Grants

Poland, Easter 2007

Hi my name is Sophie Taylor I am 14 years old. I play flute and saxophone at the Holmfirth music centre held on a Saturday morning. Last year I went with music centre on an organised trip to Krakow in Poland. Mr Yates of the Kirklees music school arranged for the combined senior bands at the Huddersfield and Holmfirth music centres to visit various concert halls in Krakow to play our varied repertoire to the people of Poland. I had a great time, as it was the first week I had spent without my parents and the first foreign country I had visited without them. The journey there was long and tiring as it was 27 hours overland in a coach crammed full of 40 teenagers along with 6 adults and an assortment of musical instruments.

The week we spent in Poland was really interesting as it was jam packed full of things to do. We visited the Weilickzka salt mines which were amazing. We also saw the remains of the concentration camps at Auswitz and Birkenau which was a very sad experience particularly the displays of the shoes and suitcases left by the people who were sent to the gas chambers. We also got to visit the town of Krakow a few times which is a lovely historical town.

In and amongst the sight seeing we played four concerts at various venues throughout the city. Our pieces included music from the Lord of the Rings, music from Shrek and the Lion King and various marches. When we finished playing the audiences clapped really loud and it was great to know they enjoyed listening to us. We went to one concert where there were high school children in the audience and at the end we chatted to them. They asked us lots of questions so we were able to learn about each other's lifestyles. A few weeks after we returned home we gave a concert for our parents and received a standing ovation with many of the audience moved to tears!

The visit was an amazing experience and I know I will never forget it. It was a great chance to improve my music, make new friends and experience life in a new culture. I loved every minute and when I returned (after another long coach journey) I developed a renewed enthusiasm for playing music. I thank you for your kind donation which enabled it to be an affordable visit for us all.

Sophie Taylor  


Pictured (from l to r) are Eilidh Maclean, Sophie Taylor and Anna Shepherd in Krakow.