Chiswick School Choir Tours Belgium and Northern France
35 students will sing in historic venues and visit the Menin Gate
The Chiswick primary school
July 29, 2026
Thirty‑five young singers from Chiswick School have embarked on a choral performance tour of Belgium and northern France, showcasing their talents in two historic venues while taking part in a programme that blends music, history and cultural discovery.
The tour marks one of the school’s most ambitious musical ventures, offering students the chance to perform Baroque and traditional repertoire abroad while representing Chiswick School on an international stage. Over several days, the choir will travel through Ghent, Lille, Bruges and Ypres, combining rehearsals and concerts with visits to some of Europe’s most significant cultural and historical landmarks.
The trip begins in Ghent, where students will explore the city’s medieval waterways on a canal boat tour before visiting the Castle of the Counts. From there, the choir travels to Lille for an evening performance at the striking Notre Dame Cathedral de la Treille, taking part in a local music festival that places their voices within one of northern France’s most dramatic modern cathedrals.
The following day includes a visit to Bruges, with time set aside for Choco‑Story, the city’s chocolate museum, before the choir continues to Ypres for a fundraising concert at St George’s Church. Their time in Ypres concludes with attendance at the Menin Gate Last Post Ceremony — a moment of reflection that connects their musical journey with the region’s wartime history.
The tour ends with a visit to Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world, before the group returns to the UK via Calais and Dover.
Chiswick School says the tour offers an invaluable educational experience, strengthening musical skills while deepening students’ understanding of European history and culture. Through performances in two historic churches and participation in international festivals, the choir acts as ambassadors for the school, forging lasting memories and musical connections across Europe.
With a repertoire spanning Baroque works and traditional choral music, the tour highlights the high standards of musicianship for which Chiswick School is increasingly recognised — and provides its young singers with an unforgettable opportunity to perform beyond the classroom.
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