So here it is, the very last post.
We are all safely back from the USA (some students picked up by parents before we left) and are safely home......and in my case unpacked, showered and very popular because of the gifts I arrived with.
Can I just say a huge thank you to everyone who followed the tour online......thank you
If you are a parent, your children are a credit to you, they all (every single one) behaved perfectly. The also gave 100% when we performed and made me very proud indeed......
Thank you for your support of creative arts as ever..............
Best regards and enjoy the rest of the winter break.
Mr R
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Day 10 - Homeward Bound
So, final day and we are traveling home.......
I really lazy day today, long lie in, some Mall shopping, Harry Potter at the Cinema for some students and goodbye to our driver and tour manager who have been outstanding.
All students now through passport control and quietly awaiting boarding for our flight back to BAs.......
The flight arrives at 9:40 AM on Sunday 17th of July..........
Anyway......it has been an amazing trip and this blog has been followed by over 2000 individual hits and from 9 separate countries so here is a small selection of unseen highlight photographs........
I really lazy day today, long lie in, some Mall shopping, Harry Potter at the Cinema for some students and goodbye to our driver and tour manager who have been outstanding.
All students now through passport control and quietly awaiting boarding for our flight back to BAs.......
The flight arrives at 9:40 AM on Sunday 17th of July..........
Anyway......it has been an amazing trip and this blog has been followed by over 2000 individual hits and from 9 separate countries so here is a small selection of unseen highlight photographs........
Friday, July 15, 2011
Day 9 Arlington and Final Concert
Wow! We have got to the end of day 9! Fantastic day once more! Very tiring but great all the same.
We started our day with a visit to Arlington Military Cemetery which shows the graves of 320,000 American Soldiers and is still a working place. There were 9 funerals taking place today, that is a further 9 soldiers killed serving their country to be buried today alone. This place in not only very historic, but vast and very thought provoking. We saw the changing of the guard - these soldiers change guard all day every day 365 days a year. A job taken so seriously that they were told to stand down a few year ago during a hurricane and they refused.
This evening we gave the best concert of the tour, this was at the Argentine Embassy in DC. At the embassy, we sang to 100 people including many ex pats and Old Georgians - it was an amazing evening followed by a reception. Many friends were made and the Old Georgian club of Washington and New York asked us to return in conjunction with the club at a future date to perform for them end enjoy their hospitality.
Here are today's highlights...................................Last day today....hard to believe......
We started our day with a visit to Arlington Military Cemetery which shows the graves of 320,000 American Soldiers and is still a working place. There were 9 funerals taking place today, that is a further 9 soldiers killed serving their country to be buried today alone. This place in not only very historic, but vast and very thought provoking. We saw the changing of the guard - these soldiers change guard all day every day 365 days a year. A job taken so seriously that they were told to stand down a few year ago during a hurricane and they refused.
This evening we gave the best concert of the tour, this was at the Argentine Embassy in DC. At the embassy, we sang to 100 people including many ex pats and Old Georgians - it was an amazing evening followed by a reception. Many friends were made and the Old Georgian club of Washington and New York asked us to return in conjunction with the club at a future date to perform for them end enjoy their hospitality.
Here are today's highlights...................................Last day today....hard to believe......
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| Arlington |
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| Changing of the guard |
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| Tomb of the unknown soldier |
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| Korean War Memorial |
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| Vietnam War Memorial |
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| The White House - Casa de Obama |
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| Concert at the embassy |
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| at the embassy...... |
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Day 8 - Washington and Baltimore
And so, all students have been waved goodnight and have gone off to bed after yet another very long but fantastic day.
This morning we went to the Smithsonian Museum of Aviation and Space which was amazing. We also went into the Albert Einstein Planetarium for a tour of the July sky which was both relaxing and informative - I love anything related to space and our students were totally enthralled with the experience. This afternoon the group actually enjoyed 2 hours relaxation time prior to the transfer to Baltimore (Mr Roberts was very excited in case he got to see 'Ace of Cakes') for our early evening meal and our special evening visit to the Camden Park stadium to watch the Baltimore Orioles play the Cleveland Indians - the Indians won which was a shame as you will see from the photo highlights that many of us adopted the Orioles as our own......
Anyway - tomorrow is our last full day which is hard to believe......but for now here are our photo highlights...
This morning we went to the Smithsonian Museum of Aviation and Space which was amazing. We also went into the Albert Einstein Planetarium for a tour of the July sky which was both relaxing and informative - I love anything related to space and our students were totally enthralled with the experience. This afternoon the group actually enjoyed 2 hours relaxation time prior to the transfer to Baltimore (Mr Roberts was very excited in case he got to see 'Ace of Cakes') for our early evening meal and our special evening visit to the Camden Park stadium to watch the Baltimore Orioles play the Cleveland Indians - the Indians won which was a shame as you will see from the photo highlights that many of us adopted the Orioles as our own......
Anyway - tomorrow is our last full day which is hard to believe......but for now here are our photo highlights...
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Day 7 - the road to DC
So, day 7 means we take to the road for the last time and head away from the wonderful enigma that is New York City to Washington DC.
We enjoyed a far more leisurely breakfast and students were given one of 2 options on their last day. Some students headed off with Mika and Chris to The New York Library http://www.nypl.org/ and Grand Central Station http://www.grandcentralterminal.com/ and Cris and I took the remaining excited shoppers to Madison and Fifth avenue for a last spot of shopping before a lunchtime departure.
We hit the road at about 1:45 and only stopped once for coffee in Delaware before our Italian meal on the edge of the city of DC - by the time we return we will have traveled through the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia and Maryland - not bad going in 11 days!
We finished the evening with an evening drive around the beautifully lit monuments of DC with and checked into our Hotel at 11pm - all quiet at this time......students fast asleep........zzzzzzzzzzzz
Below are some photos from this evening...
We enjoyed a far more leisurely breakfast and students were given one of 2 options on their last day. Some students headed off with Mika and Chris to The New York Library http://www.nypl.org/ and Grand Central Station http://www.grandcentralterminal.com/ and Cris and I took the remaining excited shoppers to Madison and Fifth avenue for a last spot of shopping before a lunchtime departure.
We hit the road at about 1:45 and only stopped once for coffee in Delaware before our Italian meal on the edge of the city of DC - by the time we return we will have traveled through the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia and Maryland - not bad going in 11 days!
We finished the evening with an evening drive around the beautifully lit monuments of DC with and checked into our Hotel at 11pm - all quiet at this time......students fast asleep........zzzzzzzzzzzz
Below are some photos from this evening...
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| Capital Hill - taken with a very steady hand... |
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| National Monument.......reminds me of Nueve de Julio...... |
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| Capital Building |
Day 6 Liberty Island
Hello to everyone.
I am a little late posting day 6 as we didn't get back to the hotel until 11:30pm last night.
Everyone had a wonderfully relaxing but busy day.
All students enjoyed a great trip to see the statue of Liberty today followed by a tour of the 9/11 memorial, China town, Little Italy and Greenwich Village.......
Shopping, food, shopping, food and at 7pm we all saw the Lion King http://disney.go.com/theatre/thelionking/#/home/ followed by dinner at Planet Hollywood.
Great day - off to Washington DC today on our final leg of the journey....
Here are today's highlights.....
I am a little late posting day 6 as we didn't get back to the hotel until 11:30pm last night.
Everyone had a wonderfully relaxing but busy day.
All students enjoyed a great trip to see the statue of Liberty today followed by a tour of the 9/11 memorial, China town, Little Italy and Greenwich Village.......
Shopping, food, shopping, food and at 7pm we all saw the Lion King http://disney.go.com/theatre/thelionking/#/home/ followed by dinner at Planet Hollywood.
Great day - off to Washington DC today on our final leg of the journey....
Here are today's highlights.....
Monday, July 11, 2011
Day 5 - New York City Concert
Well what a day.......
Up early as ever and today and out by 8am - Monday in NYC is obviously a busy day so the traffic was not so easy. 8:30 saw us working with the innovative vocal group Choral Chameleon. This group are 'THE' New York up and coming vocal ensemble as reviewed in the New York Times. They came especially to work with us on our repertoire and vocal technique. Our students worked for 4 hours with the group who really took our singing to another level - it was a pleasure to be amongst such good musicians, some of whom I see being life long friends - as people, we never stop learning and today, adults and students alike learned huge amounts.
Lunch (we were totally in need of a break by 12pm) was at the Rockerfeller Centre - students had some free time and I met the choral director of Choral Chameleon to go over the evening concert.
This afternoon, we were able to go on the NBC Studios Tour and were able to see the working studios of 'Dr Oz' and 'Saturday Night Live' amongst others. Very cool indeed and this was enjoyed by all students.
6pm this evening we were back at the Unitarian Church on Lexington for a quick change and rehearsal and at 7pm we began our concert - complete with two pieces performed by Choral Chameleon.
The concert was excellent and were even joined by a St George's student (who was on vacation with her parents) for support..........
Today concluded with a 'Hard Rock Cafe' dinner in Times Square.
Tomorrow is our Statue of Liberty / 911 Memorial / Guided visit to New York day to be topped off with the 'Lion King' on Broadway and our last meal in NYC in Planet Hollywood......Below are the highlights.......
Up early as ever and today and out by 8am - Monday in NYC is obviously a busy day so the traffic was not so easy. 8:30 saw us working with the innovative vocal group Choral Chameleon. This group are 'THE' New York up and coming vocal ensemble as reviewed in the New York Times. They came especially to work with us on our repertoire and vocal technique. Our students worked for 4 hours with the group who really took our singing to another level - it was a pleasure to be amongst such good musicians, some of whom I see being life long friends - as people, we never stop learning and today, adults and students alike learned huge amounts.
Lunch (we were totally in need of a break by 12pm) was at the Rockerfeller Centre - students had some free time and I met the choral director of Choral Chameleon to go over the evening concert.
This afternoon, we were able to go on the NBC Studios Tour and were able to see the working studios of 'Dr Oz' and 'Saturday Night Live' amongst others. Very cool indeed and this was enjoyed by all students.
6pm this evening we were back at the Unitarian Church on Lexington for a quick change and rehearsal and at 7pm we began our concert - complete with two pieces performed by Choral Chameleon.
The concert was excellent and were even joined by a St George's student (who was on vacation with her parents) for support..........
Today concluded with a 'Hard Rock Cafe' dinner in Times Square.
Tomorrow is our Statue of Liberty / 911 Memorial / Guided visit to New York day to be topped off with the 'Lion King' on Broadway and our last meal in NYC in Planet Hollywood......Below are the highlights.......
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| Early Morning Vocal Call |
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| Going through the music with the professionals |
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| Just the way you look tonight............... |
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| The evening concert (it was 92 in New York today) |
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| Morning Stretches |
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Day 4 - Leaving Boston for New York City
Day 4 began slightly more leisurely (we didn't leave until 9am) as we needed to make the 3 1/2 hour transfer to New York City.
Everyone was up and ready on time and we left Boston on time, a stop en route to NYC in Connecticut for lunch and we eventually hit New York city just before 3pm.
My idea was to pull up along side the Dakota Building and show the students the John Lennon memorial in Central Park. When Lennon was assassinated in 1980, Yoko Ono (who still lives in the same apartment in the Dakota building) decided there would be no funeral but instead she would scatter his ashes in the park - this eventually became the Strawberry fields memorial. I also promised the students we would call in FAO Schwartz (the best toy shop in the world - http://www.fao.com/home/index.jsp ) and the Apple Shop on 5th Avenue. The students loved all of these things. After a late check in we are at the Double Tree Metropolitan on Lexington and all is good. An evening meal at HB Burger and a quick trip to Times Square before heading back to the Hotel and bed......
Busy day tomorrow.......early workshop with a fine Choir and two Choral directors in the morning.......
Below are today's highlight.....plus a picture of the students singing at Harvard last night......
Everyone was up and ready on time and we left Boston on time, a stop en route to NYC in Connecticut for lunch and we eventually hit New York city just before 3pm.
My idea was to pull up along side the Dakota Building and show the students the John Lennon memorial in Central Park. When Lennon was assassinated in 1980, Yoko Ono (who still lives in the same apartment in the Dakota building) decided there would be no funeral but instead she would scatter his ashes in the park - this eventually became the Strawberry fields memorial. I also promised the students we would call in FAO Schwartz (the best toy shop in the world - http://www.fao.com/home/index.jsp ) and the Apple Shop on 5th Avenue. The students loved all of these things. After a late check in we are at the Double Tree Metropolitan on Lexington and all is good. An evening meal at HB Burger and a quick trip to Times Square before heading back to the Hotel and bed......
Busy day tomorrow.......early workshop with a fine Choir and two Choral directors in the morning.......
Below are today's highlight.....plus a picture of the students singing at Harvard last night......
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| St Paul's Harvard |
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| Strawberry Fields Forever NYC |
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| The best toy store on the planet... |
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| Outside the Hotel on Lexington |
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| The Choir enjoying Times Square |
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Day 3 - long but great day.
Well day three was a very long day indeed!
We began with another early wake up call at 6:30 and headed away to tour Boston by coach ( guided by Charlie) and then to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, some quite amazing things to see here ranging from Egyptian antiquities to the works of Jackson Pollock http://www.mfa.org/
Early lunch for my team (Mr Roberts) who were in need of food in order to appreciate the art.
The Museum is truly amazing and though we were there for 3 hours, you could easily spend two days taking everything in........
Next stop was the JFK Library at Columbus Point - amazing views and one of the most interesting museums I have ever seen.... http://www.jfklibrary.org/ the students really enjoyed this visit as they also got to take in the sun and the views.
Late afternoon saw us in Cambridge Massachusetts and Harvard University http://www.harvard.edu/ and a quick rehearsal at St Paul's Catholic Cathedral http://www.stpaulparish.org/homepage.html to be fair the students gave an exceptional concert and were once again very well received. Evening meal at the Mongolian kitchen in Harvard square and suddenly it's 11:30pm and we are all ready for sleep - New York City departure at 9am........
Anyway........................below are today's day 3 highlights..................
We began with another early wake up call at 6:30 and headed away to tour Boston by coach ( guided by Charlie) and then to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, some quite amazing things to see here ranging from Egyptian antiquities to the works of Jackson Pollock http://www.mfa.org/
Early lunch for my team (Mr Roberts) who were in need of food in order to appreciate the art.
The Museum is truly amazing and though we were there for 3 hours, you could easily spend two days taking everything in........
Next stop was the JFK Library at Columbus Point - amazing views and one of the most interesting museums I have ever seen.... http://www.jfklibrary.org/ the students really enjoyed this visit as they also got to take in the sun and the views.
Late afternoon saw us in Cambridge Massachusetts and Harvard University http://www.harvard.edu/ and a quick rehearsal at St Paul's Catholic Cathedral http://www.stpaulparish.org/homepage.html to be fair the students gave an exceptional concert and were once again very well received. Evening meal at the Mongolian kitchen in Harvard square and suddenly it's 11:30pm and we are all ready for sleep - New York City departure at 9am........
Anyway........................below are today's day 3 highlights..................
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| On the water front looking at USS Constitution |
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| The boys at the MFA |
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| Museum of Fine Art |
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| On the campaign trail |
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| All the Presidents Women |
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| Fun at the shore |
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| Late afternoon crossing the George River Boston |
Friday, July 8, 2011
Day 2 Concert at Rivers
Entonces, second very busy day indeed today. Everyone up and about early (6:15 wake up calls to all rooms) and ready to leave by 8am. We arrived at Rivers school just before 9am, beautiful part of the world, rolling green fields and wonderful woodland areas......http://www.rivers.org/
Wonderful welcome Dr David Tierney and his staff - so a very big thank you to them all.
The music concert hall and practice suits are just 4 years old and have been housed in a wonderful self contained building including Steinway piano (every pianist is happy to see one)
Anyway, I am so proud to report that your sons and daughters were excellent and did a fantastic concert for staff and students of the music summer camp.........they really gave everything at 10am in the morning!
We were then treated to lunch before heading away for a guided tour of Boston the seat of American independence and liberty. Plenty of history, plenty of culture, plenty of learning and then plenty of tired looking faces........day 2 was topped off with some final shopping time in Boston before eating our evening meal at the world famous 'Cheers' restaurant http://www.cheersboston.com/pub/ .............
Anyway in answer to the blog question RE our concert dates to come, they are as follows......
Saturday 9th July - St Pauls Cathedral Harvard University at 7pm
Monday July 11th Vocal concert workshop - Unitarian Church of All Souls - Lexington
Monday July 11th 7pm Concert Unitarian Church of All Souls - Lexington
Friday July 15th 6pm - Concert at the Argentine Embassy Washington DC
And finally for today......................please see below for today's highlights....more tomorrow..
Wonderful welcome Dr David Tierney and his staff - so a very big thank you to them all.
The music concert hall and practice suits are just 4 years old and have been housed in a wonderful self contained building including Steinway piano (every pianist is happy to see one)
Anyway, I am so proud to report that your sons and daughters were excellent and did a fantastic concert for staff and students of the music summer camp.........they really gave everything at 10am in the morning!
We were then treated to lunch before heading away for a guided tour of Boston the seat of American independence and liberty. Plenty of history, plenty of culture, plenty of learning and then plenty of tired looking faces........day 2 was topped off with some final shopping time in Boston before eating our evening meal at the world famous 'Cheers' restaurant http://www.cheersboston.com/pub/ .............
Anyway in answer to the blog question RE our concert dates to come, they are as follows......
Saturday 9th July - St Pauls Cathedral Harvard University at 7pm
Monday July 11th Vocal concert workshop - Unitarian Church of All Souls - Lexington
Monday July 11th 7pm Concert Unitarian Church of All Souls - Lexington
Friday July 15th 6pm - Concert at the Argentine Embassy Washington DC
And finally for today......................please see below for today's highlights....more tomorrow..
Ready to sing......(very hot and humid indeed)
Downtown guided tour
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| Looking at Boston Common |
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| State Government Building - Boston Common - Beacon Hill |
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| Trolley Bus Tour |
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| Again on the common |
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