Paris Music Tour 2025
What a week it has been! The Winston Churchill School’s Paris Music Tour 2025 was an unforgettable experience for our 80 talented students who represented our school with incredible musicianship, enthusiasm, and maturity throughout.
Day 1 – The Journey Begins
At an eye-wateringly early 2:30am on Monday 14th July, our students gathered full of anticipation for what would be five days of musical performance, cultural enrichment, and shared memories. Our journey took us via Dover and Calais, arriving mid-afternoon at our hotel in Ville de Saint-Thibault-des-Vignes, just outside Paris.
After settling into our rooms, we took a walk to a nearby park to stretch our legs and take in the French countryside. Our first evening meal was at Les Nympheas, a charming restaurant just moments from Monet’s famous house and gardens in Giverny – a beautiful start to the week. After a long day of travel, we returned to the hotel for a relaxed evening of board games before heading to bed.
Day 2 – First Performances and Sightseeing
Following a continental breakfast, we travelled into Paris for our first concert at Parc Georges Brassens. The students impressed not only the locals, who gathered quickly and enthusiastically, but also some of our students' family members who had made the journey to support them – a truly special moment. The variety and quality of the music were met with warm applause and smiles from the audience.
Our afternoon was spent enjoying a river cruise on the Seine with Les Bateaux Mouches, offering us spectacular views of Paris landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Notre Dame. Later, we visited Montmartre, wandering through the cobbled streets and admiring local artists, before heading to dinner at Gigi’s in Pigalle for delicious pizzas and ice cream. A final stroll back to the steps of Sacré-Cœur provided breathtaking views of Paris as the day drew to a close.
Day 3 – Concerts, Culture and a Climb
Our third day began with another concert – this time in the beautiful Parc Montsouris. Once again, a crowd formed as we set up, and it was heartwarming to see nearby residents watching from balconies and a local school group dancing along – especially during our performance of “You’re Welcome” from Moana, complete with student Matilde dancing in front of the stage!
A local resident remarked on how refreshing it was to hear such a vibrant mix of musical theatre and contemporary music, rather than the expected traditional or classical repertoire – a proud moment for us all.
We then ascended the Montparnasse Tower to enjoy panoramic views of the city from the 56th floor – and even braved the roof terrace! Our final concert of the tour took place at the Belleville Amphitheatre – a challenging location to reach, with many steps to climb, but worth every bit of effort for the incredible acoustics and atmosphere.
Dinner at Monte Carlo, a buffet restaurant overlooking the Arc de Triomphe, was a well-earned reward before heading back to the hotel for some much-needed rest ahead of our Disneyland adventure.
Day 4 – Magic at Disneyland Paris
Staff and students were excited as we set off for Disneyland Paris. Students spent the morning exploring Disney Studios, thrilling rides like the Avengers attraction, Tower of Terror, and the Spiderman experience. After lunch, we moved into the main park to discover the themed lands of Adventureland, Frontierland, and more. From Hyperspace Mountain to Pirates of the Caribbean and even It’s a Small World for the less adventurous, there was something for everyone.
Dinner at The Royale Pub offered a feast of cheeseburgers, chips and mac and cheese, followed by some final souvenir shopping – including lightsabres, ears, and everything in between! A joyful, laughter-filled day ended with our final coach ride back to the hotel.
Day 5 – Homeward Bound
Following an early breakfast and a smooth start to our return journey, we experienced a short ferry delay but still arrived safely back at school by 6pm. On the way home, staff handed out certificates for students who had stood out for their humour, kindness, musicianship, or unforgettable moments during the week. We returned with every student accounted for – albeit a little more tired and a lot more inspired.
I want to take a moment to thank our dedicated staff team for their tireless work throughout the tour, and our students for being such outstanding ambassadors for the school. Their behaviour, camaraderie and musical talent were a credit to themselves, their families and The Winston Churchill School.
We are so proud of what they achieved – and the memories they’ve made will last a lifetime.
Mrs Antony and the Music Team
Quotes from 2024 captains Izzie and Theo:
Music tour 2025 was our final music tour and it was the best one yet! This tour was not only a way for Winston to play music to France, but it also allowed us to explore another country. Izzie’s highlight was the the final concert because that will be a performance she will never forget. She also enjoyed going on the boat trip to see the Eiffel Tower as it is such a cool monument to see up close. Theo’s highlight was seeing members of the public appreciating all of the hard work we have put in and the orchestra and various bands putting in the best performances yet. We are so thankful for having been able to experience this trip.
We would like to say a massive thank you to Mrs Antony for organising the trip and to Mr Drake for being incredible teacher and making sure we had the best time.
Quotes from 2025 captains Molly and Noah:
Music tour 2025 was one of the best music experiences we have had, we both got to experience opportunities like acting like Mr Drake, unpacking the coach, or acting like Mrs Antony and leading a group of students up a tall building in Paris. Molly's highlight of the trip was group meetings with Mrs Antony she loved to be number 10 and got moody if someone said her number, Noah’s highlight was seeing all the people dancing or singing along at the various concerts.
