Edinburgh Tour 24 - 27 July 2023
Each summer NYO is invited to undertake a foreign tour. In recent years NYO has performed in some stunning European cities with students exploring locations such as Antwerp, Barcelona, Berlin, Edinburgh, Florence, Paris, Prague and Vienna. This year we are really looking forward to travelling to Scotland. Edinburgh is a beautiful city, full of culture, and we will have plenty of opportunity to explore and relax alongside the music. We have had incredibly appreciative audiences and great fun on our tours. The trip includes half-board accommodation, an excursion to Arthur's Seat and all transport to and from Scotland.
Itinerary
We plan to leave Nottingham early via coach from the Becket School in West Bridgford on Monday 24 July, returning on the evening of Thursday 27 July. We will hold a post-tour concert on Saturday 29 July at St. Mary's Church in Nottingham at 7:30pm.
Documents
NYO Tour Parental Consent Form
Full Itinerary (subject to change)
Useful Information whilst away
** Most coaches have USB ports for phone chargers, but the tour operator have said that passengers should pack power banks just in case.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is included in our booking. Here is the link to the travel insurance information from the tour operator. https://www.halsbury.com/school-travel-resources/school-trip-travel-insurance
Accommodation
Whilst Edinburgh we will be staying at Edinburgh Central Youth Hostel. This hostel is located conveniently 10-15 minutes walk from the city centre, and roughly the same for walks such as Arthur's Seat. Accomodation is half-board.
HOSTEL CONTACT DETAILS
9 Haddington Place,
Edinburgh,
Mid Lothian,
EH7 4AL
Rehearsal Dates
Nottingham
6:30 pm - 9:00 pm at The Becket School, West Bridgford.
Dates subject to change
Thurs 22, 29 June
Thurs 6 July
Fri 7 July
Thurs 13 July
Fri 14 July
Thurs 20 July
Fri 21 July
Concerts
Edinburgh
We hope to perform two concerts whilst in Edinburgh finishing with our post-tour concert in Nottingham.
Edinburgh Concert
Mon 24 July - St. Giles' Cathedral, High St, Edinburgh, EH1 1RE
We kick off our visit to Edinburgh with an evening concert in the magnificent St Giles' Cathedral, at the heart of Edinburgh's Royal Mile.
Rehearsal 3pm
Doors open 7pm
Concert 7:30pm * note change to previous timings
Edinburgh Concert (outdoor venue)
Wed 26 July - Ross Band Stand, West Princes Street Gardens, EH2 2HG
The Ross Theatre (aka the Ross Band Stand) is an outdoor concert venue, with a seating capacity of up to 2500, in West Princes Street Gardens.
The venue has an impressive backdrop of Edinburgh Castle and the green hilly area of Edinburgh Castle Gardens.
Timings
12pm get in to Ross Bandstand by the castle
12.30pm short rehearsal
1.30pm concert
Post-Tour Concert
Sat 29 July - St. Mary's Church, Nottingham, NH1 1HN, 7:30pm
NYO’s final concert of the orchestral year celebrates a return of the Senior Orchestra from their July music tour to Edinburgh. Expect Baroque pyrotechnics and musical story-telling with their programme of Handel’s ‘Music For The Royal Fireworks’, a Suite of music by Rameau, and Prokofiev’s evocative symphonic folk-tale ‘Peter And The Wolf’. A programme for all the family to enjoy!
Tickets £12
Includes entry to the concert as well as access to the online concert programme.
Family & Friends Special Ticket Offer
Spend £60 or more on tickets and receive a maximum of 4 FREE tickets with your order which means you can spread the saving between your family group.
Additional FREE tickets are available for children of primary school age and under. No other concessions.
Rehearsal 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Concert 7:30 pm
Senior Orchestra Concert dress:
Black dresses or trousers/skirts plus black top. Dresses or skirts must be long and wide enough to drop to mid-calf or below when seated. No ties.
NYO Staff on Tour
Tour Organiser Andrea Hemmett
Andrea is a former NYO player, and now does a wonderful job of organising the senior orchestra tour each year.
Image: Spot the difference.... Andrea 25 years ago playing the French Horn in NYO at Haydn Hall Esterhazy, now organising the tour and back at the same place in 2018!
Conductor Alex Robinson
Alex is Nottingham Youth Orchestra’s dynamic young conductor who understands how to extract musical excellence from his players in rehearsal and performance. He has toured extensively with NYO and, whether performing here or abroad, he ensures the experience is rewarding and enjoyable for all.
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Woodwind Tutor Wendy McDonald
Wendy was until very recently senior orchestra's Woodwind Tutor and remains a Director for NYO.
Wendy relishes her role in developing the highest level of playing experiences for young musicians. She is veteran of many NYO tours where getting to know members over a 26 hour coach journey has always been a highlight!
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Double Bass Tutor Matt Barks
Born and raised in Ilkeston, Matthew is a former member of Nottingham Youth Orchestra. As a pupil of the orchestra’s former double bass tutor, Tony Morgan, Matthew’s fondest memories of NYO are the annual summer tours. As an NYO tutor Matthew is often on the senior orchestra tour “as I’m the only one who knows how to stack 10 cellos, 3 timps and 4 basses under a bus!”
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Percussion Tutor Jay Robertson
Jay began playing percussion aged 11 and passed his grade 8 Drum Kit with distinction. He went on to graduate from the Leeds College of Music with a BA Hons Jazz degree majoring in Drum Kit performance while studying under Tony Mann (Chet Baker, Miles Davis). He also studied with guest lecturers Dave Hassell (Cuban percussion), Jim Chapin (Moeller technique), and Omar Puente (Latin percussion studies).
Jay played at Glastonbury Festival in 2010 with Wondering Ska and has also performed in theatres across Europe and the UK with the touring theatre company Voulez Vous and Jive Talking.
Guest Tutor (and Edinburgh expert) Jacques Maguire - Moran
Jacques Maguire - Moran went to the Royal Academy of Music, but unfortunately it was closed. He studied music and music psychology in Leeds and a music PGCE at Nottingham in secondary and Special Educational Needs. Jacques has a DipABRSM in music performance for saxophone and is a grade 8 pianist. After graduating, Jacques spent 14 years as a music teacher in primary, secondary and special needs schools, and is now one of the youngest Headteachers in the country at a school for children with psychological and behavioural conditions. Having played the piano since age 4 and then moving on to the saxophone, he has been involved with NYJO since 2001 as a performer, section leader, conductor and tour organiser to the Edinburgh Festival for the past ten years. Jacques is extremely passionate about music education and cannot wait to be part of what will be a fantastic tour!