Photos

Photos from last night's Carmina rehearsal:

As you can see, a huge stage was built up for the men to stand in the back as well as platforms for the pianos and percussion.

Today is our last full day with our current host families. So far it has included a school visit and performance, a stop to meet the assistant mayor of Minden, and a chance to sing in a huge cathedral with lots of reverb.

School Visit: this week is the final days of class for most kids in Germany. They spend the days doing various fun things including listening to our concert.

(I'm in the back row)

Tomorrow morning we head to Scharbeutz, Germany, it should take about 4 hours and we depart at 9:30 in the morning.

Tonight's festivities include a Carmina Burana Concert conducted by Thomas Wirtz followed by a B-BQ at the church.

auf deutsch

Yesterday afternoon (Sunday) the choir performed a very nice concert in the host people's church. The concert was yet again packed and the audience was very responsive. Tookula, a youth choir in the Minden area, which resides in this church, opened our concert with several songs. This choir traveled to Blue Lake and performed last summer.

Christuskirche

Following the concert we returned to our host's house, Thomas Wertz, who is also a choir conductor and will be conducting our Carmina Burana concert on Tuesday night. His local choir of 65 adult voices will join us to bulk up the kids sound (fortunately).

Last night we had a traditional German B-BQ complete with various sausages and beers. Several other families attended with their camper guests. I'm sure to pack on a few pounds during this trip...

This morning we had free time in downtown Minden so we wandered around the town and stopped in a Café to hide briefly from the 64 campers. (We all were Blue polos so it's easy to spot them coming).

Jean Marie and I

Andy and Ashley

More pictures from Minden:

The kids gave a school performance this morning as well - followed by a nice lunch at the school.

As you can see I'm sitting in the audience. Jean Marie and I don't quite know all the music yet to be comfortable singing in the concerts. Maybe someday soon.

This evening we have a Carmina Burana rehearsal in the same church the concert was in last night. The original plan was to perform in a large hall, but since the orchestra is no longer with us the venue had to be changed. A massive stage was built in the church for the performance (pictures to be uploaded later?).

2009 BLFAC International Choir Itinerary

The following schedule is a little different due to the cancelation of the Orchestra's Tour.

INTERNATIONAL CHOIR & BLUE LAKE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (IYSO) – 2009

Detailed Tour Schedule - Dated: June 10, 2009

CH = Choir SO = Symphony Orchestra CB = Carmina Burana

Monday, June 22 21.35 – IYSO Depart Detroit Metro for Paris CDG (France) via Air France Flight No. AF 377

17.15 – CHOIR Depart Chicago O’Hare for Paris CDG via Air France Flight No. AF 051

Tuesday, June 23 11.25 – IYSO Arrive Paris CDG; Transfer to Milano, Italy Depart Paris CDG 15.55 via Air France Flight No. AF 1912 Arrive at Milan Linate Airport at 17.25. Load busses and travel to Albino.

(81 KM)+1H30 ETA: 21.00 to Palestra or Oratorio in Torre Boldone. Meet and home.

08.35 – CHOIR Arrive Paris CDG; Transfer to Lyon, France Depart Paris CDG 13.05 via Air France Flight No. AF 7644 Arrive at Lyon Airport at 14.15. Load busses and travel to Albino, Italy. (507 KM)+7H30 ETA: 23.00 to Sala Gamma (Oratorio) in Torre Boldone.

Wednesday, June 24 Milano Area, ITALY

IYSO Morning free with families. 12.00-14.00 lunch time with families or in the Oratorio of Albino. 14.00-15.30 transfer by bus to Sotto il Monte. 15.30-16.30 unload, set-up and prepare for rehearsal. 16.30-19.30 SO rehearsal in Palatenda of Sotto il Monte. 19.30-21.00 Dinner. 21.00 - SO CONCERT Palatenda

22.30-23.30 pack-up, load instruments onto trailers and enjoy a little party. Home with families.

CHOIR Morning free with families. 16.30 arrive at Sala Gamma (Oratorio) in Torre Boldone, unload and prepare for rehearsal. 17.00-20.00 rehearsal. 20.00-21.00 dinner (packed lunch from host family). 21.00 - CH CONCERT Sala Gamma. Following concert, re-load and home.

Thursday, June 25 Milano Area, ITALY

IYSO & CHOIR Morning free with families. 15.00-18.00 Carmina Burana rehearsal (with symphony, BL and Italian Choirs) in Albino Auditorium. 18.00-19.00 Break and transfer of equipment and instruments in S. Giuliano Square. 19.00-20.00 dress rehearsal in the square. 20.00-21.00 Break. 21.00 - CB CONCERT – S. Giuliano Square. 22.30-23.30 Following concert, re-load, enjoy party, and then home with families.

Friday, June 26 Milano Area, ITALY

IYSO & CHOIR Morning free with families. 14.30-16.00 Transfer by bus from Albino to Palazzetto dello Sport of Villongo. 16.00-17.00 Unload, set-up and prepare for rehearsal. 17.00-19.00 Carmina Burana rehearsal (with symphony, BL, and Italian Choirs). 19.00-21.00 Dinner. 21.00 – CB CONCERT – Palazzetto dello Sport. 22.30-23.30 Following concert load and prepare for departure to Minden, GERMANY.

(depart 24.00 with lunch packet – Travel by Bus through Night – 1,042 KM – 16h00)

Saturday, June 27 Continue travels to Minden, GERMANY. 16.00 arrive Stadthalle Minden. Possible choir staging. Families and home.

Sunday, June 28 Minden Area, GERMANY

CHOIR 9.00-10.00 Arrive Christuskirche for small rehearsal before church service. 10.00-11.00 Attend church service and perform (1 song). 11.00-12.30 remainder of rehearsal. Afternoon free with host families. 16.30 arrive Christuskirche to prepare for concert.

17.00 - CH CONCERT Christuskirche.

Monday, June 29 Minden Area, GERMANY

IYSO & CHOIR Morning and afternoon free with host families. 16.30 IYSO equipment trailers and crew arrive Stadthalle in Minden. 17.00-17.30 IYSO rehearsal alone for Carmina Burana. 17.30 choirs arrive. Combined rehearsal until 21.00. Home with families.

Tuesday, June 30 Minden Area, GERMANY

IYSO & CHOIR Morning, afternoon, and evening free with host families. 19.30 all arrive at Stadthalle in Minden to prepare for performance. 20.00 - CB CONCERT Stadthalle Minden.

Wednesday, July 1 9.00 Meet at Stadthalle Minden; 9.30 Depart Minden (with lunch packet from hosts); Travel by Bus

IYSO & CHOIR to Scharbeutz and Stockelsdorf, GERMANY. 289 KM (4 hrs) ETA 13.30 IYSO & Choir meet all chairmen at “Rasthof Buddikate” on A1. Then follow chairmen to separate hosting towns.

Thursday, July 2 Scharbeutz Area, GERMANY

CHOIR Morning free with host families. 13.00 Arrive Grossporthalle. 13.10 Depart for GG Pönitz Gym. 13.45 arr. 14.00-17.00 Carmina Burana rehearsal (BL choir, German choir, piano). 17.45-21.00 Carmina Burana rehearsal (full, with orchestra). 21.40 return back to Grossporthalle in Stockelsdorf (with BL bus). Home.

Friday, July 3 Scharbeutz Area, GERMANY

IYSO 8.30-12.30 open rehearsal in the GG Pönitz Gym. Afternoon free with host family. 19.30 arrive and prepare for performance. 20.00 - SO CONCERT GG Pönitz Gym.

CHOIR Morning and early afternoon free with host families. 16.45 rehearsal in Grossporthalle.

19..00 - CH CONCERT Grossporthalle. Reception to follow.

Saturday, July 4 Scharbeutz Area, GERMANY

IYSO & CHOIR Morning and afternoon free with host families. 16.45-19.00 set-up and rehearsal for Carmina Burana (full) in Gym. Snacks and beverages between rehearsal and performance.

20.00 - CB CONCERT GG Pönitz Gym. Reception to follow.

Sunday, July 5 13.00 Meet; 13.30 Depart Scharbeutz; Travel by Bus to Flensburg, GERMANY. 149 KM (2.5 hrs)

IYSO & CHOIR ETA 16.00 at Ferdgymnasium in Flensburg. Small reception, meet families, home.

Monday, July 6 Flensburg Area, GERMANY

IYSO Free day with host families!

CHOIR Morning and early afternoon free with host families. 16.00 by bus to Schleswig Dom for rehearsal. 17.00-19.00 Rehearsal in Dom. Home with families.

Tuesday, July 7 Flensburg Area, GERMANY

IYSO 8.00 bus departs gymnasium in Flensburg for Glucksburg. 9.00-12.30 rehearsal at Rudehalle in

Glucksburg. Afternoon free with host families. 19.00 arrive back at hall and prepare for concert.

19.30 - SO CONCERT Rudehalle.

CHOIR Morning and afternoon free (until concert). 19.00 arrive at Schleswig Dom and prepare for concert. 19.30 - CH CONCERT Schleswig Dom.

Wednesday, July 8 Flensburg Area, GERMANY

IYSO & CHOIR 8.00 equipment and stage crews arrive at Deutsches Haus in Flensburg. 9.00-12.00 full Carmina Burana rehearsal. Afternoon free with host families. 19.30 arrive at Deutsches Haus and prepare for concert. 20.00 - CB CONCERT Deutsches Haus.

(depart 24.00 with lunch packet – Travel by Bus through Night – 838 KM – 12h00)

Thursday, July 9 Continue Trip to Dillingen, GERMANY. ETA 12.30 at Stadtsaal, Dillingen. Home with Hosts for lunch, free afternoon and evening.

Friday, July 10 Dillingen Area, GERMANY

IYSO & CHOIR Morning either free with host families or attending school with host siblings/children. 10.00-13.00 rehearsal of Carmina Burana in either the School Yard or Sebastian Kneipp Hall (depending on weather) of St. Bonaventural Gymnasium. Afternoon free with host families. 18.30 arrive at school to prepare for concert. 19.00 - CB CONCERT School Yard or Sebastian Kneipp Hall. BBQ to follow.

Saturday, July 11 Dillingen Area, GERMANY

IYSO & CHOIR Morning and afternoon free with host families. 16.00 arrive at school in Dillingen and prepare for bus departure. 16.30 depart Dillingen for Gundelfingen. 17.00-18.00 Carmina Burana rehearsal in either the Spital Hof or Brenz Hall (depending on weather) of Gundelfingen. Break for dinner. 20.15 - CB CONCERT Spital Hof or Brenz Hall.

Sunday, July 12 Dillingen Area, GERMANY

IYSO 9.00-13.00 rehearsal at Konzertghaus Forum Gunzburg. Afternoon free with host families. 18.30 arrive

and prepare for performance. 19.00 - SO CONCERT at Konzertghaus Forum Gunzburg.

CHOIR Morning and afternoon free with host families. 16.30 arrive St. Martin Münster in Lauingen and prepare for rehearsal. 17.00-18.30 rehearsal. 19.00 - CH CONCERT St. Martin Münster in Lauingen.

Monday, July 13 7.30 Meet at St. Bonaventura School Yard; 8.00 Depart Dillingen; Travel by Bus to Rheinsberg, GERMANY 628 KM (9h00) IYSO ETA 17.00 at NIS-AREA in Rheinsberg…home with families.

CHOIR ETA 16.30 at “Evangelisches Gymnasium” in Neuruppin…home with families.

Tuesday, July 14 Rheinsberg Area, GERMANY

IYSO 8.30 arrive at “Seehalle” of the Hotel “Haus Rheinsberg”, unload, set-up, and prepare for rehearsal. 9.00-12.00 rehearsal. 12.00 greeting by the mayor of Rheinsberg. 12.30 lunch in school. Afternoon free for time with host families. 17.30 meet at Hotel. 18.00 - SO CONCERT “Seehalle”.

CHOIR 9.00-12.00 sight-seeing in Neuruppin. 12.30 lunch in school. 14.00-16.00 Trip by boat/ship. 16.00-17.00 Travel to church to prepare for rehearsal. 17.30-18.30 rehearsal at Klosterkirche. 19.00 - CH CONCERT Klosterkirche (combined concert with some organ music).

Wednesday, July 15 Rheinsberg Area, GERMANY

IYSO Morning free with host families (or in school, visit castle, etc.) 12.00 students with working host families

will have lunch at school, followed by a boat ride at 12.30 to the “Hafendorf” (with instruments). 14.00-18.00 full Carmina Burana rehearsal (with some breaks and snacks). 19.00 - CB CONCERT “Hafendorf”. Following concert, load equipment and enjoy a party in the boathouse.

CHOIR 8.00 breakfast in school with school children. 10.30 visit and tour of the school. 11.30 lunch in the school. 12.00 prayers in the church, “Klosterkirche”. 13.00 Departure from Neuruppin to Rheinsberg. 14.00-18.00 full Carmina Burana rehearsal (with some breaks and snacks). 19.00 - CB CONCERT “Hafendorf”. Following concert, load equipment and enjoy a party in the boathouse.

Thursday, July 16 Rheinsberg Area, GERMANY

IYSO 8.00 goodbye in Rheinsberg. Place all luggage onto the bus. 9.30-16.00 Enjoy Berlin with host families.

(Depart Berlin 16.00 – Afternoon, Evening, & Night Trip to Paris CDG – 1,100 KM – 16h00)

CHOIR Free day in Neuruppin or Berlin with families.

(Depart Neuruppin 24.00 – Night Trip to Hamburg Flughafen – 228KM – 3h30)

Friday, July 17 04.00 CHOIR Check In Hamburg; 07.15 Depart Hamburg via AF 2511; Arrive Paris

8.50; 10.30 CHOIR Depart Paris via AF 050 to Chicago O’Hare; 12.35 Arrive Chicago

Update from Germany

Hallo from Germany!

Recap of the past several days since I was unable to obtain Internet…

Prior to arriving in Italy three of us counselors had an 8 hour layover in Paris. So we made the best of it and left the airport by train and went downtown to visit the Eiffel Tower.

A fellow American tourist took this picture: Reid, Jean Marie, and Anthony

Upon returning to the airport we were met with the terrible news that the BLFAC International Orchestra was not able to leave the US due to several cases of the flu. We were told that we would attempt to perform Carmina with double piano accompinament and percussion.

The past three nights in Italy I stayed with a very nice family in Foresto Sparsa, a small Italian village in the hills of the Milano area. My family owned a rather large farm near the center of the village and also a rubber molding company that made various rubber and cilicon parts for automobiles and tractors. The two brothers spoken very little English, so I was able to communicate rather well after my two semesters of Italian.

The land in the back yard.

Today we arrived in Germany after a 16 hour overnight bus ride. The ride wasn’t as bad as I thought it might be. I was able to sleep after I took some Equate Nite-time meds. We stopped in Kassel, Germany for a long lunch and Jean Marie and I enjoyed a nice German meal of sausage and fries. Our waiter happened to speak English as well, hopefully communication will be easier here than in Italy.

I'll have wireless access these next few days as I'm staying with a family in a huge house. It's me Dr. Webb, and two campers - Eric and Marcus.

More later...

Glencoe Update

Day Two of BLFAC International Choir Tour

Today started with a 10:00am Church service here in Glencoe, IL. The kids sang very well for their debut, they're a very good high school choir. Following the service we were fed well and given free time in Glencoe. A group of campers went to downtown Chicago with their host family and the rest went to a Botanical Garden nearby. Jean Marie and I stayed at the church and worked with Carlos (brother-in-law to our host) on our Carmina parts. He was helpful... we'll take all the help we can get right now. We then wandered around Glencoe for a while - going to the beach and Starbucks. After that we ate yet again at the church and called John for a ride back to the Haynor house with a pit-stop at Best Buy. I made and unplanned purchase:

A Nikon Coolpix S630

The following picture is the Haynor family (John, Nancy and Little Orphan Annie). They hosted Anthony and I the past two nights. Cody went to stay with some other campers tonight - he was too cool for counselors.

Flight Details:

Tomorrow morning we depart for the airport from the church at noon and spend the afternoon checking into and hanging out in the airport. Our flight leaves at 5:15pm tomorrow evening. It's Air France Flight #AF0051, scheduled to land in Paris at 8:35am. We have a LONG layover in Paris before we fly to Milan at 3:55pm (via flight #AF1912) arriving at 5:25pm. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.

Did I mention I need to learn Carmina Burana? Jeeze...

On the road...

Day One of BLFAC International Choir Tour

After a five hour bus ride to Glencoe, IL the 64 member choir consisting of 13-19 year-olds is slowly dispersUing to the generous, wealthy residents of this ritzy Chicago suburb. A 10:00am church service and then a delicious lunch are planned for us tomorrow. We are also planning on touring a botanical garden tomorrow, though Jean Marie and I will probably hang out here at the church to work on our music. The church (North Shore United Methodist) minister's brother in-law is supposedly a fairly good singer, so we asked for him to come help us with our Carmina solos... We're still pretty scared.

Tomorrow's dinner is also provided by this church. Followed by a second night with our host families. More later...

10:30pm Central - 6-20-09

Update from first night:

Well, I'm staying with Anthony (another counselor) and Cody (a sick camper with a fever). Lucky for me the neighbors have screaming fast wireless and I was able to move my bed out into the living room away from poor Cody. The couple is very nice (Nancy and John Haynor), it turns out Nancy is from Newton, IA. John used to be a professional trombonist - he even played on a STYX album.

New Summer Plans...

This just in...

I will be accompanying the Blue Lake International Choir on their trip to Europe! I leave this Saturday and won't be back till the 17th of July. This morning I woke up planning on doing the production thing - cleaning a messy stage and sneezing all day from the dust, but instead I got a phone call from the camp director about an opportunity.

The 5 counseling staff members, three of which were soloist for Carmina Burana, were let go last night due to not upholding their contracts. So Jean Marie and I were drafted to sing the solo parts for Carmina. Yeah, I know right? Shocking. I'm still surprised. And to make things even better... my buddy Charlie Moe is jumping in his car tomorrow morning to come sing the tenor part. Wow. Great day at camp.

However, I'm nervous as hell to sing this role... cross your fingers.

I'll do my best to post while in Italy and Germany for the next several weeks.

Summer Plans

http://www.bluelake.org

This summer I am happy to be returning to Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. While at camp I will be working as a Production Assistant once more, enjoying the beautiful Michigan weather, and I'll be job hunting online in my free time.

Blue Lake is where I met Jean Marie last summer. We will both be returning to camp this summer, she will be the camp's Recreation Director/Life Guard Instructor.

I head up to camp this Friday, the 12th, and will post as often as possible, fortunately, wireless Internet is available in the middle of the wilderness.

I can receive mail/care packages at:

Reid Henderson - Production Assistant

Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp

300 East Crystal Lake Road

Twin Lake, MI 49457

Nordic Choir Tour Photos Posted

Greetings!

I have recently finished posting almost 2,000 photos from our tour of Italy, France, and Spain. I haven't completely captioned the photos yet or weeded out the less spectacular photos but none the less there are quite a few excellent pictures.

http://picasaweb.google.com/hendre01

The following photo is taken at our final concert in Madrid. This was a very emotional concert.

First blog ever - check.