Day Four in Auckland: Second competition Friday 19th July

This morning we managed to scramble together a last-minute rehearsal space and piano so the choir could add some finishing touches to their repertoire for the Secondary Schools competition. The space was a dance studio with mirrors along a wall - very useful for seeing everyone’s performance faces! We’re very grateful to KBB Music for the piano & Dynasty Studios for their space.

We went on stage for the competition performance at about 5pm, after dodging the showers in some very stylish ponchos. There are some pictures here from the warm up room and then from the performance itself. Melanie was photographing from the wings, so couldn’t get good angles on every singer, but we hope there will be more pictures from Interkultur. The choir performed brilliantly, including all of the last minute performance details that had been worked out in the studio in the morning. The audience response was huge with lots of congratulations as they walked off stage.

There was a well deserved group hug as Patrick and Matthew congratulated the choir on their performance, before dinner and soiree (an FYC tradition where the singers entertain each other and the tour adults with fun cabaret acts). Details of what happened in the soiree performances will, according to tradition, remain within the choir, but there were tears of laughter and tears of joy. A very memorable evening!

Day Three in Auckland Thursday 18th July

Today was busy with a friendship concert and rehearsals. We also managed to sneak in a little time for swimming and shopping. Not loads of pictures today - although it was a beautiful day in Auckland. We also got the chance to watch some of the performances in the second part of our category - our senior singers were watching intently, making copious notes & trying to predict the winners. A couple of these photos were from yesterday’s competition performance - thanks to the Interkultur Facebook page.

First full day! Tuesday 16th July

Today we had our stage rehearsal for the Secondary Schools competition in the town hall. This just involves working out where we will stand, walking on and off and having a quick sing to hear what the acoustic sounds like. After that we had the huge privilege of singing in a flashmob for the World Choir Council. We sang alongside two other choirs, one from New Zealand and another from China. It was great to meet these other singers and to learn a Maori song alongside them.

After lunch, we headed down to Quay Street for the parade of nations. Again the singers mingled with singers from choirs all over the world - China, the USA, and India - to name a few. The atmosphere was fantastic. There were also a few impromptu rehearsals, including in the local park, before a well-earned early night.

Arrival day! Monday 15th July - Auckland!

And we’re all here! It was great for the FYC advance party - Patrick, Melanie and Anna to greet the choir members and adults as they arrived at our hotel at lunchtime. Once rooms were sorted out, some went for a nap while others went for a swim (and created a synchronised swimming routine!). We went for a delicious dinner at Elliott Stables, before returning to the hotel for a quick stretch of the vocal chords and bed. The adults are so impressed with how maturely the singers have dealt with the long and stressful journey. Everyone was happy to go to bed.

FREE summer holiday singing workshops - places still available

Thanks to funding from Farnham Town Council, FYC Training Choir conductor Claire Robins will be running two FREE singing workshops in the summer holidays.

The workshops are for children in current school years 2-5 and will take place on 21st and 22nd August 10am-12pm at Farnham Maltings, and will be lots of fun! Children are encouraged to come to both sessions and there will be an informal performance for parents and carers at the end of the last session.

To sign up, email community@fyc.org.uk by 9th August.