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SATURDAY 30th June
Van loaded with instruments and equipment. Thanks to all who helped to lighten the load!
TUESDAY 3rd July
We left sunny Perth an hour earlier than we had planned due to new security at Edinburgh Airport. Check in went very smoothly. Onboard we were warned that terminal 4, Heathrow, was closed due to a security issue. Our Warsaw flight was to be from terminal 1 - so no fears there.
Diversions to avoid a couple of ’summer thunderstorms’ marked the sign of things to come.
On landing at Heathrow the pilot struggled to summon the landing gantry.
When we eventually disembarked, the Warsaw flight was delayed by 65 mins - and eventually - due to the noise jet laws around Warsaw Airport, it was canceled. Technically, the reason provided by British Airways was, “following a security scare at London Heathrow Terminal 4, British airways is unable to operate a full flying programme.”
Faced with spending the night at the airport before finding new flights we set about finding accommodation. At the same time we examined the options for getting forward to Poland. In the end we have made bookings on two BA flights - 7.15 and 8.55 to Berlin from where we have connecting coaches to Krakow - where we are now scheduled to arrive at 2300 (Wednesday 4th).
With the flights leaving so early - the move to a London hotel was not worthwhile. The coach journey will be a long one but - with the airport pie shop shutting up to customers to devote themselves exclusively to PYO - spirits are high and we are looking forward with real determination to making great music in Poland.
WTOREK 4 LIPIEC
PERTH YOUTH
ORCHESTRA
KONCERT
1900 Ss Piotr i Paweł
Krakow (cancelled)
Today, for a few hours only, we will all be Berliners. After a long night at Heathrow, we set out on the early morning flights to Germany. Nine bags are still missing despite last night’s ruthless search of the chaos they called a baggage hall.
The buses to carry us forward from Berlin were confirmed just before the BA ticket office opened to confirm our e-tickets for the flights.
The flights brought a growing optimism that we could reach our destination.
The German coaches gave us a welcome chance to sleep - until we crossed onto the Polish roads!
We reached the comfort of the hotel at 10.40pm - only eight hours behind schedule.
A well timed dinner was followed by sleep.
ŚRODA 5 LIPIEC
PERTH YOUTH
ORCHESTRA
ENSEMBLES
KONCERT
1500 Rynek Głównz
Krakow
A chance encounter in the Rynek Głównz (Market Square) reunited PYO with former member, Mhari Cameron. Mhari was 1500 miles from home and could never imagined she’d bump into so many so old friends in this way.
Our Shore Porter’s van joined us in the Rynek Głównzn and a unique PYO unloading, passing items from hand to hand across the square, ensured the public knew that we had arrived.
Brass band, strings and wind bands all fought bravely to make the clothes pegs hold their music against the swirling wind. 
Despite the regular webcam weather reports - it stayed dry through the concert -even after Mr McDonald’s reprise of ‘Singing in the Rain’.
The PYO Big Band were given a rousing ovation - just as the deluge began. The van was loaded in record time!
PYO’s Polish debut certainly made a big splash.
A short walk to the St Jacob’s Hall, and a brief rehearsal for the evening’s orchestral concert. Despite the cramped setting - the acoustic was perfect and the capacity audience overspilled into the grounds outside.
Well done Ruth Lindsay, Sean Law and Zoë Pattison for their fine solo performances. Following a partial standing ovation (thanks Mhari) the encore was the Intermezzo from Harry Janos.
PERTH YOUTH
ORCHESTRA
KONCERT
1800 St Jacob’s Hall
by St Francis Church
Krakow
PIĄTEK 6 LIPIEC
We traveled to Wroclaw and have been well feasted at the Holiday Inn. An afternoon of shopping has helped to replace some the missing clothes - and thankfully some of the bags have started to be delivered. (We now await the final six).
In traditional Band Camp fashion PYO held its own concert and Ceilidh at the hotel this evening. The conference starting in the neighbouring suite was almost canceled as its members paused to hear the sounds of rock, folk and jazz.
SOBOTA 7 LIPIEC
A cruise on the River Oder was a chance to slow the pace down for a short time. The short stop at the Fruit and Flower Market rewarded all those brave enough to try out their sign language with the market traders.
Lunch was at an old brewery in the town centre. The relaxed mealtime chats were a chance to share experiences as well as to predict the variation in pork which might be served to us next.
Time for rehearsal in one of the city’s largest churches - St Mary Madgalene’s. Its resonance lasts for several seconds but it was to become the setting the very best of PYO music making.
Among the audience was a colleague of one of our parents. She emailed back to Scotland saying - “the children do not look at all tired. They even have rosy cheeks. The music was a mixture of classical and popular - and it was good.”
The concert was filmed for the souvenir DVD.
PERTH YOUTH
ORCHESTRA
KONCERT
1800 St Mary Magdalene
Wroclaw
NIEDZIELNY 8 LIPIEC
Sunday was glorious weather and we set off to the mountains of Lower Silesia and the spa town of Szczawno Zdroj. On the way we visited the magnificent Kiasz Castle. In the year 1941, it was taken from the Hochbergs by the Nazis in order to shelter Hitler’s headquarters. The Soviet army destroyed the castle after World War II. However, extensive renovation work has restored much of the original rich interiors. The castle also has lovely terraced gardens.
The castle restaurant was the setting for the best meal on the tour - (it was all a matter of taste!).
The most fun concert venue was in the park at Szczawno Zdroj. The shaded promenade was the perfect setting for a selection of group concerts, dancers and full orchestra. There was very little sign of promenading once the music began as the ring of intent listeners were spellbound by the brilliance of PYO’s final performance. The quiet holiday town rocked to the sounds of PYO Big Band and the crowd swayed to the sound of Ellington and the Beatles.
Zoe’s solo in Lord of the Ring’s stunned the crowd of more than 300, some of whom found themselves standing right next to her.
Local matchmakers were busy - and a contact address was offered to our principal trumpet player by a very kind lady who was keen for him to meet her grand daughter. Photos on the website suggest that at least one other player was favoured by the locals too!
PERTH YOUTH
ORCHESTRA
KONCERT
1600 Szczawno Zdroj Spa Promenade
Szczawno Zdroj
As we left the restaurant that night it became clear that PYO’s audience had partied on to hear Sporty Spice on the stage in the Market Square. A few of Melanie C’s dedicated PYO fans dropped in to wish her well!
We overcame all the difficulties BA could throw at us. What the meals lacked in orginality, the orchestra more than made up for in banter. The music was fantastic and the audiences brilliant.
“It’s something unpredictable, but in the end it’s right.
I hope you had the time of your life.”