University Symphony Orchestra tours Germany

Cardiff University Symphony Orchestra has ended a successful tour of Germany with a standing ovation at Baden-Baden's Kurhaus Casino

The concert was the culmination of a 10-day tour, which saw orchestra members visit locations in Germany, France and Belgium.

Supported by the University's Global Opportunities Centre, the tour aims to support outward student mobility through helping facilitate overseas opportunities.

Around 50 orchestra members travelled to Germany for the tour, where they were joined by several European musicians.

Professor Kenneth Hamilton, Head of the University's School of Music, said: "This was an excellent opportunity for us to showcase our student talent abroad, while also allowing our student musicians to experience different cultures and perform for new audiences. The Orchestra played exceptionally well in Baden-Baden, and it was thrilling - even moving - to see how much the audience appreciated the performance.

"One audience member I spoke to said he had almost been moved to tears during the concert; another mentioned that it was his 50^th wedding anniversary and that the concert had been the best possible present he and his wife could have asked for."

Orchestra conductor Mark Eager said: "I am thrilled that last week's German trip was such a success. In particular the concert, with a full standing ovation to a packed house in Baden-Baden, was really a culmination of the orchestra's achievements over the last few years. The comments from the German audience were outstanding; with some claiming that what they heard was as good as their local professional orchestra - praise indeed.

"From my point of view every single player improved musically and technically through the week's rehearsals and I had full commitment to excellence throughout. The German & French guest players integrated so well both socially and musically, lending even more value to the educational element of the tour."

Tour Blogger Bronwen Maggs, a final-year undergraduate at the School of Music, has been documenting the tour for the Symphony Orchestra's new website. Visit the website for all of Bronwen's updates from the road.