27 After 18 months of making music virtually, in bubbles and without the gratification of full audiences, it was essential that Brentwood School Music Department do a complete summer tour in August of this year.With international travel obviously out of the question, the department decided to run their traditional biannual European tour in the beautiful surroundings of Yorkshire, ably planned and supported by their long-term and excellent tour planners, One Stage Ltd. Starved of live music-making for so long, 66 pupils and eight members of the Music Department staff met for two full days of rehearsals at Brentwood School on the 20th August, primarily preparing the School’s Chamber Choir for a special service of Evensong and the School’s Big Band and string section for two outdoor concerts. The sheer joy of playing and singing together was palpable and the results exceptional. York music tour On Sunday the 22nd, the musicians departed (via double decker coach) to reach the beautiful city of York, and following an idyllic lunch in the backdrop of York Minster, headed straight to the sublime setting of Rowntree Park for our first Big Band performance. The concert was a roaring success, complete with a large and enthusiastic audience, a standing ovation and beautifully sunny weather (which was certainly a welcome surprise!). The Big Band featured a number of debut vocal soloists as well as our traditional and studentled boys’ barbershop and girls’ choir features - the subsequent multiple choruses of a variety of pop songs on the coach, paid testament to some very happy children (and staff). Monday allowed time for a memorable morning exploring Scarborough which also gave the braver (more foolish) students and
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