Festival 500 Tour - Catching Up!

So needless to say we have been very busy.  Our appologies for not keeping the blog up to date.  Since our last posting we have had a noteable lunch concert at the Delta Hotel where the audience turnout was wonderful!  What a special space to perform.

The choristers enjoyed some free time shopping downtown which they were extremely grateful for.  A wonderful Shallaway family hosting all our host families and their billets last night.  Kids had a blast!

Rehearsing at Mile One Stadium yesterday and today.  The concert tonight is going to be fabulous!  Reception/dance tonight for the choristers to celebrate.  More pics to follow :)

HCC Choristers in Newfoundland

Downtown St. John's

Singing - A Full Body Experience!

Our choristers have had a fabulous day.  If you ask them, they would say 'WOW'!  The weather was great to start.  Rehearsal in the morning with Kari, participating as a demo choir for Zimfira's workshop - "Singing, A Full Body Experience", a good lunch and then a restful day downtown shopping.  Choristers went home today with our gracious host families for dinner and returned to attend an evening concert.  The Indonesian Choir was amazing in their costumes and dance....so precise, so beautiful, so captivating.    Choristers were inspired for sure.  See how excited they are.....

We want to rehearse more!!!!!

The Festival has officially begun!

The Hamilton Children's Choir arrived on Monday evening and were quickly into 'tour' mode on Tuesday July 5th with their participation in 'Up the Shore & Around the Bay".  Our choristers were on the bus at 7:40 a.m.(ugh!) where much to their surprise arrived in Bay Bulls for a whale watching tour and see hundreds of puffins.  The whales were not shy and were fortunate to see at least 5.  A pair of dolphins even decided to be friendly with us and share their playful yet graceful nature.  


Then the choir headed off to Brigus where they enjoyed a wonderful lunch the Shallaway Jubilate Choir. It wasn't long before Zimfira was getting all the young people singing as a team with movement.  It was a great opportunity for both choirs to get to know each other through their love of music.  This followed with all the singers learning some traditional dance as a group....lots of giggles and wonderful toe-tapping music.  Before we left, the choristers had time to walk around Brigus, a cute and charming little town, with its lovely colourful homes by the water.  

Despite the rainy weather, everyone enjoyed this quaint and lovely town.  Then off to Cupids we went.  Cupids, Nfld is where the first English settlers arrived 400 years ago.http://www.cupids400.com/english/about/index.php  The choir was taken on a tour of the Cupids Legacy Centre and the Archaeological Dig (exhibit).  The kids were then provided a homecooked meal and the day ended in song with a concert at the United Church in town.  The concert was wonderful and the HCC shared the stage with Six Vocal Ensemble from London, ON and Shallaway Jubilate.  Of course, the HCC made us proud as always and the audience was in awe!  Watch for videos to soon be posted of the performance.

BoyVoyage HCC - the Farewell Concert!