Blog
Tour 2010
Oregon

Pacific International Children's Choir Festival
(PICCFest)
June 19 – 28, 2010

Allegro and Cantabile have been invited to perform at PICCFest in Eugene, Oregon. The plan is to spend a couple days in Portland touring and performing before heading to the festival in Eugene.

Saturday, June 19

Day 1: Oregon Tour 2010

Following an uneventful and on time flight from MPLS to Seattle we made straight for baggage claim.  At 8:50 a.m. local time we boarded our buses bound for the Forest Learning Center.  The climb to the Forest Learning Center was spectacular, if a little rainy and foggy.  The highway we traveled was built in the years following the spectacular 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens and sits atop 100 to 300 feet of ash.  Along the way we had a confirmed sighting of Big Foot, viewed the second story of an A-frame house that was now ground level thanks to the ash that settled post eruption, crossed a bridge that rose 320 feet above the Toutle River and passed hundreds of very cold, wet cyclists making the same ascent. 

We reached the Forest Learning Center, over 200 feet above sea level, around 11:30 a.m. in a steady rain with mist shrouding dark green mountains.  Lunch was the focus of our very hungry, travel weary singers.  So what should follow lunch at this fantastic learning center? A quick peek at a four minute movie describing the events of the May 18, 1980 eruption then – yes, off to the gift shop (seriously).  After rummaging through the gift shop and the struggles associated with acquiring trinkets, we made for the lobby to sing two songs to the Learning Center patrons.  You have experienced how good the boys sound and as usual, many comments were made to the chaperones about the quality of the music. 

We departed shortly thereafter, around 1:00 p.m. for Portland.  Goodbye Washington and hello Oregon.  At this point in the day the entire tour group was a bit dazed, or at least I was, from the travel.  We had a one hour turn around from hotel check-in to the bus ride bound for St. Mary’s Cathedral, only a ten minute drive. The boys sang to a small but appreciative audience before, during and after Mass.  That is not to say that the performance wasn’t challenged by many yawns and attention deficit but the boys pulled through and sounded excellent in the gorgeous space. Following the performance we piled back into the two buses and made it to the hotel for a quick change of attire and feasting on Burrito House Mexican food at 7:30 p.m.!  We ate everything.  Most of the boys had lights out by 9:00 p.m.! 

Sunday, June 20

Day 2: Oregon Tour 2010

Any questions relating to the health effects of sleep were, well, put to sleep last night.  While recovery may not have been complete for chaperones and boys alike, seven to nine hours of sleep felt fantastic.  In typical, no rest for the weary, MN Boychoir fashion we were (mostly) up by 7:00 a.m. showered, pressed and bellies filled by 8:15 a.m.  We rolled into St. David of Wales, not whales as many of the boys discovered, Episcopal Church a full hour before the service began.  We were warmly welcomed by the small faith community and the boys sang beautifully.  Apparently no tour would be complete without pulling a ‘superman’, so formal performance attire was replaced with casual clothes en masse at church before heading to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.  Four and a half hours passed very quickly with lunch, planetarium and IMAX shows interwoven with the exploration of science exhibits.  All the boys, regardless of age or interests enjoyed the museum.  Following one very slow bus ride from the museum to the hotel we had about forty-five minutes to prepare for dinner at Elmer’s, which disappointingly for some of the boys, had no affiliation with the famous glue family.  The boys finished dinner with a serenade to the wait staff then we made the trek back to the hotel across the parking lot.  As I write we are all enjoying an evening with no planned activities before lights out.

All people possess many gifts and our boys are obviously no different.  Their gift of music is in the end an expression of love to the many who hear them.  This morning’s sermon, delivered by a plain spoken minister, centered on a forgotten woman in urban Portland.  Her life had become utterly desperate and destitute. Then in the normal course of a day she unexpectedly was given the gift of hope.  That hope came from a stranger in a very simple way.  It was at their first meeting on the street, when they first made eye contact that she immediately understood he recognized her for who she was.  It was the love of a stranger expressed in an instant through his kind eyes and words.  I wonder how many strangers our boys have reached in a similar way through either a beautiful piece of music or simple handshake following a concert?  How many people have been lifted in a moment by the sound of their voice or touch of their hands from despair, sadness or loneliness?

Monday, June 21

Day 3: Oregon Tour 2010

We had a light morning schedule with only breakfast planned before the 11:00 a.m. bus departure to the Columbia River Gorge.  The chaperones hatched a plan to take the boys on a quick trip via light rail to downtown, a supposed fifteen minute jaunt. We began the light rail adventure at 9:30 a.m.  Perhaps not fully accounting for the time required to move forty-eight boys three blocks to the light rail station, figuring out how to purchase fares on perhaps the slowest ticketing machines ever created, and waiting for the train’s arrival, we spent the entire trip in the rail cars.  Approximately fifteen minutes moving toward downtown and then a quick exchange just short of downtown to a train headed back towards the hotel.  We made it back at 10:50 a.m. with just ten minutes to spare!  The boys and chaperones raced into the hotel, grabbed their garment bags and we quickly departed for the Gorge. 

Half way to the launching point for the river boat tour we happened upon Multnomah Falls, the second highest waterfall in the United States.  Can you name the tallest?  You’ll certainly enjoy the pictures from the fifteen minute stop.  Back on the road we arrived on time for the river boat cruise.  We were on the water, following a stop at the gift shop of course, from 12:45 to 3:00 p.m.  The partly sunny skies brightened beautiful panoramas.  The boys enjoyed occasional twenty plus mile an hour winds on deck.  We all marveled at the kite surfers sharing the river with us.  The water adventure beat most of the chaperones’ expectations.  We left the boat shortly after 3:00 p.m., boarded the buses and arrived at The Old Church at 5:00 p.m. following a twenty minute downtown Portland sight seeing tour.  Ask the boys about the sidewalk bubblers.

You make me happy!  Those were the appreciative words from a neighborhood woman as she departed The Old Church following the boys’ 7:30 p.m. performance. While the crowd of fifty was small, many were clearly surprised by the quality of the boys’ performance.  During a brief intercession six boys from the Portland Boys Choir performed.  Later, the Portland Choir joined our boys on stage for Praise His Holy Name.  It was a thrill for me to see our boys both applaud the Portland Boychoir performance and welcome them on stage to perform.           

Tuesday, June 22

Day 4: Oregon Tour 2010

Our final hours in Portland were spent eating and packing for Eugene.  We departed the hotel at 10:00 a.m. sharp for the two plus hour drive.  Following lunch at the mall in Eugene we arrived at the University of Oregon at 1:00 p.m.  Luggage was tossed from the coaches onto the lawn outside Hamilton and Bean Residence Halls.  We are housed in Henderson House, Bean Hall.  Most of Cantabile thought dorm life was cool replete with name badges, room keys and meal cards.  Who wouldn’t enjoy being in a room that is less than 100 square feet with a buddy?  How do they get all residence halls to smell the same?   

Our PICCFEST intern, Peyton, spent a half hour getting to know the names of our entire entourage.  She then lead us on a tour across the three campus blocks that will be home for the next six days including Carson Dining and Prince Lucien Campbell Hall (PLC) where the boys will spend more than 15 hours rehearsing.  Several of the chaperones had college flashbacks while at least one Cantabile boy has declared his interest in attending school here, even though he is undecided about a major.  Near PLC we happened upon the Duck Bookstore and the shopping was on (again).  If we had told the boys to bring $500.00 they would have likely been able to spend it.  Many of you will need to make space in the cupboard for new mugs and we all apologize in advance for the mis-sized sweatshirts.  Following a Carson smorgasbord we had a couple of free hours to finish unpacking before lights out at 9:30.

Wednesday, June 23

Day 5: Oregon Tour 2010

We’ve reached the midpoint of the Oregon Tour!  The boys were up and out of Bean Hall at 7:30 for an excellent Carson breakfast.  The food is good and the boys are getting their fill.  Rehearsal I started sharply at 9:00 a.m. with a welcome from Peter Robb, PICCFEST Artistic Director.  The rehearsals are held in PLC’s 300 seat auditorium. Mr. Robb welcomed all the choirs and had the Artistic Directors introduce themselves to the children.  We left PLC at 11:30 for lunch.  Forty-five minutes of 4-square and ultimate Frisbee filled the time between lunch and the MN Boychoir workshop at 1:30 with Dr. Lynne Gackle.  Dr. Gackle is the PICCFEST Guest Conductor and an Associate Professor at Baylor University’s School of Music.  Cantabile sang first for her conducted by Mr. J.  Following the initial presentation she provided the boys with a critique and vocal instruction. I am very impressed with her energy.  After two pieces Allegro joined Cantabile on stage and performed another piece for her followed by more vocal instruction.  Cantabile took a seat allowing Allegro to perform two pieces.  Dr. Gackle offered the following praise after they sang She Moved Through the Fair, “Wow” and “I love your mature sound and consistency of tone”.   The boys stayed in the auditorium for the Minnetonka Chamber Choir’s workshop with Dr. Gackle.  At 3:15 Rehearsal II began.  Dinner followed at 5:00 and an hour of free time which was filled with basketball, volleyball, and 4-square.

The evening concluded with a ‘Sharing Our Songs Concert’ at 7:30 at Central Lutheran Church.  We heard performances from the Phoenix Girls Chorus, Oregon Festival Choirs – Exit 194, Bach Youth Chorale and Vivace Youth Chorus from California.  They music was very good representing many different genre.  The night concluded with a Social at Bean.

Thursday, June 24

Day 6: Oregon Tour 2010

PICCFEST in 40 easy steps…

1. Shower
2. Shave
3. Walk to Carson Hall
4. Eat breakfast
5. Walk to PLC
6. Complain (about walking)
7. Rehearsal III
8. Eat Snack
9. Rehearsal III continued
10. Walk to Carson Hall
11. Eat Lunch
12. Walk to PLC
13. Choral Workshop (Seattle Girls’ Choir)
14. Rehearsal IV
15. Walk to Carson Hall
16. Eat dinner
17. Walk to Bean Residence Hall
18. Dress in performance attire (black polos)
19. Walk to Central Lutheran Church
20. Listen to Minnetonka Chamber Choir (they’re good)
21. Listen to Seattle Girls’ Choir (they’re good too)
22. Cantabile sings She Sings… by Amy Feldman Bernon
23. Cantabile sings Can You Hear Me? by Bob Chilcott
24. Standing Ovation
25. Cantabile sings Witness an African American spiritual arr. by J. Halloran and D. Bolks
26. Cantabile & Allegro sing Hine Ma Tov by Allan Naplan
27. Standing Ovation
28. Cantabile & Allegro sing For Good by Stephen Schwartz, Arr. M. Huff
29. Standing Ovation
30. Cantabile & Allegro sing Praise His Holy Name! by Keith Hampton (lots of well timed audience clapping)
31. Allegro sings Byker Hill an Irish Folk Song arr. M. Sandler
32. Allegro sings Windy Nights by Kirk Aamot
33. Allegro sings We Rise Again by Leon Dubinsky arr. S. Macmillan and S. Smith
34. Standing Ovation (swooning teenage girls)
35. Walk
36. Eat cupcake
37. Pony Dance (ask your son or Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Larson or Mrs. Carlson)
38. Drink lemonade
39. Shower
40. Sleep

Friday, June 25

Day 7: Oregon Tour 2010

Today’s morning schedule mimicked Wednesday and Thursday.  The afternoon large group rehearsal was not held.  So for those of you counting the PICCFEST children have had five major rehearsals through this morning.  They had a special visitor in the morning, Helmuth Rilling, one of the world’s preeminent interpreters of Bach and conductors of the choral-orchestral repertoire.  He has been the Oregon Bach Festival Artistic Director since the Festival’s 1970 inception.

The afternoon brought a long recreation break which we filled with beach volleyball, basketball, 4-square, quiet time or a trip to the University’s art museum.  We ate an early dinner and changed for the evening’s performances.  At 6:45 all 200 children assembled at the Hult Center for Performing Arts to perform a couple of the pieces they have been preparing all week including Seal Lullaby.  Then half the boys enjoyed Verdi Requiem (the other half fell asleep) from the upper balcony.  The music was moving and showcased an 80 person chorus along with four soloists.  The highlight of the day for me was not only hearing the children perform their pieces but seeing them interface so kindly with each other.  Friendships, be they brief, have developed between the various choir members and it is a pleasure to see our boys interact and support their peers so well.  Watching them confidently perform reminded me of how much they have grown both as individuals and as a choir in the 2009-2010 season.  

On Children

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.

- Kahlil Gibran

Saturday, June 26

Day 8: Oregon Tour 2010

…because I knew you I am changed for good… – Wicked.

We were off at the crack of dawn again for breakfast at 8:00 and rehearsal VI from 9:30 to 11:45.  The children were noticeably tired this morning but Dr. Gackle pushed through the pieces.  The afternoon brought a welcome departure for the MN Boychoir.  The Oregon Bach Festival organizers asked the MN Boychoir to be a Festival Artist this afternoon.  We were the only PICCFEST children’s choir asked to perform.  We boarded a school bus for the ten minute drive to the downtown Eugene.  We ate lunch outside at the Hult Center under a gorgeous blue sky.  Mr. J, Todd and the boys were allowed only fifteen minutes preparation as we made our way into the Hult Atrium.  175 audience members in temporary seating, on staircases and standing along balcony railings enjoyed an exceptional performance.  At least half the chaperones were moved to tears along with the audience.  Even with one more church performance and the PICCFEST Gala Concert tomorrow, today felt very much like the tour’s crescendo.  This was the seniors’ second to last opportunity to publicly perform their music together and they delivered.  Following the emotional conclusion of the Blessing Song, we departed for Eugene’s Saturday Market.  For two hours we perused three city blocks of organic farm produce, hand made crafts, local music, scores of hippies (real ones) and all-natural food venues.  Weighted down for the return to campus with juggling sticks, voo-doo donuts, cribbage boards, t-shirts, necklaces, hand crafted soap and a vast assortment of other baubles, we took a public bus back to campus for dinner. 

Day over right?  Wrong!  Rehearsal VII was on from 6:45 to 8:45 pm as Dr. G. made final adjustments to the PICCFEST Choir.  Day over right? Wrong! Back to Bean for an ice cream social with the other choirs.  Day over right? Wrong! The boys quickly got into pajamas for a meeting at 10:00 where, as tour tradition dictates, the boys celebrate all who made the tour possible, including Mr. J, Todd, Cassie, chaperones and the seniors.  The meeting started with a birthday cake for Nikolai, Bobby, Jack, all of whom celebrated birthdays on tour.  Mr. J said a few words recognizing the unique contributions of each chaperone, the importance of the music and the great tour experiences we’ve had. Then he turned the floor over to Ben, Fred, Andy, Phil, and Robert, the touring seniors. Each addressed the boys.  I marveled at their maturity not so many years removed for the youngest members of the Oregon tour.  As many of us have discussed in countless conversations following MN Boychoir events, it is the life skills, the ability to work as a single voice that is magic of the choir.  The music is the great gift to us all.  Good luck seniors, we thank you for taking our sons under your wings and leading so strongly this year.

Sunday, June 27

Monday, June 28