For the Aurin Girls’ Choir, England has long been a familiar destination, yet every concert tour brings new experiences. During our 2026 summer tour, we had the pleasure of meeting long-time friends once again while also discovering new towns, new schools, and new communities. Over the course of nearly two weeks, concerts, workshops, and sightseeing followed one another, making this journey another memorable combination of artistic development, cultural discovery, and community building.
The tour began with unforgettable experiences right from the first days. During our long journey by coach, we spent an entire day exploring Paris, visiting iconic landmarks from the Eiffel Tower and the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe and Notre-Dame Cathedral. Our first stop in England was Liverpool, where we followed in the footsteps of the Beatles, visiting Penny Lane, the famous Cavern Club, the city’s two impressive cathedrals, the Albert Dock, and the Beatles Story Museum.
Returning to Barnsley once again felt like coming home. We have enjoyed a close professional and personal friendship with Mat Wright and the Barnsley Youth Choir for many years, so it was a joy to reunite with our hosts. This year’s programme included another exciting addition, as the American Cantabile Singers also took part in the festival, allowing the three choirs to perform together at several concerts. We sang at St. Mary Church and the Horizon Community College, while also leading workshops with hundreds of English children. The warm welcome from the Mayor of Barnsley and the generous hospitality of our host families once again made our stay truly unforgettable.
Our next destination was Bruton, where more school workshops and a large evening concert in St Mary’s Church awaited us. Alongside the musical programme, we also visited Stonehenge, combining the excursion with an educational activity that explored the monument’s history and construction. We also had the opportunity to discover the historic city of Oxford, enjoying a walk through its famous university quarter and soaking up the atmosphere of one of Britain’s most renowned academic centres.
One of the highlights of this year’s tour was our first visit to Pulborough. At the invitation of Dorset House School, we led workshops with three different groups of children before giving a joint evening concert with the school community. It was especially inspiring to experience how enthusiastic and engaged the English students were. They eagerly answered our questions, asked thoughtful questions of their own, and showed genuine curiosity about the Hungarian approach to music education. This open and interactive atmosphere always gives fresh energy to our work and reminds us how powerful shared musical experiences can be.
The final days of our English tour were spent in London, where we visited many of the city’s best-known landmarks, including the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, and Piccadilly Circus. On our journey home, we also stopped in Brussels to visit the Atomium, which has become a favourite stop on several of our choir tours over the years.
This concert tour once again reminded us that music truly is a universal language. We are deeply grateful to everyone who welcomed us into their homes and communities with such warmth, kindness, and generosity. Reuniting with old friends, making new ones, and sharing unforgettable concerts and workshops have enriched the Aurin Girls’ Choir once again. We are already looking forward to our next visit to England.
