THE ALLEYNIAN 708 | OUT OF THE ORDINARY
THE ALLEYNIAN 708 | OUT OF THE ORDINARY
TRIPS Amsterdam adventure
ENTHUSIASTIC AUDIENCES, INTRIGUING ACOUSTICS AND A RANGE OF CULTURAL ACTIVITIES CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUCCESS OF THE CHAMBER MUSIC TOUR TO AMSTERDAM, SAYS JOSHUA THEAKER (YEAR 12)
WE PERFORMED IN DE GROTE KERK, A LARGE CHURCH WITH AN EXCITING, ECHOED ACOUSTIC
O n arrival at Amsterdam’s English Reformed Church, we had plenty of time to warm up before the concert, the first of the trip. We felt we played with verve, and the very warm response from the audience left us in high spirits after the concert. We wound our way through the streets of the centre of town in order to find some food, before going to the Rijksmuseum. Once replete with burgers, chicken or ribs, we ventured off to see the most famous art museum in Amsterdam, which features masterpieces such as ‘The Night Watch’, by Rembrandt. The second day took us to Monnickendam, a small town to the north of Amsterdam, near the coast. We performed in De Grote Kerk, a large church with an exciting, echoed acoustic. The final piece was greeted with enthusiastic applause and congratulations from the audience, who commented on the high level of playing. Their feedback was much appreciated.
On the third day, sightseeing was on the agenda. We visited the historical museum This is Holland, which includes a 5D ‘flight’ over some of the country’s most notable landmarks. After this, we ventured to the A’DAM Lookout, which offered mesmerising views over Amsterdam. Some of our number took part in the ‘Swing over the Edge’ activity, a mechanical swing built on top of the Lookout. I was one of the more sane-minded amongst the group, deciding not to participate in an activity involving suspension in the air with a drop of 100 metres! After a brief lunch, we departed for a canal boat trip, which took us on a soothing tour around some beautiful canals, and included some interesting history about the city and its architecture. My thanks go to the staff who organised the trip. It provided us with a great opportunity to develop our musicianship, as well as offering us a chance to discover so much about Amsterdam in particular, and Holland as a whole.
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