First-hand memories of the 1990 Choir Tour to Odessa
24 January 2025
Gresham’s recently welcomed former members of staff, Angela Dugdale and Michael Allard, to share their memories of the 1990 Choir Tour to Odessa with Year 12 pupil Margie G. The tour, set at the end of the Gorbachev era, was an extraordinary and eventful experience.
Whilst the choir experienced dreadful food and bedbugs and saw first-hand the contrast of ‘black-market’ riches and stark poverty, they performed to packed out audiences in Odessa’s Opera House and newly reopened churches.
The repertoire of choral music required the assistance of the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie.
Their trip even resulted in an exchange visit from the Gordienko Children’s Choir of Odessa, who were delightful.
All in all, it was an eventful and memorable October Half Term.