Austrian Music Tour

59 pupils in the Chamber Choir, Chamber Orchestra, Senior Choir, and Symphonic Wind Band started the summer holidays performing in Austria.

Sophie, now in Year 11, reports back on the highlights of the Music Department’s tour to Salzburg and the Salzkammergut in the Austrian lake district.

• 9th July: We arrived at school at 4:30am for a 9am flight to Salzburg, with students from every year group in the Senior School year. We did look slightly comical at the airport with so many musical instruments. Despite being barely awake, everyone was looking forward to five full days of concerts, trips and endless recreations of scenes from The Sound of Music. A double decker coach took us to the hotel in Hüttau, south of Salzburg –  the gorgeous views captivated everyone and we were excited to see that the hotel had a swimming pool and wonderful mountain views. Dr Collisson and Mr Marsden arrived later, having travelled overland with all the rest of the equipment, and were very relieved to get to us in one piece! After a few last minute rehearsals, we went back to our rooms. 
• 10th July: Another early wake-up allowed us to reach the Zwölferhorn cable ride at St Gilgen mid-morning, with beautiful views over Lake Wolfgang, followed by lunch and some refreshing ice cream. In the afternoon, we enjoyed a boat trip across the lake, playing card games, to Strobl, where we performed to the public in a bandstand. A coach trip to Mattsee took us to a slightly rainy outdoor dinner, which we enjoyed nonetheless. We then performed in our second concert of the day in Mattsee’s Stiftkirche, to a full and very appreciative audience. 
• 11th July: Following a long coach trip, some walking and a cable car ride up a mountain, we toured the Ice Caves of Werfen – the freezing temperatures provided a pleasant change from the blazing summer heat. The other tourists doubtless enjoyed our rendition of ‘Let it Go’ – when you are at the top of a mountain, with wonderful ice sculptures, what else are you meant to do? Our next concert that afternoon was in the Basilica in Mondsee, a huge church that featured in The Sound of Music, where the choirs and chamber orchestra played contemplative music. After dinner at the hotel, we travelled to another bandstand in Filzmoos, but unfortunately the rain returned and the concert had to be cancelled. But that didn’t stop us singing our choir pieces in four-part harmony on the coach journey back, as well as ‘My Favourite Things’ and ‘Do Re Mi’ (in canon) from The Sound of Music…
• 12th July: We explored the city of Salzburg, visiting the castle, the Mozart Museum, the modern art gallery and more iconic locations (cue more singing of Sound of Music songs). Lots of free time to look around the shops resulted in the group purchasing matching ‘I ❤️ Salzburg’ t-shirts, pictured above. After an early dinner back at the hotel, we travelled to St Jakob’s church in Werfen for our final concert, much to everyone’s sadness.
• 13th July: Another early coach took us on a long ride to Munich airport for the flight back to London. We were all exhausted and disappointed that the trip was over, as we had all enjoyed it immensely.