Masterworks Chorale – King’s Lynn tour
Our first tour back after COVID-19 was always going to come with a lot of stress and expectations, but wow did Masterworks Chorale absolutely bring us back with a (beautiful) bang!
Day 1 – Taking place at the end of September, we set of on Thursday the 24th from Leeds on the coach for King’s Lynn. We were lucky to be blessed with a warm, blue-skied weekend that certainly reflected the trip on the whole! After arriving and checking in to the lovely Duke’s Head Hotel in the centre of this historic market-town, there was some time to explore and grab something to eat before the first – long-awaited – afternoon concert!
The group got back to the hotel to get changed into their concert-wear and then headed over to King’s Lynn Minster to set up and begin rehearsals. The rehearsal was the first full group (in person) rehearsal they had done for months, but you would never have known. King’s Lynn Minster was the perfect place for the first concert back, with it’s vast interior, pipe organ and stunning architecture. The performance began, but not before the whole church had filled up with members of the public, tourists, locals and families! Masterworks’ 45 minute concert was beautiful. The audience were clearly very taken by it and the church was filled with applause for a good minute or two at the end. It was more than any of us could have asked for to kick off the weekend and our reintroduction into in person concert tours. It was then time for a lovely evening meal and celebration of being back together and doing something they love.
Day 2 entailed a few hours of sight-seeing in stunning Cambridge! The group had their own independent plans but from all accounts the most popular trip was a private punting tour along the World Famous ‘College Backs’, it really was the most glorious day for it. Then Friday evening arrived and time for another beautiful concert at St Nicholas’ Chapel back in King’s Lynn.
Day 3 – On Saturday morning the choir departed King’s Lynn again, this time bound for Norwich. Once arriving, it was immediately time to begin rehearsal for a lunchtime performance in the Church of St Peter Mancroft where they were warmly greeted by the church staff and audience alike. There was then time to explore the city of Norwich, with the serenity and beauty of the Cathedral being the favourite spot to head to. Then back to King’s Lynn for the final evening of socialising.
Day 4 – Sunday morning we left King’s Lynn for the final singing event, service participation at Tilney All Saints Church, a medieval church in a small hamlet just a short drive away. The congregation was small but very appreciative, a choir hadn’t sung in the church for over 30 years, and offered their appreciate with the most wonderful buffet spread after the service. After the Sunday morning service it was time to hit the road and head back to Leeds.
It was an unforgettable first weekend back in the swing of things and exceeded all expectations we had of the first tour back.
Testimonials: ‘We had an amazing tour in East Anglia with Sound Escapes. The organisation was first class, navigating all the ‘post’ Covid restrictions and enabling us to enjoy making music together again for some very appreciative audiences’ – Kate, Masterworks Chorale
‘Thanks to Sound Escapes UK Performance Tours and Jo for a great tour. Well organised as always and a pleasure to be back touring with you again’ – Jacquie, Masterworks Chorale