Tours
One of the greatest opportunities offered by the Music Society, especially in the 2009-2010 academic year, are their tours! In September 2009 MUMS took a full symphony orchestra to Bulgaria and in January 2010 the University of Manchester Chamber Choir - Ad Solem - will be visiting Poland.
STOP PRESS!!! MUWO - the Manchester University Wind Orchestra - will be going on tour to Holland in Easter 2010!
BULGARIA 2009
Sponsored by the Bulgarian New Symphony Orchestra
Wednesday 2nd September - Over 100 orchestral players sat in Manchester Airport's departure lounge (64 of them MUMS members; the BBC Philharmonic were leaving the UK too!) waiting for their EasyJet flight... Arrived in Bulgarian capital Sofia late at night, just in time for a quick drink and to settle in to our hostels.
Thursday 3rd September - First rehearsal in the Bulgarian Hall followed by a reception at the British Embassy with the British Ambassador Steve Williams.
Friday 4th September - MUMS' first concert abroad for ten years! Well attended by the locals as well as Embassy members.
Saturday 5th September - Hottest day of tour! Coach departs Sofia to take musicians to Plovdiv. Visit a vineyard en route; delicious wine!
Sunday 6th September - The weather breaks and the musicians are soaked by the rain in Plovdiv! Still take the opportunity to visit local sights.
Monday 7th September - Unfortunately our plans to play in the fantastic Roman Amphitheatre in Plovdiv are called off due to an unexpected National Day of Mourning. Weather is pretty drear too. However, the Tour Manager puts Plan B into action and the orchestra rehearses at the town hall where (providing they fix the leaking roof) the concert will be held the following day!
Tuesday 8th September - Despite the continuos rain, the roof has been fixed, and the orchestra present a well-received concert at the Town Hall. The audience enjoy the Bulgarian encore especially and give the orchestra a wild cheer and a standing ovation!
Wednesday 9th September - The coach back to Sofia is quiet today as the musicians recover from a fantastic 7 days. They visit the beautiful, traditional town of Koprivshtitsa on the way. Flight from Sofia in the evening, and back into Manchester beds just after midnight!
Tour Programme:
Schubert - Unfinished Symphony
Conductor - Mark Heron
Tchaikovsky - Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33
Conductor - Duncan Ward
Solisit - Alice Purton
Dvorak - Symphony No.9 in E minor "From the New World"
Conductor - Mark Heron
Orchestra Leader - Tom Spencer
Orchestra Manager - Kate Blackstone
Tour Assistant - Cathryn Kozlowski
Manager of the New Symphony Orchestra in Bulgaria - Vesselin Dobrev
MUMS' Tour Organiser - David Tagg-Oram
STOP PRESS!!! MUWO - the Manchester University Wind Orchestra - will be going on tour to Holland in Easter 2010!
BULGARIA 2009
Sponsored by the Bulgarian New Symphony Orchestra
Wednesday 2nd September - Over 100 orchestral players sat in Manchester Airport's departure lounge (64 of them MUMS members; the BBC Philharmonic were leaving the UK too!) waiting for their EasyJet flight... Arrived in Bulgarian capital Sofia late at night, just in time for a quick drink and to settle in to our hostels.
Thursday 3rd September - First rehearsal in the Bulgarian Hall followed by a reception at the British Embassy with the British Ambassador Steve Williams.
Friday 4th September - MUMS' first concert abroad for ten years! Well attended by the locals as well as Embassy members.
Saturday 5th September - Hottest day of tour! Coach departs Sofia to take musicians to Plovdiv. Visit a vineyard en route; delicious wine!
Sunday 6th September - The weather breaks and the musicians are soaked by the rain in Plovdiv! Still take the opportunity to visit local sights.
Monday 7th September - Unfortunately our plans to play in the fantastic Roman Amphitheatre in Plovdiv are called off due to an unexpected National Day of Mourning. Weather is pretty drear too. However, the Tour Manager puts Plan B into action and the orchestra rehearses at the town hall where (providing they fix the leaking roof) the concert will be held the following day!
Tuesday 8th September - Despite the continuos rain, the roof has been fixed, and the orchestra present a well-received concert at the Town Hall. The audience enjoy the Bulgarian encore especially and give the orchestra a wild cheer and a standing ovation!
Wednesday 9th September - The coach back to Sofia is quiet today as the musicians recover from a fantastic 7 days. They visit the beautiful, traditional town of Koprivshtitsa on the way. Flight from Sofia in the evening, and back into Manchester beds just after midnight!
Tour Programme:
Schubert - Unfinished Symphony
Conductor - Mark Heron
Tchaikovsky - Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33
Conductor - Duncan Ward
Solisit - Alice Purton
Dvorak - Symphony No.9 in E minor "From the New World"
Conductor - Mark Heron
Orchestra Leader - Tom Spencer
Orchestra Manager - Kate Blackstone
Tour Assistant - Cathryn Kozlowski
Manager of the New Symphony Orchestra in Bulgaria - Vesselin Dobrev
MUMS' Tour Organiser - David Tagg-Oram