New Content

Hi Newfies!

Before tour was over I took down the video content from this blog because you'd made SO much musical progress during our time in Canada that it seemed unfair to broadcast where you'd started. I've re-posted the Pre-Tour videos, and I'll be adding more videos from tour time for your enjoyment--scroll to the bottom of the page to see the videos. You'll be able to see for yourself the amazing transformation. I am super busy, but I'll do it for YOU!

I also created an Imagestation photo album of pics from singers and staff (also listed under Tour Photos) that I collected during tour. A little known secret--if you right click a photo you can do "save as" and keep your favorites. Or maybe you knew that already? Anyway, when I have two seconds to myself I'll see about making a disc of photos and/or video if anyone wants them. It might be mid-August before I have time, but if you're interested, please holla! Or email.

So is it just me, or is ending tour like getting off the moving sidewalk? So much momentum and too much to do, then we get home and realize we don't have 97 kazillion things to do that day. Aside from seeing Sean and my cats it's a bit of a letdown to not see you all every day and hear your glorious voices! Now all I have to look forward to is getting ready for camp, school, jobs, life....OH! And Sean and I are buying a house!

Take care, y'all. Let me hear from you!

Brianne, the Graceful

Messages home July 13th

Hey! I can't believe this is my last full day in Canada. It has been sooooo beautiful. For example, today we went to Peggy's Cove. It's a small little fishing village with a lighthouse and a rocky beach with boulders. I had fun climbing the boulders and watching the waves splash up on and against them. Towards the end Liya, Catherine C., Matt and I were standing on a boulder that was a good distance from the water. All of a sudden, a huge wave came up, and I could see big individual drops coming towards us. Catherine was in a good position to run away, so she did. The rest of us could only turn and try not to get hit as much. So my pants ended up getting wet and I had a few big drops on my shirt but it wasn't that bad. Then Cathrine laughed at us because she was dry and we were wet, so we chased after her to try to get her wet. It was a lot of fun.

We also went to see the biggest graveyard for the Titanic. It was weird to be there, but it was interesting too. There were 330 people buried there from the Titanic who were non-Catholic, non-Jewish, or unknown religions because the graveyards were separated by religions.

Yesterday we went on a boat ride. The theme was a pirate ship, which was neat. After a while though, it go cold, then India, Catherine, Liya, Kirill and I got blankets and huddled wrapped up in the blankets while sitting on the rail. We sat and talked and were isolated from the city because it was foggy out. I actually got to hear a fog horn.

Before we went on the boat ride we went to a fort. You'll never guess who we saw when we first walked in. We saw J.D. Washburn! It was crazy and totally random. So he ended up going on the tour with us and hung out with us until we had to go.

So, the tour's almost over, and it'll be sad to go, but I also can't wait to be home again. Ok, I think I've written enough, and Brianne has to type it all out of this because we don't have a chance to get on the computer anymore, so I'll end here. See you TOMORROW! I love you all!

Hannah M.

Thanks to Hannah for keeping up with writing home every day. By the time the staff get finished with a day we are usually so tired we can't put a sentence together, so it's been nice for Hannah (and others) to write and keep folks at home posted on what we've been up to, and to assure you that we're having a great time.

We have had a wonderful, busy, exhausting, successful, and delightful tour. This tour team has been stellar musically, as people, and as travellers. I'm so glad to know these people, and I'm grateful to the families who have shared your kids with us!

--Brianne

Messages home July 12

Hey! Wow, I don't know what to write, even though yesterday was awesome. Well, I guess I'll just start with...the bus ride. We rode on the Cabot Trail, which is a beautiful sceninc route.  We stopped at one place that was by water where boats were docked. So Bill Nittler, Daniel Goldberg, and I and a few others started skipping rocks, or at least tried to.  It was hard because we were above the water, so we had to use a different angle.  It was still fun.  There were also fiddle players that played a few songs. Grandma & Grandpa B. to hlep me because I mess up a lot, especially at promenading.  Since there was a shortage of guys Liya was my partner.  She was the boy along with Ginny, Brianne, Anna, Madeline, Karen, Sarah, and a few others. It was a lot of fun.

After that we performed at at a Ceilidh (or something like that). So there were tons of BAGPIPES and FIDDLES! As well as singing and some awesome Celtic dancing and tap dancing.  This one lady played the fiddle then did awesome tap dancing, then she started playing the fiddle WHILE tap dancing.

The whole time I was there I kept thinking "Man, Michael Chaney would love to be here."

Well, I've already taken up enough space, so I'll sign off.

I love you all!

Hannah M.

PS Oh, and Mom, you would love the food up here. It's basically all seafood: from salmon to mussels to scallops to clam chowder and more.  Too bad I can't stand seafood.  I wish I could bring it home to you! Oh, but I just decided that I am going to try a Halibut for one night.  Wish me luck!

Messages home July 11th

The ferry ride was awesome! It was huge! I slept on one of the bunk beds on the sixth floor, which just goes to show how big sometimes the wind would be so strong that it would either push you or you'd have to walk hard against it Liya said that it felt like we were in one of the scenes from the Matrix.
When we got to shore we went to a fort. In that fort there was a small chapel where we sang. The acoustics were great and it sounded awesome. Paige said she could sing in there for hours.
Someone else said that they would want to come back just to sing in that room.
I have new roommates. They are: Nora, Sarah, and Julia. They are all really nice. We stayed up kinda late talking, but I got to know them better.
Yesterday we drove over the Mira River, so we sang "Song of the Mira". Later we met a woman who taught the composer's kids and whose mother lives next door to him.

I love you all!
Hannah M.

PS can you bring my purple outfit for Uncle David's wedding? Thanks!

Messages Home July 9-10

After a wonderful time in Newfoundland and we had a great last day in the province--sightseeing at Castle Hill, Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve, then to the Argentia Museum of the Atlantic Allies before boarding the ferry for Nova Scotia at 11:30pm.  As you probably figured out, we didn't have internet access on the open ocean which is why we didn't have an update until now (July 10th). 

We've had some great musical experiences and we've met some fantastic people in Newfoundland.  The kindness and friendliness of Newfoundlanders has been amazing.  In Georgia we pride ourselves on being known for our "Southern Hospitiality", but I've been delighted by the stories from our group about nice people they've met. I hope to collect stories from the kids to illustrate the great warmth we've been receiving from these wonderful folks.

One example: Last week we were waiting at a bus stop in a neighborhood of elegant older homes. We were headed to Quiddi Vidi Lake to have a pizza picnic by the St. John's Regatta (the oldest athletic organization in North America). While the 35 Atlantans were waiting at the bus stop a woman  came out of her house to ask if we needed anything, and for us to knock on the door to let her know if we needed anything, even though we were just waiting for a bus. That type of kindness is the standard in Newfoundland. 

Messages Home July 9th

Privet, opyat ne smogla vchera napisat potomu chto delala stirku. Vchera mi utrom peli v odnoi tserkvi gde nas potom ochen vkusno nakormili obedom. Potom mi poehali ha generalnuyu repititsiyu v hokeinom stadeone s orkestrom ih vzroslim horom. Potom mi poeli opyat ih prishli na koncert, na kotorih mi oposdali na 30 minut, ih iza etovo tam gde ya dolzhna bila pet ne bilo mesta. Tak chto mne prishlos pet na kontse samih visokih soprano, ih svoih ya ne slishala sovsem. Potom ya sela v previlnom meste. Koncert shol 3 chasa, potom bila bolishaya party gde mi nauchili bsech nashei lubimoi ugre (the pony game) gde mi poem ih begaem po krugu. Bilo ochen vecelo ih mi igrali so vsemi drugimi horami primerno chas s polovinoi. Ya uzhasno vspotela. Potom priehali domoi ih nachali sobirat veshi. Koroche govori, legli v 3 chasa, a prosnulis k 8mi. Sevodny biezhaim.

Pozovchira u nas bil workshop s irlandskim horom Anuna. Oni sperva nam speli neskoliko pesen, odnu iz kotorih pout nashi malichiki ih kotorui mi vse znaem. Tak chto oni pozvali vseh kto znaet pesnu spet s nimi na stsene. Tak chto ya ih eshe neskoliko nashih poshli ih popeli s nimi. Bilo prekrasno!!!

-Liya

Hey! I’m kinda tired and I’m not too excited about the rain that is outside right now, but other than that, I’m good. Last night we had the final concert. Even though I didn’t like some of the songs that we sang, the concert was amazing. The adult and youth choirs were huge and sounded good. There was also a variety of singers and countries where they came from. There were several choirs from all over Canada, a choir from Finland, a few choirs from England, 3 choirs from USA (including us), a choir from New Zealand, Australia and other places.

After the concert there was an after party. At first it was kinda slow, but then it started to get fun. There was one choir that started singing Ciahumba, so we joined in. Later we started the Pony Game. OMGoodness! It became so big!!! At least 3 people from ever choir played. It was so crowded, but it was still a lot of fun. I have to say that it was the biggest pony game that I have ever seen. Caitlyn said that we had created a monster. So, some people who started the first game started another one so that there would be more room. The only thing about the after party was it ended late. We didn’t get home till after 12 am, and I don’t think that I got to sleep until 2 am. Oh well, we’ll be traveling a lot today, so I’ll be able to sleep on the bus.

Ok, I have to go get ready and load my stuff on the bus. I love you!

Hannah M.

Messages Home July 8th

Hey! I got all of your messages! Malia, who is PW? Oh, last night we were supposed to go whale watching, but the water was too choppy, so we didn’t get to go. But that was ok b/c it was wet and kinda cold and my feet were soaked as well. Instead we went to see the movie Ratatoiulle (or however it’s spelled). It was pretty good. Malia, do you remember who was the voice of Remi, I didn’t have time to check.

We also got to go to a workshop with Anuna, a really good Irish choir. It was really neat b/c they interacted with us and stuff like that. Ok, I have to get off so someone else can write. I love you all!

Hannah M.

Hey Mom, Dad, Irena,

Newfoundland is great! Sometimes it is warm and sometimes it cold and rainy. The food is good. When kayaking we ate the insides of sea urchins. They tasted like cantaloupe. We also saw Ratatouille (movie) I’m having fun.

Kirill

Hello Atlantans, aka Mom, Dad, and Niji. We did sea kayaking the other day! It was quite the excitement...lots of sea creatures and song singing in the ocean. We Saw Ratatouille yesterday, it was so cute! Hope you all are enjoying your time without your annoying teenage daughter! I am enjoying very much here, and for Niji, GOOD LUCK WITH THE START OF LSAT CLASSES!

--meeks (mika)

Messages Home 07-07-07

Privet, izvenite, ne uspela vam vchera napesat. U nas vchera bila repetitsiya s odnim iz nashih lubimih kompozitorov. Evo zovut Stephen Hatfield, ochen interesnih dydy. Sevodny u nas eshe repetitsya s horom Anuna (Riverdance) ih potom mih budem gulyat v gorode, ih poedom na whale watch. Vchera ves den lil dozhd ih mi strashno namokli. Dozhd vse eshe idet, tak shto mi ih sevodny namoknim. He volnuisy mama, ya odevaus teplo ih suho (sherstenoy sviter, fleeska, anorak, shapka, perchatki c coboi). Nu vse, poshla zastelivat postel.

-Liya

Hi Margaret.

You probably aren’t reading this either. Are you and michelle getting together and having a let’s-not-read-Jessie’s-messages party? I bet you are just to spite me. Haha. So anyway, Canada is purrty cool. Most of the people are nice, and it’s cold, which was refreshing at first, but now it’s just cold, windy, and rainy. We have a few more days in Newfoundland and then we get on an overnight ferry to Nova Scotia. Today we’re going whale watching!! We saw one whale already, and guess what? An iceberg!! Did I spell that right? Whatever. So when I get back we are definitely going to Lake Lanier. We have just a few days together before you leave again right? I hope so, cuz I miss you like Alex misses his hat. =] see you when I get back I hope!!

Wishing you love, peace, joy, and lots of pickle sicles!!!!!

Luv Jess

Hey! I don’t have much time to write, but I just wanted to say that I’ve been having a good time, even though it is now starting to get windy, rainy AND cold. Oh well. Yesterday we had an awesome workshop with the composer Stephen Hatfield (he wrote O Yo Yo, Ya Faralale, La Luvia, One Drop, and other cool songs). He was so nice and not really picky (and if he was picky about something, he told us how we could fix it and why he wanted it fixed in a nice way). Ok, well the bus is coming earlier than we thought it would, so I have to go. Love you!!!!

Hannah M.

Hey Mommy, Daddy, and Becky! I have been having a wonderful time. We have had good concerts. Mom, make sure you call the cheer team for practices on july 16 from 6 -9. Well our bus is here

Love sarah

Messages Home July 6th

Hey! I got your message Daddy. Thank you. And I will be sure to not eat any moose tracks. I’m glad that you got to see Uncle David. Was his new house nice? What all did you do?

My roommates are Catherine Cuthbert, Rachel Alexander and Sarah Boyer. They are really great roommates. In fact, I have a whole bed to myself because both Sarah and Catherine wanted to sleep out in the “living room”.

It’s funny, I think Mom said the same thing about British Columbia : ).

Yesterday we had an informal concert outside and it went pretty well. When we sang Wade in the Water there was this little kid in a stroller that would wave each time we said wade.

Well, there’s one last piece of French toast left, and I want to get it before someone else does. I love you all!!

Hannah M.

Hey Michelle,

Chances are you aren’t reading this, (you suck if you aren’t) but I still love you ;)

So I’m having fun here in Newfoundland (and Labrador. Apparently they’re different.) and I’ve been singing my butt off. We’ve done about 3 or 4 concerts so far, and every time I sing O Yo Yo I feel sad, cuz I think of you doing the claps and making up the French as you go. Lol, lmao, rofl, roflmao, brb, g2g, HIV, STD, so on and so forth. I miss you and Margarine soo much. I can’t wait till I get back so we can go to LAKE LANIER!!!!! Woot. I’ll try to bring back a nice Canadian boy for you and Marge. Up, g2g for real, breakfast is over. Ttyl. Oh wow, soo many abbreviations. Oh and, mom if you’re reading this, will you find a way to get it to Michelle? I’m sure you can when you and Trudie are practically attached at the hip.

LOVE YOU SHELLZ!!!!!!!!!

Hugz, Dequiquies Ikea, aka Jessie

Happy birthday, Mom! Hope you have a good one!

-Robert

P.S. I haven’t seen any puffins yet.

Messages Home July 5th

Hey!

Daddy, I got your message, thanks. I am having a good time. In fact, yesterday we went sea kayaking, which was a blast! I was in the back though, which meant I was steering. I think I did an ok job, but the guide said that I kept zig-zagging. I got to eat a part of a sea urchin called uni, which tasted like a mix between cantaloupe and cucumber. I also got to eat some sea lettuce that is used a lot in sushi.

After kayaking, we went to a restaurant down the street. One room in there had hats all over the ceiling. There were at least 3000 hats up there. They also had a 32 pound claw hanging from the ceiling, which was neat.

I also got to see a moose and an ICEBURG! I didn’t think that we’d be able to see either of them while I was here and we did! The bus driver pulled over so we could get better pictures of them. So then we just skipped rocks and hung out until it was time to go. I’ll talk to you later! Love you!

Hannah M.

Hello Family! (Jeff, Susan, Raleigh, Tucker, Schroeder)

Oh man! This trip has been utterly amazing. I really wish you guys were here! I know Mom would love to see everything Newfoundland has to offer! The festival is awesome, even though no choir has sung that “Ruben” song. Yesterday we went sea-kayaking and it was incredible. I hosted a potato party last night in our apartment and it was a SMASH (-ed potato)! Well, I hope all is well back home, and I’ll show you all the pictures when I get back!

Catherine Q.

Privet, u nas vse horosho. Vchera posle kayak u nas bila patrioticheskaya “potatoe party” gde mi eli pureh kotoroe prigotovili troe iz nashih rebyat. Ginny govorit chto poluchila formu kotoruy ti poslala po faksy pol chasa do tovo kak mi viehali. Nu vse, mne pora na repititsyu.

-Liya

Messages Home July 4th

Hey Mom, Dad, and Becky!!

I hope y’all are having a good time in Kentucky. I miss y’all.

Love Sarah

Privet vsem! Vchera u nas bil eshe odin koncert, on tozhe proshol horosho. Potom mi poshli na koncert novo zelandskovo hora kotori pel ochen horosho. Sevodny poeli pancaki kotorii pregotovila Paige, ih scoro idem plavati na kayakah. Ya teplo odenusi, ne volnuites.

-Liya

Hi, Mom and Dad. I’m still alive!

-Robert

Grrrrrreetings from Canada Mum and Dad!!! I’m having a great time here!! We’re going Kayaking today! Yea! So…ya, um I love ya all...yes even Cat! Hehe! See you soon. Try not to miss me too much ok!

-Claire bear!

Hey Mommy! I saw your wonderful picture comment…..you’re mean. Hahahaha I miss you a lot because we only had one day/night together and you…well that’s for a different message. I will talk to you later and if I give Brianne my camera you might see some pictures that I took. Bye Mommy!!!

Hey! And happy 4^th of July from Canada!

We had a concert yesterday, but I didn’t think it was as good as the first concert. And at lunch, we actually got another choir to do the pony game with us. Well, actually, only 3 of the Tower New Zealand choir members played with us, but it was still fun. Well, I have to get ready for the sea kayaking today. I love you!

Hannah M.

You won’t check this because you’re all poopy heads with bad breath, but if you happen to actually check this I love you and be home in lil’ bit PEACE HOMESIES!

Daniel

Messages Home July 3rd

Privet iz Kanadi, nash koncert proshol horosho, nam ochen mnogo hlopali. Kormaht vkusno, no svobodnovo vrema malo. Ochen holodno. Do zavtra.

-Liya

Hey!

We had a concert yesterday and we did AWESOME! We did Como compogo, and that was everyone’s favorite song (what do you think of that Dad?). We also did O Yo Yo. I know I messed up a few times, but I think all in all we did pretty well. In fact, the composer was in the audience and Paige talked to him afterwards and he said that when we have a workshop with him, we wouldn’t really need to work on O Yo Yo. I love you!

Hannah M.

Messages Home July 2nd

Hey mommy, hey daddy!

Its Amelia. Hope you guys are having a good time at home, Canada is cool.

Love you!

Privet Mama, Papa, Anya. Happy birthday Gia! Canada is great, ya postarayus skoro pravilhno pozvonit!

-Liya

Hi Izzy. I’m having soo much fun in Canada!! I wish you were here…kinda’…;) see you when I get back. And why don’t you walk it out in honor of me. Every time I think of that I start cracking up! Miss you!!

Hugz,

Jessie

Hey!

I’m doing alright, but I’m still tired. Yesterday everything was closed though b/c of Canada Day, so we had to get McDonald’s for breakfast. We also tried to see fireworks, but we missed them. So we ended up going to the park and just hanging out, which was fun [we got to play on the swingset and sing Young Galileo in the park!--BT]. And we saw a really reddish-orange [AYS colored, hee hee--GT] moon, which was sooooooo beautiful. Well, I have to go eat breakfast (and not McDonald’s this time). Love you all!

Hannah M.

Mom, Papa, Maud, et Flash,

We have 5 or 6 minutes before we leave for our first full day at Festival 500. I hope we don’t miss our bus. We love our chaperones. And MacDonalds.

Love,

Sophie