Our tour to Charlotte was a beneficiary trip in many aspects.

We played a variety of violin concerts including practices with the Northwest School of the Arts and afternoon musical enrichment programme at the Winterfield Elementary School, both coached by members of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra.

We were able to observe a rehearsal of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and performed our repertoire at the Levine Children’s Hospital. The most impressive musical event was a collaboration of activities and performance with two other Suzuki groups. The venue of the concert was impressive too. The large Presbyterian Church had wonderful acoustics and provided great surroundings for the performers. The groups played together traditional Suzuki Pieces as well as an arrangement of different pieces that each group had prepared separately. The concert ended with standing ovations.

The members of the tour group have to be commended for their discipline, enthusiasm, punctuality and their overall considerate behaviour. Although the main purpose of the trip was the musical aspect, there were leisure activities that were much fun and exciting as well as educational.

We had a tour of the huge Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, home to the Carolina Panthers, and an interesting visit to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The vast modern building held many impressive cars that have raced in NASCAR through time and a realistic simulator. Only after a qualification drive you could get into the simulator and try your skills and luck. All who went thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

On our last day we spent half of the day at the National White Water Center where we participated in activities like mountain biking, rock climbing, zip-lining and ropes courses. Everyone including parents and grandparents liked the thrill. The pouring rain dampened our clothes and skin but not our happy mood.

Some free time was spent adding pounds to our luggage. The hotel where we stayed was very close to a mall and everybody stocked up on clothes, shoes, toys and other necessities. The mall was also a safe place to go trick-or-treating on Halloween in our fabulous costumes.

The violin tour was an experience that created both, new and deeper friendships, and wonderful memories of a lifetime for all.

Thank you, Chas, and all the teachers for organising this great week.

Organisers and Teachers: Chas Arnold, LaTannia Ellerbe, Jennifer Sheridan, Laura Springham, Lionel Thomas

Students: Haley Williams, Meinhardt Rentrup, Shanyce Morris, Finn Smith, Kayley Gibbons, Marie-Sophie Brackstone, Kaleb Phillips, Leslie Tucker, Jeremiah Samuels, Samson Douglas, Naphisa Smith, Jackson Spurling, Chrysda Smith, Camille Lesage, Aria Turchiaro, Aidan Wells, Sabrina Lowther, Ariana Lowther, Roneeyah Jones, Elijah Samuels, Aisling Homan, Sari Smith, Kirsty Pollett, Morgan Rossiter, Zavia Doyling, Shamar Morris