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. tour2008/2009 Performing Arts notesNews from Around the World www.acfea.com Turkish Delight Our goal is to provide Washington and Lee Chamber Singers Tour of Turkey unique opportunities for memorable and life- changing experiences. Under the direction of Gordon Spice, the Chamber Singers from Washington and Lee As highlighted in this newsletter, ACFEA arranges University embarked on a tour to Turkey customized performing in April. During the week-long tour, the arts tours throughout the choir performed three concerts to large and world. From life-changing appreciative audiences, joined forces with a performances in Scandanavia to homestays in Australia, Turkish university choir to learn Turkish songs ACFEA can make it happen. and teach American spirituals, and even While we were only able performed live on television. to include a few of our tours in the newsletter, The group began its trip in the bustling we wish to express our colorful capital of Ankara. On their first sincere thanks to all of night, the group members were treated to the groups that toured Washington and Lee Chamber Singers at Topkapi Palace a traditional Turkish kebab dinner – and a in Istanbul with us this year. passion for Turkish food was ignited! This was satisfied throughout the trip by many diverse 2 culinary experiences, from charcoal-grilled Empire State St. Louis Youth Orchestra meats with juicy peppers, to baklava pastries 2 dripping with honey, to the thick, aromatic Children’s Choir Ottawa Choral Society and extremely strong Turkish coffee. 2 A workshop had been arranged with choral Cantare Con Vivo students from Gazi University in Ankara, Tour of Australia 4 who helped Washington and Lee perfect Cornelia Connelly the traditional Turkish piece Suda Balik written by Barbara Berner, Artistic Director High School Oynuyor. In each performance given on tour, Women’s Ensemble We were very pleased with the quality of members of the audience had tears of joy in 5 ACFEA’s planning for our Australian tour. The their eyes when this piece was performed. music-making and educational aspects were Tacoma Youth Chorus That evening, Washington and Lee had the everything we hoped that they would be. 6 opportunity to sing in the Gazi University Our Australian courier (travel guide) Robert Photo Montage concert hall to a packed audience, who loved Latimer is an absolutely delightful gentleman 6 their international repertoire and were awed who took diligent and thoughtful care of our Colorado by their interpretation of the Turkish music. every need. Another wonderful thing about Children’s Chorale Rob is that he used to be a high school vice- 7 Washington and Lee . continued on page 3 principal, so he is very experienced in working Vox Femina Los Angeles with young people. We love the fact that he 8 learned the names of all the students! Idaho State University We started our visit gently as we transitioned Chamber Choir to the new time zone. Our itinerary included 9 time in the beach town of Surfers Paradise, Sacramento with a stop along the way at Lone Pine Children’s Chorus 10 Sanctuary to see kangaroos, native birds, and koalas. After a couple of days of fun in Worldwide Staff the sun, we drove into the city of Brisbane 11 and had a great workshop with Australian North America Staff composer Stephen Leek and a joint concert 12 with the Brisbane Birralee Voices before 2009 Alaska an appreciative audience of parents, local Choral Cruise St. Louis Children’s Choir in front of the Sydney Opera House St. Louis . continued on page 4 Crossing the Bridge Cantare Con to Understanding Vivo Chorale When a group begins the tour planning process, one of the most important questions posed is: “Why tour?” Some groups tour to perform in the great Enchanted cathedrals and halls of Europe. Some tour to increase their profile abroad, while others wish to benefit the communities they visit through philanthropy or in Europe volunteerism. A number of groups tour to enjoy the cultural benefits provided by exchanges with local musicians and interact with people of their same age written by David Morales, and interests while increasing camaraderie within the group. Without any Artistic Director doubt, the Empire State Youth Orchestra of Schenectady, New York, achieved all of these goals and more. This past June, ACFEA provided a life- changing experience for 74 singers The group’s second ACFEA tour was a long time coming – eight years after its (112 people in all) from Cantare Con first tour. Because the group had such fond memories of its 2000 tour of Central Europe, it decided to create a similar tour Vivo’s Chorale, through our journey in 2008, which would include Eisenach, to Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Prague and Salzburg. An orchestra of Brno and Prague. In addition to our around 90 young players, ESYO had standing-room-only concerts, we dreams of playing for the second time were able to fulfill our goal for a very in the famous Mozarteum in Salzburg special international collaboration for its final concert. After a successful of Ernest Bloch’s Avodat HaKodesh application process, the concert was (Sacred Service), geared towards confirmed for the last night of the tour. the Jewish community. ACFEA took After the concert, one student said, “I the challenge, searched each city enjoyed playing in the Mozarteum for its and landed us an unforgettable beauty, for its great audience, and for it experience. We performed Sacred being the hall where I experienced the Service with Zemlinsky’s Psalm 13 ESYO at the Mozarteum in Salzburg greatest concert of my life.” This concert, at the group’s request, was a benefit for in the historic symphony hall in the local charity, Hilfswerk, an organization that provides in-home care to seniors Bratislava, accompanied by the in Austria. The concert raised over $10,000 for the cause. professional Bohuslav Martinu˚ Symphony Orchestra from the Czech Because of the group’s high performance level, ACFEA had no problem Republic, and with baritone Martin organizing a concert for them in the prestigious Dvor˘ák Hall of the Rudolfinum in Prague. Chaperone John Spinelli had the following to report: “Imagine a concert by a group of teenagers in one of the most beautiful concert halls in the world, with acoustics so perfect you could hear every single section of the 3 out of 3 orchestra individually and yet still have them blend perfectly. Then imagine the 800-plus seat hall filled to near capacity by an appreciative and discerning crowd for ACFEA and of local Czech music lovers giving thunderous applause for one of the most Ottawa Choral Society amazing performances in the history of ESYO.” While the Mozarteum and Dvor˘ák Hall were musical highlights, one cannot The Ottawa Choral Society has discount the other gratifying experiences that ESYO had while on tour. They been on three tours of Europe since took home amazing memories from Germany, where they had the exciting 1996, and ACFEA is pleased to have opportunity to perform a joint concert with the members of the local student arranged them all: orchestra, Cappella Juventa. “The concert was advertised all over town, and the kids played to a full house. We were told that at least 50 people were turned 1996, directed by Iwan Edwards, away at the door after all the seats were filled” Spinelli said. Additionally, to Germany and the Czech Republic friendships within the group were formed or strengthened, something that 2000, directed by Daniel Gordon, regularly happens on tour. Clarinetist Rebecca Kurtz explained it best when she to Britain and Ireland said, “Orchestra is where you meet people – a double-decker bus is where they become your friends!” 2008, directed by Matthew Larkin, to Italy The theme and title of ESYO’s tour was ‘Bridge to Understanding‘, named after a commissioned piece by German native and New York resident, Sam Adler, that The latest, involving 50 singers and the group performed on tour. It seems to all of us at ACFEA that the orchestra 25 friends and family, visited three was able to embody that concept every step of the way. ESYO violinist Helen of the most spectacular cities in Italy: Rowe summed it up, saying “this tour changed my life and gave me, as well as Venice, Florence and Rome. Even some amazing performance opportunities, a whole new perspective on lifestyles though economics dictated that the and traditions in different countries.” time in each city be limited, the group 2 Flow) in the Czech Republic. For us, Washington and Lee . continued from page 1 the ultimate act of performing is freely giving away that which we have come Many audience members took videos to discover to be of great beauty. We which were later posted on YouTube, now have a lifetime of memories from making the choir feel famous! our efforts to connect with those who Local fame did not stop there, as call this part of our shared world their Washington and Lee were also invited home. for an interview on TV8 Channel, Travel and hotel arrangements, shared one of Turkey’s national television meals, city tours and other outings stations. They performed a few songs were very well thought through and from their repertoire for the Morning Cantare Con Vivo in the Basilica of organized, allowing us to appreciate St. Margaret in Jaromerice nad Rokytnou Program Live, reaching hundreds the splendor that each unique of thousands of listeners, with Mikuš from Slovakia. The event was environment presented without translations provided by their sponsored in part by the United worrisome distractions. If that was much-adored and ever-enthusiastic States Embassy and served as a not enough, our two couriers were ACFEA couriers, Ilker and Altug.

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