Our Cathedral Choristers in Denmark
Our Boy Choristers, Choral Scholars and Lay Clerks are just back from a brilliant tour to sing in Denmark. Two of our newest choristers, Theo and Thomas tell us what it was like to experience their first cathedral choir tour.
Our trip to Denmark as part of the Portsmouth Cathedral Choir was an adventure we'll never forget. From the moment we arrived in Roskilde, greeted by a snow blizzard, we knew it was going to be special. Our hostel was cozy, with bunk beds and a bathroom that had heated floors – a real treat after being out in the cold.
We were up bright an early on the Saturday morning and took the train to Copenhagen for a morning rehearsal at Trinitatis Church after which we had a chance to climb the round tower where King Christian used to watch the stars. After a MacDonalds lunch we sang an afternoon concert to a huge and friendly audience. The would'nt let us leave the stage before we had sung an encore!
Every morning started with a delightful breakfast of apple juice, fresh bread, and hot chocolate. Just 300 meters from our hostel, we sang at the morning service in Roskilde Cathedral. Singing pieces like "Alleluia, I heard a voice" in front of their magnificent organ was a thrill.
The Evensong in a plain-looking church that revealed a stunning interior was another highlight. The organ, enclosed in glass, added to the beauty of our performance. And the cakes they served us afterwards were simply amazing.
Our visit to the Viking Museum was incredibly fun. Seeing the ancient ships, including trading ships and a large warship, was fascinating. Climbing into a replica and dressing up as Vikings made us laugh and was a unique way to learn about history.
This trip wasn't just about fun; it was a great learning experience too. The people of Denmark were so welcoming, and their happiness to have us there made us feel special. We hope we can go back to Denmark again – it was an experience filled with music, history, and joy that we'll always cherish.
Chorister, Daniel (aged 8) added “The Lego shop for starters was big. Bigger than big! Stupendously big!! It contained a lot of sets and individual pieces, for example there was a ‘brick and mix’. You could buy a box and then cram in as many Lego bricks as possible! The last service was great as it was our normal Portsmouth cathedral Evensong but in Denmark. It took place in a very modern church called Trekroner Kirche which is made of stone in an unusual shape. Swimming was great, as it included a slide that was enormous and also a whirl pool that was hard to get out of! Altogether it was an amazing experience for my first choir tour.”