The first few months of 2015 have been busy for our Concert Tours team. In between the numerous familiarisation visits to Budapest, the German Rhineland, the Costa Brava, Lake Garda, Malta, Lido di Jesolo and Venice to ensure that the hotels and concert venues are ready for this year’s groups, we have been meeting choirs and singers from around the country. In March alone, Jo enjoyed a day of singing with Bob Chilcott, and Jo and Eleonora were inspired by some great speakers at the NAC conference in West Sussex.
At the beginning of the month, the Association of British Choral Directors (ABCD) organised a stimulating Singing Day in Preston during which Bob Chilcott introduced his new choral work, St John Passion. As a keen singer, Jo was excited to return to her native north-west to join fellow enthusiastic amateurs, as well as professional singers, to be led by Bob Chilcott in the first rendition of his new composition. More than 100 singers came together in a fun and inspirational day of singing sessions and Jo described the final sing through of the Passion as “exhilarating and uplifting”.
Still buzzing from her choral encounter, Jo joined Eleonora later in the month to attend the National Association of Choirs (NAC) annual conference in West Sussex. It was the first time that Eleonora had been to the conference and she commented immediately on the great atmosphere at the venue; “There were so many inspirational choir leaders in one place and to witness the exchange of ideas between them was fantastic”. Jo and Eleonora both attended a fascinating seminar delivered by Rev. Ronald Corp OBE on the subject of getting children and young people interested in choral music and joining choirs.
It is great to feel part of such dynamic and exciting communities and we are looking forward to meeting more of you at the ABCD conference in August, as well as inspiring music educators at the MMA conference at the end of May.