Over the Easter holidays, pupils from the Royal Hospital School (RHS) in Holbrook, Suffolk embarked on an extraordinary music tour across Canada, performing in both Montreal and Toronto. The group pulled together and gave their all, delivering no fewer than four incredible performances on the very first day alone and fourteen across the whole trip.
The tour began in Montreal with two performances at the stunning Marie-Reine-du-Monde Cathedral, followed by sightseeing in Old Montreal, dinner with classic Canadian poutine, and a magical evening at the Aura Experience in the Notre-Dame Basilica. There was even a special moment when RHS pupils made it onto the big screen at the Centre Bell during the NHL game between the Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings.
Day 3 brought fresh snowfall and an inspiring exchange day with St George’s School, where pupils were treated to performances by a jazz band and glee choir. That evening, the group returned to the Centre Bell to watch ice hockey live in the 21,000-seater stadium.
The adventure continued with a six-hour coach journey from Montreal to Toronto, broken up by a wonderful lunchtime concert at Albert College. Once in Toronto, the group gave further performances, including a lunchtime concert at St James’ Cathedral and Choral Evensong in collaboration with the choir of the Royal St George’s College. A touching highlight was the surprise reunion with RHS alumnus James Williams, who travelled two hours to hear the performance.
Beyond the concerts, there was plenty of time to explore Canadian culture and sights. Pupils visited the iconic St Lawrence Market, the breathtaking Niagara Falls, and the CN Tower. They also enjoyed a feast and show at Medieval Times and explored Little Canada before taking some time to shop and relax. A highlight of the final evening was the Band’s performance at the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada Gala Dinner, where the Choir also sang a beautiful blessing.
Brian Martineau, Deputy Head Co-Curricular at RHS, commented on the tour saying: “It was a huge privilege to share our Canada adventure with the RHS band and choir pupils. Their performances were outstanding — 14 in just 10 days — in venues ranging from cathedrals and parish churches to schools and even a TA armoury! Tours like this create memories that last a lifetime, but they also offer something uniquely special to our audiences abroad. We are incredibly proud of everything our pupils achieved in Montreal and Toronto.”
Zoë King, Deputy Head (Pastoral) at RHS, who accompanied the pupils on the tour, added: “This was far more than just a music tour – it was a life-enriching experience that brought out the very best in our pupils. Their determination, camaraderie, and sheer joy in performing was extraordinary to witness. From iconic venues to cultural exchanges and unforgettable moments, our pupils represented RHS with pride and passion every step of the way.”
Parents have praised the RHS music tour as an unforgettable experience for pupils, with many describing it as the “best school trip ever.” Pupils returned full of enthusiasm, having made new friendships, enjoyed unique performance opportunities, and created lasting memories. Families particularly appreciated the engaging daily blog, which brought the tour to life and became a much-loved part of their day back home.
As a result of the success and feedback from the trip, RHS are now entering their Canada Tour into the 2025 School Travel Awards in the, ‘My Best School Trip’ category.
Categories: Royal Hospital School School News
