Danish musician visitors reflect on October visit to Philadelphia area

As Haverford said farewell to a week of hosting Tainan First High School’s students, it welcomed a group from Denmark’s Ordrup Gymnasium. The Be Sharp group, hosted by various Notables and Baldwin B-Flat singers, stayed for a week full of cultural exchange, concerts, and bonding experiences in a long-standing exchange between the schools.

The Notables, B-flats, and Be Sharps started the week with an evening rehearsal in Centennial Hall. Each group shared their music in a less formal setting than later concerts, singing two combined pieces: “I Sing Because I’m Happy,” a Notables and B-Flat favorite, and “The Time of My Life,” from the Be Sharp group.

The following days, all groups performed in two concerts: one at the Wallingford Presbyterian Church and the other in Centennial Hall. Additionally, the Be Sharps performed their music for students during upper school and middle school assemblies. 

The Be flats showcased an impressive selection for the middle school at Haverford and the lower school at Baldwin. 

“It was wild, but in a good way,” upper school music teacher and Notables director Mr. Donald Holdren said. “It was a constant motion, from when they got here until the time that they left. We started the week with this big rehearsal of all three groups together, and we rolled right into the concert at Wallingford and then the concert here at Haverford. Honestly, it was one of the fastest weeks I’ve had in a long time—just because there was so high energy and a lot of fun.”

For the Be Sharps, the week of exchange was not only a trip for music but also a broader cultural experience. Many students from Ordrup Gymnasium experienced a unique flavor of American culture. 

Ordrup students Alba and Alex shared takeaways from their time here.

“[My favorite part was] probably seeing the schools, and they’re huge,” Alba said. “How much money does it take to go there? [Danish schools] are free.”

“What made it fun was watching these relationships spontaneously arise between our students and the students from Ordrup, and it’s all built around music.”

Mr. donald Holdren

Alex discussed a more characteristic memory from the week.

“I think the campfire we did two nights ago was very nice. I liked getting to know you all and talking,” Alex said.

Mr. Holdren also enjoyed watching everyone meet each other and come together, especially sharing connections through music.

“What made it fun was watching these relationships spontaneously arise between our students and the students from Ordrup, and it’s all built around music.” Mr. Holden said. “As soon as you make music with somebody, you have a relationship with them, and I think that the truth came out with the last week.”

Baldwin and Haverford’s music groups differ from Ordrup’s, and that gave way to unique performances.

“We have a band, so that’s like our ‘advantage,’ I would say. You have a big choir, and you also have choreography. But it’s nice to have a band,” Alex noted.

Mr. Holdren came away from the week with feelings of excitement for the springtime trip to Denmark and an appreciation for the Be Sharp choir, band, and their directors, Birgit Fiig and Morten Noack.

“I was really impressed with their [directors’] dedication to their students and the way that they were able to pull their students together in a really laid-back way,” Mr. Holdren said. “There was a lot of passion in the room. The teachers liked what they were doing, and the students shared that as well.”