Merchant Taylors' School Choir sing at Lord Mayor's Dinner in London

0151 924 3140

The Belgium Trip 2010

On the 10th July at 11:30pm, myself and five other members of staff met 48 girls at school ready to board a coach to Belgium for a week long music tour. We gave five concerts in different venues, a church, two market places, a musical instruments' museum and, the most prestigious of them all, The Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate. This ceremony takes place every night of the year at 8pm to a crowd of 2000 onlookers. We sang two songs, plus the national anthem and the Belgium national anthem in French.

48 girls went from school, with representatives from all years, from Year 7, right up to U6 and even an old girl who left last year. As you can imagine, much work went into the preparations for this tour, both by the Belgium Choir and the Belgium Orchestra, not to mention the staff! The orchestra members worked particularly hard, giving up their free time on numerous occasions.

This was a hugely successful week, with the party receiving many compliments, not just about the standards of performance at the 5 concerts, but also about their excellent behaviour.

Sunday 11th July
Following an uneventful journey, we arrived safely at the hostel at around 2pm. Everyone was exhausted, having got little sleep on the coach, and so any plans for rehearsing that day were cancelled. We spent a relaxing afternoon and evening at the hostel, with two walks into the town, and some of the party watched the world cup final.

Monday 12th July
We gave an afternoon concert in De Panne. Due to a traffic jam on the motorway, we were three and a half hours late for this concert, but despite our late arrival, we set up very quickly and gave the concert. The weather was against us however: high winds blew the music off the stands and even blew the music stands over, the stage was positioned next to a fountain which made a lot of noise that we had to perform over, and there was a lot of traffic noise, including loud motorbikes. Despite this, the concert was still successful and many of the people in the audience commented on how good we were. The organiser was very impressed and asked us to come back next year - he said we would always be welcome. Unfortunately, the planned shopping trip to Bruges had to be cancelled because everything ran late due to the traffic.

Tuesday 13th July
We began with a trip round Flanders Museum in Ypres. We then got ready for the afternoon concert in the market place in Ypres. Two visitors arrived at midday: Mrs Robinson and Mrs Bush!

The concert was a huge success. It was much less windy so we didn't feel like we were battling against the elements!! We practised the Belgium National Anthem at the end of the concert, as a run through for the Menin Gate in the evening. The locals commented on how surprised they were to hear us sing their national anthem, since no one in Belgium knows it and no one ever sings it!!

After the concert, the organiser commented on how excellent we were and stated how surprised he was that we had actually had an audience. He said that we were by far the best music group they'd ever had to perform, and that no one ever stops to listen - only the people sitting in the nearby cafes. Yet we had many people stop and listen for the whole concert. He asked us to come back next year.

We had our evening meal in a restaurant in Ypres - this was included in the deal and so cost us nothing. The restaurant was lovely and the food was actually delicious!!

We then made our way to the Menin Gate, ready for the ceremony at 8pm. This was a very moving experience. We all wore black and looked spectacular and very smart. The traffic stopped and the ceremony began. Everyone was aware of the heightened emotion - everyone looked sad when singing. The acoustics were amazing and the girls sang brilliantly - the two pieces with instrumental accompaniment (Pie Jesu and The Lord Bless You And Keep You) and the two national anthems - Belgium and British. Before the ceremony, the organiser told me not to worry about the Belgium National Anthem, that no one ever sings it, but I said that we knew it and were ready - he was very surprised and also pleased at this.

Mr Lamb and Kim Henderson (as an old boy and an old girl) laid a wreath for the 150 old boys who died - this was very moving. While they processed, we sang The Lord Bless You and Keep You - many girls were crying while they were singing.

The organiser commented on how wonderful we were and asked us to come back next year or in fact any time. He even said that he wanted to book us for next year! We had many photos taken by many people, not just members of our party or the parents who had flown out to meet us. The whole event was extremely moving and emotional and many of the girls and staff were moved to tears - even one of the bus drivers!! The bus drivers said they were proud to be with us!

Wednesday 14th July
We had a lie in!!! The first and only one of the tour! We had a lazy start to the day in the hostel with a little shopping and a little rehearsal time. We then travelled in the afternoon to Blankenberger - it began to rain. We set up early in the church, had tea in the rain, rehearsed a little and then waited for the 8pm start. We had time to plan everything just right. People outside could hear the rehearsals and so came in to listen. Some of the girls went outside to market the concert and invite people in to watch. 160 people were in the audience.

The concert was spectaular - our best performance of the week. The acoustics were amazing, with the echo. We were given the use of a microphone. I was able to introduce the concert and then each item - I was able to tell the audience that we'd sung at the Menin Gate the night before. At the start of the concert, the organiser introduced us by repeating my introduction in Flemmish for the non-English speakers in the audience. At the end of the concert, the organiser repeated bits that I'd said throughout the evening in Flemmish, to explain to the non-English speakers, including the fact about the Menin Gate. He then thanked the two conductors: me, calling me Miss Jayne, and Shaun Lock, calling him Sir Shaun - all very amusing for the girls!! He then presented me with 2 boxes of Belgium chocolates and an envelope with 70 Euros in it as payment for the concert!! The girls made a unanimous decision to donate this money to the poppy appeal in November as a mark of respect for those men named at the Menin Gate.

The organiser was very impressed with our standards of performance and invited us back next year.

In the middle of the concert, as we began singing Pie Jesu, which had been our first song at the Menin Gate the night before, at the exact moment that the choir started singing, the sun moved round and shone through the stained glass windows, lighting up the choir, making the audience gasp.

Thursday 15th July - Musical Instruments Museum
We made our way to Brussels and had a tour of the museum first, followed by the concert.

The concert was given in a purpose built concert hall in the Musical Instruments Museum that seats 200 people, so the acoustics were amazing. The concert was superb and the performances were all excellent, but the audience was a little disappointing as not many people came in to see us. However, many of the people in the audience made very positive comments and the staff in the museum all congratulated us on our way out, saying how wonderful we sounded and that we could be heard all over the museum (since the doors were left open throughout). An English couple came up to us outside the museum when we were waiting for the coach and commented on how excellent we were.

In the evening, back at the hostel, we had a quiz, hosted by Mr Lock.

Friday 16th July - Bobbejaanland (theme park)
This was our only day off! We spent the day at the theme park - everyone had great fun. At 4.30pm, we returned to Leuven for shopping. After our evening meal at the hostel, we had an awards and thank you ceremony. Even the two coach drivers were given thank you gifts.

Saturday 17th July
We returned home safely

Personally, I'd like to thank everyone, staff, girls and the two bus drivers, for making the week such a wonderful experience. The standard of performance from the choir and the orchestra was absolutely superb and I was very proud to be part of such a wonderful experience. All I can say now is, get involved in the Music Department, sign up for extra-curricular activities and turn up for rehearsals!! Perhaps you will come on the next Music Tour!

Jayne Thompson
Director of Music

The Belgium Trip 2010

Schools

Information