The WELB believes strongly in the value of travelling to other countries with our senior musicians, both as ambassadors for the high quality of music education provided in our area and for the undoubted musical, social and personal benefits gained by participation in an orchestral tour.
The Senior Youth Orchestra comprises approximately 100 young musicians drawn from schools throughout the Western Board area. The students attend individual lessons and regional rehearsals on a weekly basis, and come together regularly for full orchestral rehearsals. The repertoire covers a wide variety of styles, combining major symphonic works with popular musicals, film scores and new compositions, as well as traditional and folk music arranged for orchestra.
July 2007 was the tenth successive year of summer tours for the Youth Orchestra. During this time, concerts have been given in such prestigious venues as Chartres Cathedral, France; St John's Cathedral, Toronto; Navy Pier, Chicago; Zofin Palace, Prague; S. Maria del Pi, Barcelona; La Cattedrale di Mantova and Salo, Northern Italy; Olympic Park, Munich, Germany; El Escorial, Madrid; Arezzo, Montecatini and Florence in Italy and, most recently, in the cathedrals of Bruges, Ghent and Brussels.
WELB Youth Orchestra in Brussels Cathedral
July 2007
Belgium pre-tour concert July 2007
Name |
Instrument |
School Attended |
Award |
Finbarr Maguire |
Bass Trombone |
St Michael's College, Enniskillen |
Alfie Bell Shield |
Aoife O'Donnell |
Oboe |
Lumen Christi College, Derry |
Nicola Doherty Cup
|
Jennifer Edwards |
French Horn |
Collegiate GS, Enniskillen |
Harry Gault Cup
|
Debbie Hannaway |
Cello |
Lumen Christi College , Derry |
Certificate for Outstanding Commitment |
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YOUTH ORCHESTRA SUMMER TOUR 3 – 10 JULY 2007 - BELGIUM REPORT
Having been my 5 th and unfortunately, most likely, my final tour, Belgium 2007 was definitely the best so far. Although the destination of Belgium didn't sound quite as exotic as Italy or Madrid it certainly did not disappoint! The tour combined a mixture of Belgium culture, theme parks, the all important music aspect and of course the great orchestra banter.
We stayed in a hotel in the centre of “old” Bruge. This was a beautiful destination and gave us all a real flavour of everyday life in Belgium, being surrounded by hundreds of bicycles, canal boats and Belgian waffles! The centrality of the hotel meant that we were right in the middle of everything and therefore didn't have to travel far to get to the next “hotspot”, a real bonus!
During the week we visited three cathedrals; St Salvators in Bruge, St Michaels Cathedral, Ghent, and the Cathedral of St Michaels and St Gudula in Brussels. These Cathedrals were also the venues for our three concerts. Not only were these beautiful venues but each challenged us musically as we had to adapt to very different acoustics. Each concert had brilliant audiences, enhanced our abilities as performers and the orchestra did everyone proud, brilliant experiences all round.
We also took time to visit Messines Peace Park , a park dedicated to soldiers of World War One from Ireland . This was something that struck a chord with us all as there were men listed from all of our hometowns. Whilst there our traditional group entertained us all with a concert.
Other activities included visiting a Diamond Museum in Antwerp and the Castle of the Counts in Ghent . Despite being swamped in and enjoying so much of Belgium 's culture, being teenagers the highlight of the trip for many would have been Walibi park, a Waterpark and Theme park. Here, we all enjoyed the adrenalin rushes, competed to win Teddies, and screamed our heads off. These entertaining visits were all topped off with a lot of “free time” as it became known. During this time we had the opportunity to explore “old” Bruge, or the town we were in for that day. Free time, was a great way to enhance our visit in Belgium , as we got to visit places that really interested us. The girls shopped, of course, the boys hired bicycles, we went on boat trips, played cards or spent some time relaxing and getting to know each other better in the hotel. (The hotel pool was particularly popular!)
Belgium really was a brilliant tour, and one that I and many others will not forget in a hurry. It's hard to put into words the fun that is had on tour, as a lot of the fun is not in the venue but the people who are there with you. Tour really is a worthwhile experience, that I have had the pleasure to enjoy for the past five years, it not only allows you to visit many beautiful countries but also tests your musical capabilities, and allows you to make new friends.
Debbie Wilcock
Principal Bassoonist, WELB Youth Orchestra
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SENIOR YOUTH ORCHESTRA - BELGIUM TOUR ITINERARY
DAY 1 - TUESDAY 3 JULY
04.50 hrs Check in Dublin Airport EI 630
06.50 hrs Flight Departs Dublin
09.30 hrs Arrive Brussels
12.00 hrs Check-in at Hotel lunch and peruse Bruges
19.30 hrs Dinner in Hotel
DAY 2 - WEDNESDAY 4 JULY
08.00 hrs Breakfast
09.30 hrs Depart for St Salvator's Cathedral
10.30 hrs Rehearsal
12.00 hrs Lunch/Return to hotel
14.00 hrs Arrive in Cathedral
14.30 hrs Concert performance
20.00 hrs Dinner in Tom Puce Restaurant
21.30 hrs Return to Hotel
DAY 3 - THURSDAY 5 JULY
08.00 hrs Breakfast
09.30 hrs Depart for Messines Peace Park
11.30 hrs Short performance (traditional)
12.30 hrs Lunch at Peace Park Village
14.30 hrs Depart Messines en route to Ypres
16.00 hrs Flanders Field Museum & Cloth Hall Belfry
19.00 hrs Return to Hotel
20.00 hrs Dinner in Bruges (own arrangements)
DAY 4 - FRIDAY 6 JULY
08.00 hrs Breakfast
09.30 hrs Depart for Castle of the Counts, Ghent
12.00 hrs Lunch in Ghent
13.00 hrs Depart for St Michaels Cathedral
15.00 hrs Concert in St Michaels Cathedral
19.00 hrs Dinner in Graaf Van Egmond, Ghent
21.00 hrs Return to Hotel
DAY 5 - SATURDAY 7 JULY
08.00 hrs Breakfast
10.00 hrs Depart for Diamond Museum in Antwerp
14.00 hrs Lunch in Antwerp
Sight-seeing in afternoon
20.00 hrs Dinner in Pizzahut, Antwerp
21.30 hrs Return to Hotel
DAY 6 - SUNDAY 8 JULY
08.00 hrs Breakfast
11.00 hrs Depart for Brussels
12.15 hrs Arrive at Cathedral of St Michaels and St Gudula
12.30 hrs Cathedral Service/Lunch
13.30 hrs Concert rehearsal
14.30 hrs Concert performance
17.00 hrs Guided tour of Brussels
19.30 hrs Dinner at Le Grand Café, Brussels
21.00 hrs Return to Hotel
DAY 7 - MONDAY 9 JULY
08.00 hrs Breakfast
09.00 hrs Depart for Walibi park
NB Loose swimwear not allowed
18.15 hrs Return to Hotel
20.00 hrs Dinner in Hotel
DAY 8 - TUESDAY 10 JULY
06.00 hrs Breakfast
07.00 hrs Depart Hotel
08.15 hrs check in Airport
10.15 hrs Depart Brussels
11.00 hrs Arrive Dublin
