Suzanna van oogen and Dieuwke Braas from the Regional Youth Orchestra Artiance were invited to participate in the International Jugendorchester in Darmstadt. There they met other young musicians from Darmstadt and from its partner cities. After the concert on 24 August, all the orchestra members went by bus to Liepaja, the partner city of Darmstadt in Latvia. Here, too, every day had to be rehearsed and on August 28 the final concert was held.
Dieuwke: 'it went very well, but of course it was also very unfortunate that it had ended.’
The next day was the return trip, it was a long journey but pleasant. The first ones already went out in Poland, and then a couple in Freiburg. Suzanna: 'that's how the bus became more and more empty. There was an occasional tear because we had built a close bond.’
Then the bus arrived in Darmstadt at 7 am. Dieuwke: 'it wasn't until 6 o'clock in the evening that the train left, so we still had some time to kill. We were allowed to come with someone from the orchestra who comes from Darmstadt to her house to have breakfast and rest. Then we met with some others in the city to score some souvenirs and other nice things. We also ate pizza together in a square. Then we went somewhere on a terrace to drink some goodies. Then, unfortunately, it was time for us to say goodbye. This was a shame as it was a very nice group and we also made good friends.’
20-08
We started our journey at Alkmaar station at 7 am. With a lot of desire we went on our way to Darmstadt. Here Dieuwke arrived at the hostel where she was staying and Suzanna at the host family where she was staying. In the evening, all the participants gathered at a cafe nearby, here we got to know everyone a little.
21-08
This day started with our first orchestra rehearsal, from 9 to 12. We got to know each other and the conductor. After this we walked together to lunch nearby, after which we went to rehearse again for 3 hours. For lunch we ate in the canteen of the University of Darmstadt. In the evening there was a’ get-together party', where we all went to dinner first. Then we played games to get to know each other better.
22-08
Today was basically the same as the day before, rehearsing in the morning, then going to lunch together and then rehearsing again. In the evening we had free time this time. First, we walked around the city with a small group, and then we went to an open-air theater where there was a performance by an orchestra.
23-08
We started the day rehearsing again, this time from 9 to 1. This was in the orangery, where we also had lunch. After that we had free time again. We used this to go to Frankfurt with a group. This is about half an hour from Darmstadt. Here we walked through the city, but we also went to a kind of garden where you can find everything.
24-08
Today is the day of performance! We also had to pack our bags because we left for Liepāja right after the performance. As a result, we only had to be at the orangerie at 2 o'clock, where we started the dress rehearsal. After this the performance was, the hall was very full, there had to be quite a few people! The performance went well and it was especially fun. After the performance, we quickly changed clothes and went to the bus to leave.
25-08
After 21 hours we finally arrived in Liepāja, Latvia. At the hotel we were immediately received with dinner that we could eat in our own kind of apartment. They were rooms of 2 with a shared kitchen and bathroom for his eights. We sat with all nice girls so that was very cozy
26-08
We started the day with breakfast at the concert hall ‘Great Amber', here we came during our stay to rehearse but also to eat. After rehearsing, we went with a guide to go on an excursion to a museum and a forest.
27-08
After another delicious breakfast, we had rehearsal. After this we had an orientation game in the city. The last time we got free time at the end of the afternoon, Suzanna chose to go to the beach with a few others and Dieuwke walked around the city with fellow orchestra members and went to the supermarket. In the evening we talked with a small group.
28-08
In the morning we started with free time, with a large group we walked around the city and walked past shops. Here we brought nice souvenirs for home. After a nice lunch, we had the dress rehearsal. After this we had our last performance, it went very well but of course it was also very unfortunate that it had ended.
29-08
In the morning we had to quickly pack our bags because we were on our way home again. It promised to be a long drive again, but luckily it was very cozy on the bus. The first went out in Poland and then a few in Freiberg. So the bus became increasingly empty, there was an occasional tear because we had built a close bond. Then we arrived in Darmstadt at 7 am. Only at 6 o'clock in the evening the train went so we still had some time to kill. We were allowed to come with someone from the orchestra who comes from Darmstadt to her house to have breakfast and rest.
Then we met with some others in the city to score some souvenirs and other nice things. We also ate pizza together in a square. Then we went somewhere on a terrace to drink some goodies. Then, unfortunately, it was time for us to say goodbye. This was a shame as it was a very nice group and we also made good friends.
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