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Early in the year, four local teenagers went to a vocal camp in Tamworth and unknowingly put themselves in the running for a choral trip to Europe. With the spots only announced recently, the selection for the Department of Education’s ‘West of the Divide Performance Tour’ included in the final local tally a fifth singer, current sixth grader Mauatua Barff, who will accompany Hanu Barff, Nina Samson, Liam Chester and Grace Forrester on the trip scheduled for next year.
According to their proud music teacher, Gloucester High School’s Judy Ingram, the aim of the 14 day tour is to provide a musical and educationally rich experience beyond the classroom, allowing the students opportunities to be immersed in many musical genres in their social, cultural and historical contexts.
“They will walk in the footsteps of famous musicians and attend professional concerts in world renowned theatres. They will take part in musical workshops and gain insight into the world of musical history, discovering the significance of classical music... while enjoying a variety of music genres throughout their travels.”
“I’m just so proud of them, they’ve been amazing students. They really deserve this,” she said.
Visiting Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and Czech Republic in September and October 2016, the tour will cost each student $6000, including a mandatory camp in Dubbo in July next year. Intermittent fundraising activities will take place between now and then to help all five students join the travelling concert band and choir of students from regional NSW government schools, and access a “unique performance and musical appreciation opportunity that they would not normally access”.