Third year music student and clarinet player, Lucy Irving, embarked on a tour to Paris with Durham University Palatinate Orchestra (DUPO) this June. This was supported by the St John’s Student Opportunities Fund.
With thanks to the St John’s Student Opportunities Fund, I was able to go to Paris with Durham University Palatinate Orchestra (DUPO) this June. Having joined the orchestra in my first year, I have been a member ever since and was very excited to discover we were going on tour to Paris this year.
Throughout my time at Durham, I have loved being part of DUPO. As well as being a member of the orchestra, throughout my third year, I was also part of the executive committee as PR Manager, where I promoted the orchestra using social media platforms.
This year has been a particular highlight for me as the orchestra has performed some exciting concerts including our sold-out 15th anniversary concert in Durham Cathedral, performing an outreach concert in HMP Durham Prison, and rounding the year off with this fabulous tour to Paris!
The tour began with some sightseeing around Paris (which Victoria the bear really enjoyed!) and two spectacular concerts. The first venue we performed in was the Église de la Madeleine, a stunning church located in the 8th arrondissement. The second concert was performed in the Luxembourg Gardens, which gathered a sizeable audience despite the heat.
The orchestra performed works such as Beethoven Symphony No. 7, Holmes La Nuit et L’amour, and Brahms Academic Festival Overture. Perhaps my favourite moment was during the Luxembourg Gardens concert when we played the finale of Dvorak Symphony No. 9 as an encore, after the audience started to chant for one more piece!
The rest of the week was spent exploring the city and seeing sights such as the Eiffel Tower, Shakespeare and Company, and watching the sunrise at the Sacré-Cœur (which was worth the 4:30am start!).
On the last evening we took a trip to the Paris Opera House, The Palais Garnier, to watch the ballet L’histoire de Manon. It was a magical experience to be in such a spectacular building, and watching the orchestra and dancers perform.
Being part of DUPO has been a highlight of my university experience. It has provided me with so many wonderful opportunities to perform and friendships which will last a lifetime.
I would like to thank the Opportunities Fund for covering the cost of the tour to Paris as it was my last week with the orchestra and was a special way to end my university experience, forging friendships and enhancing my performance skills, which will be crucial as I embark on an MMus in Clarinet Performance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in September.
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