IMP Tour to Spain and Portugal

On the 11th of April, 110 excited Fort Street High School students and staff (and almost 3000kg of gear!) boarded flights for Madrid for the long awaited and highly successful 2024 IMP Tour to Spain and Portugal.

An unforgettable trip, the musical highlights included:

• An intensive wind band workshop in Madrid, tackling a Spanish military fantasy with musicians from the Spanish Armada wind band, under the baton of their conductor Lt Cdr Miguel.
• A concert at the Teatro Mira in Madrid where IMP students performed to a wonderful audience of over 400 patrons.
• In Granada, a performance with standing ovation from around 550 patrons in the Auditorio Manuell de Falla, a recital hall venue in Granada with outstanding acoustics. Located right next door to the Alhambra, the views from the dressing room were stunning!
• A school exchange at the Colegio Sagrado Corazon in Granada, which boasted a stunning chapel where the students from both schools enthusiastically performed for each other.
• A performance in a Lisbon theatre in Palmela.
• In a very special event, the Chamber Choir and an octet of wind and brass provided the music in the Australian Embassy’s ANZAC commemoration at Liga dos Combatentes, on Lisbon Harbour, and Fortians also served as ushers, and flag bearers. Speakers included the Australian Ambassador to Portugal, Indra McCormick, and the Turkish Ambassador.
• A 3-hour orchestral masterclass with Maestro Pedro Neves, conductor of the Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra.
• Members of the Tour Wind Band and the Jazz Orchestra participated in a 3-hour masterclass with the navy band of the Portuguese Armada followed by a beautiful lunch in the mess hall hosted by the Australian Ambassador. As is our custom, Fort Street sang for their supper, to the delight of the Navy officers, musicians, and cooks.
• Enjoying the beautiful sounds of local Fado musicians during the farewell dinner in the Old Town of Lisbon.

When not rehearsing or performing, Fortians soaked up the sights, sounds and tastes of Spain and Portugal, exploring the historic streets of Madrid, Granada, Seville and Lisbon on foot; taking a day trip to breath-taking historic town of Toledo; sampling tapas, Pasteis de Belem, and other culinary delights; discovering their flair for Flamenco dancing; visiting a bull farm; and marveling at the majestic Alhambra in Granada and palaces of Sintra.

An enormous debt of gratitude is owed to the IMP Coordinator & Director of Bands, Matthew Manchester, as well as Fort Street High School Staff, and the IMP committee. Without their passion, energy, and outstanding organisational skills, this trip could not have occurred.