At the start of the summer holidays, 26 of our most advanced strings players – the by- invitation-only Trinity Soloists – set off for Belgium. Three concerts, three cities, and a week full of music, culture and new experiences made the trip unforgettable.
Head of Strings, Cristian Persinaru, summed it up: “Last year’s Upper Sixth musicians were an exceptionally talented group, and we chose a repertoire based on their skills that could represent the school internationally. It also allowed our younger musicians to grow by being a part of.
“The main aims of a tour are to expose our students to new cultures, forge new friendships across year groups and to build trust as an ensemble. They must learn what excellence in performance means and how to achieve it, so they are prepared for any eventuality as musicians.
“The best thing for me was seeing our senior students integrating the younger ones into their games and conversations, supporting them musically and generally ‘keeping an eye out for them’. I know they have forged friendships that transcend age-groups and will continue back at school. Most endearing was seeing how a bunch of 26 students became one team on stage, trusting each other and enjoying their performances together.”
The group performed in the Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk in De Haan, Sint Gilliskerk in Bruges, and the awe-inspiring Sint Baafskathedraal in Ghent. Between concerts they explored castles, learned to make chocolate pizza, took part in a sound workshop, played games on golden beaches, and spent a day at a water park.
Talented cellist Elliot, aged just 11, said, “It was an amazing experience to perform concerts to the public. The older kids and staff made me feel comfortable, and it was special that they don’t go by age, they go by who can play the music.
“All the activities were really excellent – the best for me was the water park because it had really fun rides and was refreshing on a hot day. However, the most amazing part was the concerts. We performed in such beautiful venues, with huge crowds. It was possibly one of the greatest tours ever.”
Fourth Year violinist George said, “After our first successful concert, we were allowed to explore the beachfront by ourselves. With two friends, I walked up to a small pier at the far end of the beach. It was empty and the choppy sea along with the beautiful sunset made for several photo opportunities. I also really enjoyed exploring the area around our concert venue, Ghent’s cathedral. This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever played in, with stunning architecture and a truly unique acoustic. Overall, I had such an enjoyable time, as we had the opportunity to relax and have fun, as well as deliver fantastic concerts and admire the culture and architecture.”
Lower Sixth violinist Corin, who joined Trinity at the start of the year, said, “I really enjoyed the trip to Belgium – my first music tour with Trinity. It was an amazing experience performing in a range of venues and hearing how our sound changed, and how to adapt. The last day at the waterpark was a brilliant way to relax after performing.”
Upper Sixth student Caden, the departing Steinway Scholar even learned to play the harpsichord especially for the tour, as it’s a prominent instrument in Baroque music. He said, “As a school leaver, the Belgium tour was an incredible send-off to everything I love about music at Trinity. Playing in staggeringly beautiful cathedrals and halls always amazes me, and seeing our confidence and cohesion grow with every performance made the experience so rewarding.
“An integral part of these tours is cultural exposure. Being immersed in these cities, meeting locals and learning about their lives broadens our perspective and deepens our appreciation for the people we share our music with. “Gathering such a committed group of musicians brought highs and lows, forging great memories and unexpected friendships. My favourite aspect was the inter-year bonds, which created a more unified Trinity Soloists. Having met so many talented and enigmatic young players, I know our music scene will be in safe hands for years to come.”
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The Music Department organises at least one major tour for instrumentalists each year, and in 2026, Big Band will be heading to Paris. There are many other opportunities for travel within music, with choirs regularly performing across Europe and further afield.
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