Students from St Dunstan’s College in London grew in confidence both on and off the stage, during an unforgettable music tour of Prague.
For St. Dunstan’s College, their music tour to Prague was about far more than simply travelling overseas. It was an opportunity to inspire students, strengthen the school’s musical community and create unforgettable shared experiences through performance.
Combining concerts in beautiful historic venues with the chance to explore one of Europe’s most culturally rich cities, the tour gave students the opportunity to grow in confidence both on and off the stage.
From the excitement of performing abroad to experiencing Prague in winter, the trip proved to be an enriching and rewarding experience for everyone involved, as director of music Mark Dowd explains:
“We wanted to engage a large number of students with music and to ensure excitement for music at our school remains as high as possible. We also wanted the chance to showcase our excellent singers at some new and interesting venues.”
School: St Dunstan’s College, London
Subject: Music
KS: 3-5
Number of pupils: 34
The tour was designed to give students the opportunity to perform beyond the familiar surroundings of school and experience the excitement of sharing their music internationally. Performing overseas encouraged students to develop confidence, independence and teamwork, while also strengthening enthusiasm for music across the school community.
Why Prague was the perfect choice
Mr Dowd said: “We wanted to choose a destination that would excite the students and be different from some of the places they may have been before. We were taken by the beauty and rich cultural history of Prague and felt it would be perfect. We were also excited to embrace the cold weather that a trip there in February would bring, again adding to the uniqueness of the experience for the students.”
Prague’s rich musical heritage, stunning architecture and vibrant atmosphere made it an ideal destination for a choir tour. Visiting during February added an extra layer of adventure, with the wintry setting making the trip feel even more memorable and distinctive for the students.
Performing in historic venues
He added: “Both performances took place in small churches - one right in the centre of Prague, the other in Pisek, a quaint town outside the city. Both churches were old-fashioned with lots of charming and beautiful features. We were thrilled that both concerts were absolutely packed in terms of audience members.”
The historic church venues provided an unforgettable backdrop for the choir performances. Their beautiful interiors and excellent acoustics helped create a truly special atmosphere for both performers and audiences alike. Performing to packed audiences was a proud moment for the students and staff, and one that highlighted the hard work and talent of the ensemble.
“What better way to celebrate a music department than to share our music making with others?”
Mark Dowd, director of music
Lasting memories from the tour
Mr Dowd was pleased with “how wonderfully our students performed within both concerts and worked well with one another throughout the tour. All in all, it was really superb for morale within the department and our ensembles.”
Alongside the performances themselves, the sense of togetherness and camaraderie that developed throughout the tour became one of its greatest successes. Students supported one another brilliantly and represented the school with maturity and enthusiasm throughout the trip.
Choosing a tour operator
The college decided to go with Halsbury Travel for the trip. Mr Dowd explained: “Communications and ideas for the tour were efficiently presented right from the start. We were able to be flexible on price depending on the type of tour we wanted. All in all, I managed to reach a tour price and itinerary with Halsbury before I reached this point with any other company I was talking to.”
The group particularly valued the responsive support and efficient communication throughout the planning process, helping everything run smoothly from the initial enquiry right through to departure.
The Prague tour was a memorable success for St. Dunstan’s College, giving students the chance to perform in inspiring venues while building friendships, confidence and a lasting enthusiasm for music.
With packed audiences, outstanding performances and a fantastic atmosphere throughout, the trip left a hugely positive impact on both students and staff.
