Carnoustie High School all set for trip of a lifetime

Carnoustie High School Brass Band will fly out to Beijing on Friday 7 September for a much-anticipated 15-day tour, becoming the first British school brass band to perform in China.

In 2016, Carnoustie High School Brass Band performed at the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow, for the Confucius Institute for Scotland who were so impressed with the standard of playing they contacted Mr. Donald Currie, Headteacher at Carnoustie High School, to ask if it would be possible for the band to travel to China in 2018 – an invitation which was gratefully accepted.

Confucius hubs are classes based in schools which serve the local community and Carnoustie High School is the Confucius Hub for Angus. The hub concept promotes joint planning of cultural activities, sharing ideas and resources to stimulate the learning and teaching of Chinese language and culture.

Confucius hubs are classes based in schools which serve the local community and Carnoustie High School is the Confucius Hub for Angus. The hub concept promotes joint planning of cultural activities, sharing ideas and resources to stimulate the learning and teaching of Chinese language and culture.

The band’s Chinese adventure will last for fifteen days with seven days in Tianjin and seven days in Beijing before the return to Carnoustie on 22 September.

While in Tianjin, the band members will be learning Mandarin and visiting families and schools, as well as performing at three concerts. The young musicians will also have opportunities to experience Chinese culture first hand with a chance to learn Gongfu,(Chinese martial arts), Tai Chi, caligraphy and Chinese mask painting.

When the band is in Beijing it will perform at three more concerts as well as visiting the Great Wall, the Summer Palace, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Pearl market, the Food market, Birds Nest and Water Cube and Tiananmen Square. One of the highlights of the trip will be performing at the British Embassy in the Ambassador’s residence on 15 September, at the Embassy’s request. Carnoustie will be performing in front of 2,000 guests.

The band have been fundraising for 18 months and all the money raised will go to buying visas, transporting instruments, coach hire and percussion hire. As well as the band, there will be a piper, two Scottish country dancers and five staff travelling.

Conductor Michael Robertson, who believes this will be a marvellous opportunity to experience Chinese culture for the youngsters, commented: “I am very proud to be taking these young musicians to China. They work so hard and are a joy to teach. I would particularly like to thank the amazing support we have received from the Carnoustie public and local businesses which have helped make this venture possible.” 

Headteacher Donald Currie added that he was extremely delighted that the band had been given this opportunity.

The band will be holding a preparatory concert on Thursday, 30 August at 7.00pm in the High School theatre. Anyone who would like to hear the band is welcome to attend.