Tonight we were the best!
Starting with Café du Monde this morning, having walked there from the hotel, we had beignets and café or hot chocolate- very filling- then we wandered to the Café store and on further to the flea market. We all found lots of vendors ready, willing, and able to take our money for their wonderful wares and came back with heavy bags and things to share with one another. After a few hours shopping, we were ready to head out to the Court of the Two Sisters for brunch BUT the RAIN started, which put a hold on our adventure. We are easy, so we sat and talked and in a few minutes the rain had passed so we wandered once again out of the flea market and into the heart of the French Quarter to a gourmet brunch with accompanying jazz trio. Food was very good and plentiful, buffet style, and while there we shared our secret singer gifts. Some thoughtful and fun things were given to the person who had been sending us clues all week.
After sharing gifts and taking photos, we then headed back to Jackson Square and the St. Louis Cathedral for a sound check and line up for tonight’s concert. That took 2 hours after which we returned home to change for the evening. Buses took us back to the cathedral and the concert which was so spectacular that we will all be buying the CD from tonight’s performance. The choirs performed Paul Caldwell’s composition written for this festival and this combined choir, which debuted tonight; he had a standing ovation and they performed it again for the encore.
After the overwhelming successful concert, all the choirs went on a river boat cruise on the Natchez paddle wheel boat. Dinner and lots of dancing kept all the kids (all 200 or so of them) busy and energized, so that when we arrived home late tonight, they were sent straight to their rooms to pack and get ready to head home tomorrow.
This had been a wonderful experience for all of us and we have learned a lot about ourselves, each other, and New Orleans. Tomorrow we get to tour of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina so we will leave New Orleans with a greater respect for what these warm and friendly people suffered.
Everyone is looking forward to getting home and seeing family very soon.
Monday, June 30, 2008
We're singin' in the Rain 6-29-2008
Started the day with a continental breakfast then we headed off to Trinity Church in the Garden District to sing as a part of the Sunday service. We hopped, literally, the streetcar and all crowded into one bus to take us on our way. As far public transportation goes it was really fun and possibly an experience some of us had never had. The girls were beautiful in their concert attire and they warmed up in the church so we got an extra treat listening to their beautiful sounds in the morning. For the service they sang 5 songs for the prelude and two more songs during communion accompanied by the church choir for one of those songs. The girls were happily surprised to have such great bass sounds for accompaniment. There were also 3 baptisms at the service so it was a special Sunday morning.
After the service we had a wonderful picnic lunch (with fabulous pizza and Caesar salad) at the church in their park area with stone walls and chairs and tables on which to perch. Fortunately the rain held itself at bay. Then we returned to the hotel by streetcar – this time many of us stood as the car was half full when we embarked.
The girls had another amazing rehearsal for 3 hours with our two choir directors and the harmony they were pulling from these six choirs sounds perfect. All of the choirs are intermingled so the girls are making friends from all over the states.
We had a little free time for the ninth graders to organize for the paper plate awards happening later tonight. Many gathered in others’ rooms to stay away from younger roommates. And a few of the chaperones became instant seamstresses to mend falling hems on some of the dresses. We then headed out to an all choir festival dinner and Cajun dance party at Michaul’s on foot and arrived full of expectation and energy for a good time. Well, we were not disappointed! The food was simple but plentiful and the bread pudding was the best! There was a Cajun band and dance caller who taught all the choirs to dance the Cajun jitterbug after throwing them all mardi gras beads from the stage. There was a little bit of competition but everyone got a strand or eight! Let them show you how they can tie the beads into stars! Then we had a contest to determine who were the best 4 couples, and although none of the PGC girls won, everyone had a good time. Some of them mixed with the other choirs and made more new friends!
We then walked home from Michaul’s and gathered to hear the ninth grade paper plate awards. They, as always, were creative and thoughtful awards, one to each “underclasswoman” from a ninth grader who knows her well. The ninth graders enjoyed thinking up awards and presenting them to the girls they love so much. Some tears, many laughs, lots of applause and the paparazzi were stalking. Our girls are very photogenic and love to pose – fortunately. They even got a “best ninth graders” award from Mrs. Westrick. Off to bed for another early morn at Café du Monde for beignets and hot chocolate before n the flea market!
After the service we had a wonderful picnic lunch (with fabulous pizza and Caesar salad) at the church in their park area with stone walls and chairs and tables on which to perch. Fortunately the rain held itself at bay. Then we returned to the hotel by streetcar – this time many of us stood as the car was half full when we embarked.
The girls had another amazing rehearsal for 3 hours with our two choir directors and the harmony they were pulling from these six choirs sounds perfect. All of the choirs are intermingled so the girls are making friends from all over the states.
We had a little free time for the ninth graders to organize for the paper plate awards happening later tonight. Many gathered in others’ rooms to stay away from younger roommates. And a few of the chaperones became instant seamstresses to mend falling hems on some of the dresses. We then headed out to an all choir festival dinner and Cajun dance party at Michaul’s on foot and arrived full of expectation and energy for a good time. Well, we were not disappointed! The food was simple but plentiful and the bread pudding was the best! There was a Cajun band and dance caller who taught all the choirs to dance the Cajun jitterbug after throwing them all mardi gras beads from the stage. There was a little bit of competition but everyone got a strand or eight! Let them show you how they can tie the beads into stars! Then we had a contest to determine who were the best 4 couples, and although none of the PGC girls won, everyone had a good time. Some of them mixed with the other choirs and made more new friends!
We then walked home from Michaul’s and gathered to hear the ninth grade paper plate awards. They, as always, were creative and thoughtful awards, one to each “underclasswoman” from a ninth grader who knows her well. The ninth graders enjoyed thinking up awards and presenting them to the girls they love so much. Some tears, many laughs, lots of applause and the paparazzi were stalking. Our girls are very photogenic and love to pose – fortunately. They even got a “best ninth graders” award from Mrs. Westrick. Off to bed for another early morn at Café du Monde for beignets and hot chocolate before n the flea market!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Loose in the City 6-28-08
“Woke up this morning, you were on my mind…”
Continental breakfast was followed by a 3 hour rehearsal with maestro Paul Caldwell who has the girls working very hard and really learning the finer points of this composition. It sounded fabulous, and he keeps them entertained as well. Gives them feedback with humor.
Following a morning inside we ventured out to the city and hiked down to the river front where we each had our CHOICE of lunch at the River Walk food court followed by a little window shopping before an afternoon at the Aquarium of the Americas. The girls and adults were all fascinated by the rays and sharks, jelly fish and seahorses, turtles and otters, macaws and piranhas. There was also a pirate, touch and jungle gym type area, and us adults enjoyed watching our mature ladies jump in lines to touch the reef shark and sting rays! They played like kids; it was very refreshing to see them not take themselves so seriously.
Well, on schedule, it rained, it poured so we stood outside under the aquarium canopy and girls, as usual, spontaneously broke into song, every passerby stopped to listen and enjoy. Walked home after the rain abated, still drizzling, we arrived back at the hotel, and had a brief time before heading out for a private showing at the original PRESERVATION HALL!!! Some of us sat on benches, many of us stood, we all clapped our hands sore and bought many CD’s and tee shirts. The hall is like nothing you would expect, and I think the girls were very impressed that such a homespun hall could be the famous home of so many jazz bands and well known musicians. Every president since and including Lyndon Johnson has sat on the same benches!
After our private concert we wandered to our restaurant and had chicken, catfish, and shrimp with salad, veggies and cheesecake for dessert. Our first true sit down dinner with all of us in one room. The kids had a great time. Then… Our illustrious leaders spirited away our ninth graders to have dessert at BRENNAN’s and the rest of us peons came home where a number of them took a night time swim on the roof tops outside! So headed to bed shortly- the end to another full day!
Continental breakfast was followed by a 3 hour rehearsal with maestro Paul Caldwell who has the girls working very hard and really learning the finer points of this composition. It sounded fabulous, and he keeps them entertained as well. Gives them feedback with humor.
Following a morning inside we ventured out to the city and hiked down to the river front where we each had our CHOICE of lunch at the River Walk food court followed by a little window shopping before an afternoon at the Aquarium of the Americas. The girls and adults were all fascinated by the rays and sharks, jelly fish and seahorses, turtles and otters, macaws and piranhas. There was also a pirate, touch and jungle gym type area, and us adults enjoyed watching our mature ladies jump in lines to touch the reef shark and sting rays! They played like kids; it was very refreshing to see them not take themselves so seriously.
Well, on schedule, it rained, it poured so we stood outside under the aquarium canopy and girls, as usual, spontaneously broke into song, every passerby stopped to listen and enjoy. Walked home after the rain abated, still drizzling, we arrived back at the hotel, and had a brief time before heading out for a private showing at the original PRESERVATION HALL!!! Some of us sat on benches, many of us stood, we all clapped our hands sore and bought many CD’s and tee shirts. The hall is like nothing you would expect, and I think the girls were very impressed that such a homespun hall could be the famous home of so many jazz bands and well known musicians. Every president since and including Lyndon Johnson has sat on the same benches!
After our private concert we wandered to our restaurant and had chicken, catfish, and shrimp with salad, veggies and cheesecake for dessert. Our first true sit down dinner with all of us in one room. The kids had a great time. Then… Our illustrious leaders spirited away our ninth graders to have dessert at BRENNAN’s and the rest of us peons came home where a number of them took a night time swim on the roof tops outside! So headed to bed shortly- the end to another full day!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Singing Tourists 6-27-2008
Today was a day for sightseeing! We rose bright and early and boarded our coach at 8:30. Our driver, Jackie, is a cheery, kind person with whom we fell in love with immediately. We first went to the Oak Alley Plantation. It is an amazingly beautiful place with a fascinating history. We got a tour from yet another Jackie, who was in traditional house clothes for the 1800s. We heard old traditions of courting and dining, as well as walked the famous and greatly viewed Oak Alley. The trees down it are Virginia Live Oaks, and they are just reaching their “mid-life crisis” at age 300. Their life expectancy is 600 years! We all enjoyed a refreshing VIRGIN Mint Julep outside in the Southern heat and humidity. Afterwards, we graced our wonderful tour guide, Jackie, with some of “Let It Shine”. We made a surprisingly fast stop at the gift shop before moving on to the swamp tour. A sprinkling of rain fell at one o’clock for the second day in a row. We’ll see if it’s on schedule tomorrow! The Honey Island Swamp Tour was absolutely amazing. We were visited by a few gators; the biggest was named El Wappo. El Wappo was 15 feet from nose to tail, three times the height of chorister Aisling, and he is about 60 years old. The choir was separated into three different groups. The pictures you see in the blog were taken by members of Captain Charlie’s group. Our group saw astonishing flora and fauna, including alligators, Spanish moss, egrets, great blue herons, turtles, bald cypress, gum trees, duckweed, and much, much more. At the end of the tour, we sang the first part of “Let It Shine” for Charlie, who enjoyed it immensely. Sadly, there wasn’t time to stop at the gift shop, but there will be plenty of time for shopping. We had dinner by the pool, on the roof! Later, we went to rehearse with Paul Caldwell. It was exciting to work with such an energized director, especially when he wasn’t good at the “standing still” and fell off the stage. A few went to swim afterwards, then……….bed.
PGC Invades New Orleans 6-26-2008
Today was a monumental day in Girlchoir history. For the first time ever, the plane was on time and no one lost their luggage. Our luck turned, however, when we got out of the airport. Mrs. Westrick suffered a bad fall and hurt her leg. Luckily, she’s fine and soon will be good as new. We had a delicious dinner at The Grocery. To show our thanks, we sand the owner “Java Jive”, and the manager even took his cell phone out and taped us! Our concert went well. We opened our set with “Cantate Domino”, a Princeton Girlchoir favorite. “Cantate Domino” was followed by Bob Chilcott’s “The Swallow, “Barb’ry Ellen”, “Java Jive”, “Mood Indigo”, “Let It Shine”, “The Storm Is Passing Over”, and finally “Still I Rise”. Featured singers in “Let It Shine” were Elsa , Lizzy, Emily, Susanne, and Sydney. Ellie sang the beginning solo in “Still I Rise”, and other featured singers included Ginny, Rose, Maria, and Nitya. We briefly got to know the other choirs, but more of that to come! After the concert, the bus broke down at the church. Mrs. La Nasa brought us a special treat there, and in the end we all made it safely back to the hotel.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Festival is Near
Last Saturday, PGC performed at the Nassau Park Pavilion in a concert sponsored by the West Windsor Arts Council. The audience loved the music, and it was a good rehearsal setting for some tour music. Secret Singers have been chosen, and it goes a bit differently this year. There will only be one gift at the end to the singer who has been giving you clues. This will make for a lot less havoc caused by finding many small presents along the way! The flight to New Orleans is tomorrow morning. Choir members are getting excited for the upcoming tour.
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