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GCVI music groups perform at 44th annual Harrogate International Youth Festival

April 21, 2017

GUELPH, Ontario – Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute music groups travelled to England earlier this month to perform at the 44th annual Harrogate International Youth Festival. This trip marked the fourth time that GCVI performed at the Harrogate International Youth Festival. GCVI students attended the festival in 1976, 1992 and 1996.

GCVI Harrogate

The festival features different music groups from all over the world. The GCVI bands featured were the GCVI Symphonic Band, Gael Force Jazz Band and Chamber Choir. Also from Canada, the Mount Baker High School Concert Band, Jazz Band and Choir attended from Cranbrook, British Columbia. Other performances included groups from the United States, Finland, Russia, Thailand and the United Kingdom.

 GCVI Harrogate 2

Students and staff from GCVI arrived in England the evening of April 14. They stayed at the Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate School, in York, considered one of England’s most premiere private schools.

GCVI Harrogate 3

On April 15, all GCVI students took part in the parade of nations where they walked through downtown Harrogate handing out Canadian flag stickers, pins and other items. Later in the day, the GCVI Chamber Choir performed during the opening night show and other band members took part in a large-scale band performance to close the evenings show. These performances took place at the Royal Hall in Harrogate, a breathtaking 1,000 seat capacity hall that is over 100 years old and is decorated with gold. Students were thrilled to perform at this hall, as the Beatles took to the stage there in 1963.

GCVI Harrogate 4

Starting the day on April 16, the GCVI Chamber Choir hit the stage of the Christ Church in Harrogate. Later in the afternoon both the GCVI Chamber Choir and Symphonic Band had the opportunity to perform at Fountain’s Abbey, a venue that is approximately 900 years old. During the evening, the GCVI Gael Force Stage Band performed as part of the sold out Harrogate Festival Jazz Concert at the historic Old Swan Hotel.

GCVI Harrogate 5

On April 17, the GCVI Chamber Choir had the opportunity to perform at Rippon Castle. As part of the closing show, the GCVI Symphonic Band performed at the Royal Hall later in the evening.

GCVI Harrogate 6

On April 18, after students had concluded their performances, the group headed to London for a guided tour of Buckingham Palace, Abbey Road Studios, the Canadian War Memorial and downtown London. To cap off the day of touring, the group went on the London Eye.

GCVI Harrogate 7

You can watch some of the GCVI performances below:










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