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Our unforgettable Music Tour to Hamburg last week was a celebration of music, friendship and adventure. From the moment we arrived, the children immersed themselves fully in the musical and educational experiences on offer, singing their way around the city with enthusiasm and captivating curious locals and tourists.

Highlights of the week included visits and singing workshops in two partner schools, to whom we are extremely grateful for their kindness and warmth. At the Johann-Rist Gymnasium our pupils received a warm welcome, huge applause and glowing praise for their musicality, discipline and engagement. The school uniforms were especially fascinating for our host schools!

The concert on Monday night was a memorable and fun evening with a highly appreciative audience, followed by a very popular pizza party. Tuesday's visit to Stade allowed us to work together with pupils from the Vincent Lubeck Gymnasium; we were given another very warm welcome before our workshop together.

The concert in the beautiful church of St Wilhadi was a truly moving occasion with excellent feedback from our hosts who were full of admiration for the musicianship, tone quality and maturity of our pupils. We have since received many complimentary emails from school staff and visiting tourists to the region who attended our concert.

Spontaneous busking sessions across Hamburg – on buses, boats and in busy squares – attracted delighted crowds and warm applause. Many passers-by commented on the children's impressive behaviour and the choir’s stunning intonation and diction. Even our tour guides were visibly moved to tears by the joy of the children’s unprompted singing.

Other cultural highlights included a modern staging of Così fan tutte at the Staatsoper, an exhilarating day at Heide Park and a magical visit to Der König der Löwen (The Lion King) – all in German! Throughout the week, the children took part in creative activities, quizzes and challenges designed to deepen their understanding of Hamburg’s rich history and musical heritage, with plenty of prizes awarded along the way. The hotel and food were a real hit this year with pupils and staff alike and the buffet selections were plentiful and delicious.

We are immensely grateful to the dedicated staff team who accompanied the tour, providing musical direction, pastoral care and medical support and entertainment along the way. Their tireless energy, care and commitment ensured a wonderful experience for all. The children were true ambassadors for St Michael’s in every setting and we could not be prouder of their conduct, kindness and musical brilliance. 

Herzlichen Dank, Hamburg.