The last few weeks of April our house rang with the sound of extra  music practice  in preparation for Sunday 1st May  when the girls performed with l'Ensemble Instrumental de Confolens as part of the Ecole Departmentale de Musique participation in the Musiques au Chateau at St. Germain de Confolens, which is held in association with the annual spring market. Situated along the banks of the River Vienne, there was opportunity to buy local produce including plants, flowers and crafts.
The grounds of the chateau provided the perfect place to take a picnic and explore the  remaining battlements and ramparts the views were amazing. It provided a superb back drop for an afternoon of music. We enjoyed our picnic in the shade of the walls listening to the different groups rehearsing for the afternoon performances.
	The church offered a welcome relief from the sun where we were entertained to a feast of music by l 'Ensemble Instrumental de Confolens under the directorship of Michel Mathe & Soizic Drogeaux. Various other Ecole Departmental de Musique  Charente orchestras and choirs  entertained us  to a very  high standard.

The afternoon program was extensive and provided music for all tastes. We were spoilt for choice with several groups performing in different locations around the Chateau grounds. Hannah was insistent that we should not miss her Prof's performance. The group gave a very energetic and lively performance. The group's repertoire  included Rock from the .

70's, 80's, 90's, with a selection of music by  Led Zeppelin, ACDC, Queen, Metallica & Red Hot Chili Peppers. Soon everyone was enthralled unable to keep still the group appealed to the very, very young and the not so young too.  We were entertained by a group who played traditional music from Poitou-Charentes, Brittany and Ireland with many original compositions. Dancers couldn't wait to try out the "piste"