FYC's tour to Belgium and Germany proved to be one of the happiest, healthiest and most successful tours to date. Forty girls and one boy plus nine members of staff and a really co-operative coach driver (who quickly became a fan!) made up the team, staying in a combination of hostel and hotel accommodation.
Three major concerts and many informal 'busking' and 'acoustic testing' opportunities were interspersed with sight-seeing (Ghent), formal civic occasions (Welcome in Andernach) and home-grown evening entertainments in the accommodation dining rooms (accompanied by a great deal of laughter) followed by a calming bedtime story read by accompanying adults David, Gillian and Ros.
Three major concerts and many informal 'busking' and 'acoustic testing' opportunities were interspersed with sight-seeing (Ghent), formal civic occasions (Welcome in Andernach) and home-grown evening entertainments in the accommodation dining rooms (accompanied by a great deal of laughter) followed by a calming bedtime story read by accompanying adults David, Gillian and Ros.
Here's what the choir members said about some of their favourite musical moments:
"..I loved seeing the carillon bell-thing in the church in Mol…Climbing the bell tower was scary but great fun! "
"…I found singing in the cathedral in Koblenz the most moving acoustic test, because as we were walking to the exit of the cathedral after singing, a woman in tears thanked me. She seemed so grateful for hearing us sing 'Steal Away.."
.."Our small group took time out from shopping for some more greatly appreciated culture in the church in Mayen right in the centre of the town. We were completely alone without disturbance in a beautiful church with an amazing acoustic and I will probably remember singing those few songs for a long time to come! "
"The Rose in the second concert - it gave me goose-bumps!"
"O Vos Omnes in the first concert…and Stabat Mater. Wow!"
"Rain Dream" in the first concert was perfect! And 'The way we were' in the last concert…"
"Singing 'Locus Iste' again was just awesome" (Note from editor: a contemporary piece by English born Christopher Wiggins, 2007 repertoire)
"..at the end of Friday's concert we all smiled at one another because we knew that we had done a great job and worked really hard.."
"the best musical moment was when everybody in the audience stood up and was clapping as loudly as they could!...."
"our first concert reminded me of Chippis in Montreux…will never be forgotten"
"Singing 'I saw no way' in Antwerp Cathedral and 'Locus Iste' in Andernach Cathedral"
"..I loved seeing the carillon bell-thing in the church in Mol…Climbing the bell tower was scary but great fun! "
"…I found singing in the cathedral in Koblenz the most moving acoustic test, because as we were walking to the exit of the cathedral after singing, a woman in tears thanked me. She seemed so grateful for hearing us sing 'Steal Away.."
.."Our small group took time out from shopping for some more greatly appreciated culture in the church in Mayen right in the centre of the town. We were completely alone without disturbance in a beautiful church with an amazing acoustic and I will probably remember singing those few songs for a long time to come! "
"The Rose in the second concert - it gave me goose-bumps!"
"O Vos Omnes in the first concert…and Stabat Mater. Wow!"
"Rain Dream" in the first concert was perfect! And 'The way we were' in the last concert…"
"Singing 'Locus Iste' again was just awesome" (Note from editor: a contemporary piece by English born Christopher Wiggins, 2007 repertoire)
"..at the end of Friday's concert we all smiled at one another because we knew that we had done a great job and worked really hard.."
"the best musical moment was when everybody in the audience stood up and was clapping as loudly as they could!...."
"our first concert reminded me of Chippis in Montreux…will never be forgotten"
"Singing 'I saw no way' in Antwerp Cathedral and 'Locus Iste' in Andernach Cathedral"
Belgium / Germany 2008
This year's 'tourists' wrote some helpful hints about how to get the best from an FYC tour:
• Don't pre-empt anything! Take each day as it comes..
• Sleep as much as possible..
• Look after your voice..
• Bring enough socks to wear at night if it's cold..
• Keep stress levels down by any means possible..
• Try to get everything you need for the following day ready the night before..
• Be patient! Your independence cannot be top of the agenda..
• Don't be scared about talking to people. Everyone I know in the choir is really nice!
• Don't bring a big suitcase…….
• Come with snacks….
• Take more boys….
• Never take more than one boy….
• Don't pre-empt anything! Take each day as it comes..
• Sleep as much as possible..
• Look after your voice..
• Bring enough socks to wear at night if it's cold..
• Keep stress levels down by any means possible..
• Try to get everything you need for the following day ready the night before..
• Be patient! Your independence cannot be top of the agenda..
• Don't be scared about talking to people. Everyone I know in the choir is really nice!
• Don't bring a big suitcase…….
• Come with snacks….
• Take more boys….
• Never take more than one boy….