Seventy young musicians from the Dark Peak Music Foundation have just returned from a successful concert tour to Spain.

The players, ranging in age from 12 to 20, gave concerts in three beautiful venues in the Castille region, receiving standing ovations at all three performances. 

Based in Palencia, the group travelled around the local towns and cities giving concerts, with audiences in their hundreds.

The first was in the stunning Iglesia de Santa Maria de la Ascuncion (Church of the Ascension) in Melgar de Fernamental, a building originating from the fourteenth century. The second was held in the Monasterio de San Zoilo in Carrion de los Condes, an eleventh century Monastery and site of cultural importance in Spain. But probably the highlight of the tour was a performance at Protos Bodegas, one of Spain’s leading wineries, where they played in the open air to an audience of over 600 invited guests of the Winery, receiving a rapturous reception.

Each concert included a mix of classics and music for stage and screen, ending with encores and rousing renditions of The Spanish Dance from La Vida Breve and Don't Stop Me Now. The concerts were all live streamed via Facebook to family and friends back in the UK.

Alongside all the musical activities, there was also plenty of time for the children and young people explore the area, relax in the hotel pool and sample the sights and tastes of central Spain. The itinerary included the Dark Peak Olympics, finding the best Burgers in Burgos and a tour of the historical city of Salamanca, known as the “Golden City”.

One of the players on the tour commented: “It was a great experience. It gave us a great chance to meet new people and see new places. All the players really got into the spirit and gave it their all! The audiences were all really friendly and very supportive”. For some it was their final performance with the foundation before heading off to university and many said what an important and formative part of the childhood being in the music foundation had been for them.

An elated (if slightly travel-weary) group of young people returned with treasured memories and endless tales to tell of their trip.

The Foundation usually organises a concert tour every two years, but travel restrictions due to Covid-19 meant that this was the first tour since 2018. Originally planned for Poland the trip was changed to Spain because of the war in Eastern Europe. Boarding at the Victoria Hall the group took a 30-hour coach trip, travelling overnight through France to the city of Palencia, located in the Northwest of the Iberian Peninsula.

The Foundation’s Principal Musical director Jeff Snowdon said “We are absolutely delighted that after all the disruption of the past couple of years this trip has finally been possible! It was probably our best tour yet and was a great experience for everyone involved. Every minute was filled with fun and laughter and it was also an emotional time, especially for our senior players for whom these were their final concerts. All three performances were superb. The youngsters worked brilliantly together and were an absolute joy to be with”.

The Foundation, which is based at the Victoria Hall and Glossopdale School, is looking forward to the new term, especially the launch of a new choir for children aged 9 to 14. In addition to its core groups the Foundation runs other musical activities in the local area, ranging from weekly music sessions for parents and toddlers to a community orchestra for players of all ages. 

For more information about the Dark Peak Music Foundation and its activities, please visit its website: https://darkpeakmusic.co.uk/. Recordings of the Spanish concerts can be found at @DarkPeakMusic on Facebook. New members of the Foundation's musical ensembles are always welcome.

Read more from the Glossop Chronicle

Click here for more of the latest news

Click here to read the latest edition of the paper online

Click here to find out where you can pick up a copy of the paper