchengladbach.  The Old Church dates back to the 10th Century and contains many exceptional relics, including the skull of St Lawrence (which caused a major dispute with Philip II of Spain) and a 2000 year old table cloth which could have been used at the Last Supper.  A statue depicts the patron saint of dentistry Saint Appelonia (aka St Fanga del Incinore)

A splendid buffet lunch was provided at the Music School: vegetarians were very well catered for and there was the opportunity for staff and students to chat.

After lunch students were able to walk to a pedestrianised area and explore the town before returning for a rehearsal.

The Monchengladbach Senior Wind Band gave a most enjoyable performance, directed by Heir Kikken.  The Gateshead Youth Orchestra and Wind Band then gave a 45 minute concert which was well received by a rapturous and appreciative audience.

Following this successful visit it is hoped to welcome members of the Monchengladbach Wind Band to Gateshead in the near future (possibly October 2011).

Return to Boppard passed without incident and supper was eaten.

Tonight the meal served at 10.15pm included spaghetti bolognaise, vegetables, vegetarian option, salad but no sauerkraut.

After the meal curfew was established at 11pm and this was well observed.

Thursday 8 July 2010

Another hot day.  After 7.30am breakfast a rehearsal for strings and wind continued till mid-day.

After lunch the party travelled to Bad Munster Am Stein-Ebenburg, another Spa Town.

The journey lasted just under an hour, and we were met by two ladies from the Tourist Information Office.  It was possible to park close to the Kurpavillion, a building with authentic 1960s décor, an attractive performance space.

The performance started at 3.30pm and a large and generally lively audience enjoyed a pot-pourri of music presented by the Wind Band.  Excellent solo performances by clarinettist Sophie Farrell, and Jasmine Bourne and Eilish Bonney, flutes, Strings Attached, Cello Ensemble and Whickham Orchestra gave cameo performances before all musicians joined forces in works by Giovanni de Gigondas and John Treherne.  The audience appeared bemused by ‘Entry of Behoc’ and ‘The Band Played’, but remained to the end, clapping vigorously and rattling zimmer frames.

An ice-cream vendor did good business (the shop owner looked as it all his birthdays had arrived at once!); after a 45 minutes break in this secure park the coach was loaded and the party returned to Hotel L’Europe for supper, which included fish, salads and vegetables.  After supper there was time to visit the park, before returning for an agreed 10.15pm curfew.

 Friday 9 July 2010

After breakfast we travelled to Bonn.  The main focus of this morning was to visit Beethoven’s birth house museum, where he was born in 1770.  During the coach journey Mr Treherne put the life and times of Beethoven into context with observations on the political and social changes during his turbulent career.

This was then further reinforced during the visit to the museum where we were addressed by a Beethoven expert who spoke excellent English.  A range of instruments connected with Beethoven are on display in this museum and there was the opportunity to access further information on computer.

The museum is situated in a large pedestrianised area, and it was appropriate for students to form small groups and visit local shops and cafes appropriately supplied with water, sun hats, sun cream etc.

At 2.30pm the party walked to the embarkation point for a cruise on the Rhine to Konigswinter.  This voyage lasted an hour, and passed without incident.  The Rhine was busy – there was several barges as well as smaller pleasure craft.

The coach met the party at the embarkation point and then returned to Boppard for a shower and change before supper.

Tonight the meal included meat balls and broccoli soup.  Veggie burgers were prepared for the veggie burgers.

After supper the hotel management provided drinks and a disco which was very popular.

Finally, the piece de resistance was the room variety performance and cleanliness inspection.  Teachers and adult helpers were impressed, as in previous years, by the variety ingenuity and quarter of these performances.

Prizes were awarded, and curfew was observed.

Saturday 10 July 2010

Today the party returned to the U.K.  Rooms were cleared, the coach loaded and breakfast eaten at 7.30am.  departure took place at 8.15am.

The journey across Europe was uneventful and a short meal stop ensured that we reached Calais in good time.

There was a significant delay at this point, however, and it was necessary to catch a later ferry.

Arrival at the Dryden Centre was at 12.45am on Sunday 11 July 2010.

 
There were many outstanding features about this educational visit.

The students proved excellent ambassadors for Gateshead and the U.K.  Their behaviour was exemplary; their timekeeping excellent, and the quality of their performances was admired by appreciative audiences.

Hotel L’Europe Boppard is a large hotel situated beside the Rhine.

The friendly owners made every effort to make the stay pleasurable.  Two large spaces to rehearse were made available, dietary needs were well met (the food was generally simple, and acceptable to English potatoes).

Rooms are all equipped with ensuite facilities, but a little cramped when shared by five students.

The rooms were not air conditioned, and windows opened 9.5 centimetres at the top to comply with security requirements.

This said, students did generally enjoy the stay of Hotel ‘L’Europe.

This, the twenty first educational visit organised by the Gateshead Music Service, as always depended on careful and meticulous preparation.  The tour company NST as always organised two most enjoyable venues, a comfortable hotel, a comfortable coach, and visits to Bonn and the Rhine boat trip.

Weardale Coaches provided the coach and trailer, driven by two most able drivers, Harry Bunnie and Robert Blakey who were invariably courteous, skilful and happy to give sound advice.  They also contributed some valuable insights in to the Rhine and its region. 

Former members of the Gateshead Youth Orchestra Adult helpers Neil Bamber and Rachel Barnes worked increasingly, supporting younger students and helping to organise head-counts and room checks.

Parents Mrs Wildish and Mrs Goon and Dr Bloxham made a valuable input and the highly experienced team of teachers led by Mr Treherne (who had participated in 24 educational visits), Mr Hedley (12 visits), Mrs Porter (6 visits), Mr Wilson (19 visits), Miss Thompson (3 visits), Mrs Ashton (8 visits), Mr Finnon (17 visits) and Miss Macdonald (16 visits) ensures a high quality of care and musical leadership as well as experience in leading such a visit.

The new Evolve Risk Assessment on-line form will undoubtedly prove a valuable document.

Thanks are due to Barbara Murray whose meticulous administration ensured that all paperwork was up to date at all times, and also to the Friends of Gateshead Youth Orchestra whose significant financial contribution allowed pupils to take part in the visit at a reduced cost; they also provided funds for additional refreshments.

John Treherne – Head of Gateshead Schools’ Music Service
11 July 2010

 

A selection of the comments  made by students who attended the educational visit:

 The trip to Germany was really good, the hotel was in a nice location, and the day trips were really good.  I particularly liked the day at the Music School in Monchengladbach and spending time with the German students.

I thought the tour was really good this year.  The days out were really good in particular the one at Monchengladbach watching their band.  I also really enjoyed The Beethoven Museum.

 This trip has been amazing.  The trips out, and just generally having a great time!

The concert venues were amazing especially the Music School which was a fun day!!! The people there were so friendly and a pleasure to be around.

 I really adored the trip!  It was a great opportunity to do a wide range of activities with the Music Groups and helped me to make several new friends.

I enjoyed the visit so much.  I made friends with someone from Monchengladbach called Anna, so I found out a lot.  The concerts were really good, the Boat trip was fab.  I had a lot more questions to ask about everywhere.

I really loved all of Mr Treherne’s funny bus stories as well.  It’s been brilliant all together and I’ve got to know lots of new, lovely people.

Evenings in the park were so fun!  I made new friends on the way.  Music is quite hard but I managed!

 I thought the day at Monchengladbach Music School was really exciting and everyone there was really kind (and very good cooks).  It was really interesting to hear the German Band’s music.  All the concerts were really enjoyable to play in (even if a little nerve racking!).

Boppard is a beautiful little village, and really picturesque at 6.30am in the morning on an early walk!

Beethoven’s Birthplace will be something I will always remember.  A thoroughly educational and enjoyable trip.

I found out a lot about Beethoven and thought Germany is a beautiful Country.  Can’t wait to come next year and continue playing the violin.

 Really great!  Great hotel.  I enjoyed the visit to the Music School because it showed me how good a band could be.

I really enjoyed the performances on the last night and I also enjoyed the concerts.

This year’s trip was great fun.  The hotel and concert venues were fantastic, and the Beethoven House was really interesting.  Can we go somewhere colder next year?

I thought everything ran really smoothly.  All the places we visited were interesting and the educational/shopping balance was well observed.  The trip has brought me closer with a lot of people, and I have made some new friends.  I thoroughly enjoyed this trip.

Overall it was really fun, well worth missing a week of school.