Oakford,
49 Balhousie Street,
Perth,
PH1 5HJ
3rd May 2015
Tel: 01738 628039
tour-coordinator@perth-youth-orchestra.org.uk
Dear Parent/ Guardian,
2016 Tour – Prague
Perth Youth Orchestra has enjoyed a series of successful concert tours across the UK and in Europe over the past fifty years. Previous tours have taken the orchestra to performances in England, Spain, France, Germany, Netherlands, Estonia and Poland and Germany. Each one has brought great acclaim for the orchestra, both abroad and at home. Our most recent tour, to Florence in 2013, attracted the largest audiences that we have ever seen. Each of these concert tours has provided the finest opportunities for our young musicians to perform to the highest level.
Plans have already started so that we can successfully coordinate transport, accommodation and concert arrangements for up to 74 players, together with their staff. The Perth Youth Orchestra committee feels confident that it can support plans for a concert tour in July 2016.
The proposed tour dates are from Monday 4th – Monday 11th July 2016, 8 days and 7 nights, and are still subject to confirmation. Please check them against your family holidays, school trips and other potential clashes. The tour is open to all our existing members and some places are being held for the new players who will successfully audition in October 2015.
The real costs of this tour are estimated to be over £1250 per person. This includes air fares, coaches, accommodation, meals, travel insurance and excursions as well as the overheads we have for the transport of instruments, hire of concert venues, printing and other administrative costs. With your commitment to support our fund raising initiatives, and with the help of our major patrons, we believe that we can keep the price to £995 per player. As on previous tours we are offering a 33% discount for second and subsequent family members in the orchestra. Obviously, the more funds we raise, the more we can enhance the tour for the orchestra.
If your child wishes to join the tour a non-returnable deposit of £215 will be required by Friday June 26th, 2015 and the balance due is then payable in twelve monthly payments of £65. We are recommending this savings programme to help families to spread the costs. Alternative payment schemes can be agreed. If financial hardship might prevent a player from taking part, we can offer help to obtain funding. Indeed, for all players, we will support and encourage their enterprising skills in finding financial backing for their place on the tour.
At this stage we invite you to indicate whether or not your child would like to join Perth Youth Orchestra’s concert tour next year. Please contact me if you wish clarification on any point. Tour Information Evenings are planned for September 2015 and May 2016, details to follow.
Send no money at present – just complete the enclosed reply slip and return it, by post or email, to the PYO Tour Coordinator at the above address by 21st May 2015. There is an online version of this same form for your convenience and to help you save on postage!
Your prompt response to this invitation will help us to judge the balance of instrumentalists who will join the tour. If there are any vacancies left in a particular section of the orchestra they can be made up with players from other groups.
Yours faithfully,
Andrew Mitchell
PYO Tour Coordinator
www.perth-youth-orchestra.org.uk