St Aidan’s Swing Band share the stage at Montreux with music industry stars

Green Day, Kraftwerk, Sting, Prince, Brian May and …….. St Aidan’s Swing Band – just some of the performers at the Montreux Jazz Festival, 2013!

The locally and nationally acclaimed jazz band from St Aidan’s Church of England High School, Harrogate, reached a new international audience on July 17th and 18th, performing twice at the Music in the Park venue at the iconic Swiss music festival.

The 23 members of the band, directed by music teacher Mrs Vicki Elliott, rose to the occasion and performed two exciting sets at the outdoor venue before large numbers in the lakeside park.

Visiting the Festival after dark had its own special appeal and ambience. Tours round a chocolate factory and a cheese factory at Gruyère, with much tasty sampling going on, were among the other activities the band members enjoyed, as well as a guided tour around the Château de Chillon.

The St Aidan’s students and staff, especially those who were involved in the 2012 St Aidan’s production of We Will Rock You, were also excited to visit Freddie Mercury’s statue on Lake Geneva.

Director of Music at the school, Mr Mark Pallant, said:

St Aidan’s musicians are used to performing in prestigious venues but the Montreux Jazz Festival ranks amongst the most thrilling, and will remain long in the memory.