Showing up and singing were the easiest parts of this tour. What else does it take for a successful tour?
- An engaged tour company (Tour Resource Specialists), who juggled multiple logistics for us throughout the tour (yay for Maury, tour manager, and Anna Marie, our ever-present tour guide, timekeeper, and all-around logistics manager).
- Paddy Shannon's work in organizing the logistics for us prior to the trip
- The staff at the venues,
- Repeated and sometimes impromptu rehearsal time for chorus and accompanists,
- The planning and time Mike spent choosing the music most appropriate for the culture we're visiting, The time Mike spent rehearsing with us and the accompanists, directing us, and keeping our energies focused and unflagging
- The assistance of chorale members and other travelers who accompanied (our beloved "roadies!") us in hauling, moving, setting up chairs, taking photos, taping cords and a myriad of other tasks.
- A committed group of singers -- ones who were willing to take their scores of the Polish National Anthem with them to try to learn the words whenever they had a minute!
- Finding the best possible accompanists who were not only superb musicians, but also terrific people who were a delight to be with.
These things are not just done once. They are done for each concert, for each day of travel, and in preparation for the next town and concert. It takes physical and mental energy. It's amazing we find time to just plain "tour!" We are grateful for all of those who assist in pulling it off!
Lani Mozer and Peg Lindstrom had the Polish National Anthem
learned by the time our plane landed in Warsaw! Or did they pull
out the music to impress us all and make it look like they were studying?
Maury from Tour Resource Consultants organizes the next few hours
with our Warsaw guide upon our arrival at the Warsaw airport
Yay! First concert went pretty well.
Paddy and Mike get ready for a well-deserved
group celebration in Old Town Warsaw.
On the bus, off the bus, some kept smiling! Our bus drivers made good time
and got us to where we needed to go so that we could look out the
windows -- or get to know the person next to us, or write postcards or
take a nap.
Carol Oldemeyer (front left), a long-time friend of the Chorale whose husband John was a member for many years, is now on the Board. She did plenty of this and that to help out -- especially to take photos while we were singing. Other non-singing travelers played a big part in helping with daily logistics.
Maury (TRC) and John Blackenship (husband of Emily)
haul the piano and sound equipment though the rain
to our performance in Wroclaw. This had to be done
for every concert, for every venue. As well as setting the
equipment up and taking it down. Loading on the bus, too!
Here's where that piano and sound equipment have to be loaded -- down all those steps.
All aboard for the water taxi to Wroclaw! Got your music? Your instrument? Your concert clothes? Umbrellas and shoes?
Assistant artistic director, Jean Johnson finds time to relax with her mom, Gaye Fletcher, in Gorlitz. Jean conducted a piece and performed solo at each concert.... and, of course would have to be "on call" to direct or lead rehearsals if needed.
Yay, Paddy! You got us here! Time for a beer or two....(Paddy Shannon relaxing in Gorlitz with Cathy Horvath of Voices West).
John and Sue Miller have traveled with the Chorale on many previous trips, he as 2nd bass in the Chorale, she as both spouse and volunteer nurse for the travelers! Sue, an RN, always packs a bag of emergency supplies to keep us all safe and healthy during the trip and we are grateful just knowing she is there and prepared.
Carolyn Cline (tour pianist) and her husband Eldie
relax in Goerlitz, a day free of performing. The couple
had their own personal logistics to consider before leaving
their young children in the capable hands of Carolyn's mom
for 12 days.
Before each concert, setting up. After each concert, breaking down... thanks to all who helped with the hauling, lugging, re-arranging, setting up and plugging in.
Mike and Maury looking at the glorious and very high ceilings as they ponder set-up and acoustics before our concert in Krakow (and Warsaw, and Gorlitz, and Wroclaw and Leipzig...) .
Mike goes over some final logistics with tour logistician and our intrepid guide, Anna Marie. Before each concert, Mike also had to figure out the best arrangement of the singers, based on the venue acoustics and space we were given. The arrangement was different every time...
Mike led Warm ups, vocalizations, tuning before every concert and every rehearsal.
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