Czech Tour for 2004

Following the final returns for the proposed tour of South Africa I took the difficult decision not go ahead with the tour in 2004. There have been a number of factors at work - a very problematic balance between sections and a smaller uptake overall than had been indicated last year. The process of consultation has brought into sharp focus the importance of involving everyone in the orchestra, and the players and parents have already shown a fantastic level of support and understanding over this issue. The clinching argument for me was the contradiction of leaving behind a significant proportion of the orchestra while at the same time wishing to send out a message of accessibility to our audiences in South African townships. If we can get the right level of sponsorship in advance, I hope we will be able to revive this project at some point in the future, but for now we need to look forward to a year which includes Masterprize, our first-ever joint concerts with the Hampshire County Youth Band and Southampton Pops Orchestra, and "The Rite of Spring".

I feel it is very important nevertheless to undertake a tour this summer, and that it should present a programme every bit as rewarding as the South Africa trip. One Stage Tours, who organised a superb trip to Italy for the String and Wind Orchestras, have been working overtime to produce a custom-made tour of Western Bohemia, eastern Germany and the Czech Republic to run 26th July - 6th August. There have already been some exciting developments, and Eli Lilly have kindly agreed to transfer their sponsorship to enable us to give a special concert in the home of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, the superb Rudolfinum in Prague. You can visit this venue's website at http://www.rudolfinum.cz/ - the site is in Czech, but you can click on the small union jack flag to turn it into English. It promises to form a fitting climax to a great new tour for 2004.

Nick Wilks