Back in Astana!

We are all home, safe and sound. Well done Haileybury for a fantastic trip!

Parents, if you have any photos that you would like to share, please email to music@haileyburyastana.kz

Thursday - our final day!

Today we went to Lantau Island and rode the cable car up to see the big Budha! It was a beautiful day with clear views over the bay.

Mrs. Csenki had to get over her fear of hights! 

Peace and quiet...?

...not for long! We climbed the 200 or so steps to the top! 

We had lunch in a vegetarian restaurant, an experience that was a first for most of our children.

No meat, no problem!

That's not ketchup! Pass the water - Platon's on the hot suace..

After lunch we hit the souvenir shops and made our way down.

Chinese princesses!

No fear here!

HK is the new NY.

We are now heading out to our final meal, and then packing for the airport, as we have a very early start tomorrow!

Wednesday - another exchange and a magical night

Today we were up bright and early to go to YMCA Christian College in Lantau, HK. We were also joined by Willoughby High School from Australia for a musical exchange.

...they have a national music ensemble, just like us...

We heard their drum group play...

Then it was our turn! After demonstrating our instruments and persuading them that the tay-tayak is really made from a horse, we decided to teach all singers, musicians, dancers and even the cleaners in the room the Kara Zhorgha.

The strings joined us on stage...

...and the wind, brass and percussion on the floor.

The rock band and the drum corp also learned the music. Then it was the singers' turn!

Discussing the more complex points of the subjunctive case in Kazakh.

Then we put it all together!

This song will now be firmly implanted in all minds from now on!

A fantastic result and probably the first time that a Kazakh piece of music has been performed jointly by musicians from Kazakhstan, Australia and Hong Kong.

The HK director got a Kazakh hat, of course.

We then went out to play! What a beautiful place!

All together for the final 'foto-foto'!

 That was our last performance and so the afternoon was spent relaxing in the park.

Love is in the air, but who are the main players?

Who's ready for noodles?

And then, shopping!

Mr Rikki took us to the bustling high street.

 Finally, before bed, we enjoyed the laser light show from a river boat.

On this cruise, the cola was unlimited...

There were a few big waves but we were ready for the ride!

Tomorrow is our last day in Hong Kong. We will ride the cable car on Lantau Island and see the big Budha!

Goodnight!

Tuesday - Disneyland

Today we were at the world-famous Disneyland Hong Kong!

I think the pictures can speak for themselves...

Preparing for the stomach dropping parachute ride...

Music in the Tarzan tree house.

Matching Minnies!

Sholpan demonstrated the latest Hong Kong fashion styles..

And at the end of a long day, we found the jungle drums!

Oleg gets in the groove.

Mr Csenki lead the improvisation session.

And finally, beautiful fireworks lit up the sky. 

Monday!

We are all back and asleep after a fun-filled day.

We started out by taking a tram up to Victoria Peak. It was very steep!

The Almaty Metro has more comfortable seats, I think.

At the top, enjoying the great view over the harbour!
(If anyone is good with photoshop, please let me know...)

We then found the rainforest! 

After coming down, we headed to some boats to check out the sea.

All aboard!

...and went to the largest floating restaurant in the world for lunch!

It can hold up to 2500 hungry customers!

Well-fed and back on dry land!

Just before the children thought it would be a day of only free time, we travelled to the Lutheran College Hong Kong, an International School a bit like ours in Astana!

We showed them our instruments and music...

...and taught them Kara Zhorgha!

...we let the children try the instruments...

Then things got really interesting! We had sent the music for 'Ata Tolghrau' over by email, and so they set up their primary school orchestra and we all played it together! We have a recording of the final version.

Fusion at its best.

What instrument do you play?

As a grand finale, we taught their choir to sing 'Bir Bala'. 

So many children! Fantastic!

No problem with the Kazakh words with Miss Dina as teacher!

Thank you, Lutheran College!

What a lovely experience, again bringing together our pupils with other musicians of similar ages. For more pictures of the power of music bringing people together in our trip, take a look at our page: Making music, making friends.

Tomorrow we will be visiting a very famous and exciting place in Hong Kong as a special treat, without our instruments... 

Competition Day 2

We are all back after an exhausting but really fun day!

 We started out in the Good Hope School for a morning of musical workshops.

We had a session with world-famous drummer John Morrison. He inspired our pupils about making music together and was fascinated by our Kazakh instruments! 

Improvisation needs no language.. 

Music can be played on anything!

We then went to a famous Boys' School with a brand new concert hall for our final performance.

The boys are ready to rock!

The concert included lots of really special performances from children's groups. This was the Hong Kong Attlee Girls' Choir! (Only joking...) 

Then it was our turn! 

Looking good, sounding great!

We taught our Austrailian friends the Kara Zhorgha dance...

 ...which they performed with us...

...and in return, they taught us the cup song which we performed with them!

WELL DONE AGAIN, HAILEYBURY! Again, there were lots of really nice comments from the other teachers and pupils who loved our playing.

After, we walked to a restaurant for the celebration meal.

Ready for food!

 Why are we looking so happy...? Because the results are just in...

Haileybury got a SILVER MEDAL!

We recieved the plaque from Dr. Ron Smart, the festival director. We presented the jury with a Kazakh hat.

Congratulations!

Tomorrow, the children will have a well-deserved morning off from music-making, seeing the sights of Hong Kong.