Hi all,
I´m struggling with a computer that has a broken key. It´s the letter between u and w. So I can´t properly type Lady Co_e. I´ll just use the underscore for that letter if I need it. In any case, this hotel here in Salzburg is absolutely beautiful and a perfect way to end our journey.
In addition to our competition in Debrecin, Hungary, we enjoyed non-competition performances in two stunning churches - one in Budapest and the other this morning just outside Salzburg in a beautiful town called (and my spelling might be incorrect) Mondsee.
Joan, my much better half, was right on cue and was there to greet us (me) in Budapest when our bus pulled up to the hotel there last week and has been with us (me) the rest of the way through Hungary and Austria.
I wouldn´t be able to put in words how wonderful, rewarding and exciting this trip has been, but I think it´s also safe to say that we´re looking forward to home. If there´s anyone out there still checking this blog and you´d like to come out to greet us, we´ll be on Air Canada out of Toronto scheduled to land in St. John´s at 8:28 Tuesday night. I think it´s flight 1160... or 1167... or something like that.
Thank you all as always for following our experience and for sharing your comments with us. See you in a couple of days! And just when it looks like I made it through this message without that pesky broken key, I must sign off....
Da_id.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Vienna
Hi everyone,
We arrived in Vienna early this afternoon after a fabulous couple of days in Budapest.
Budapest is a fascinating city. Gorgeous architecture everywhere you look as well as lots of green space. Everybody shopped a bit and many people took a "Hop On - Hop Off" bus tour -- a great way to see a lot of the city in a short time. The highlight of our time in Budapest -- if not the whole trip so far -- was singing in St. Stephen´s Basilica. It was a very emotional experience. Last night we enjoyed a traditional Hungarian dinner -- complete with goulash and musicians to serenade us while we ate -- at a restaurant near the Danube. And, of course, I can`t forget to mention the clean rooms and enormous buffet breakfast at the hotel. Total luxury after a week in the dorms (aka shedje).
Personally, I´m finding Vienna a little overwhelming. In a good way... So much ornate architecture everywhere you look. Those Hapsburgs really went all out. Plus, as musicians, this city has a lot of significance for us. Most of the heavies of the classical music world spent at least part of their careers in Vienna. We have lots of free time while we´re here and I think some bus tours, museum visits, and meals/drinks in outdoor cafes are in the works.
Only sad part is that a few people went home today. We miss them!!! Hope the trip home was smooth.
We arrived in Vienna early this afternoon after a fabulous couple of days in Budapest.
Budapest is a fascinating city. Gorgeous architecture everywhere you look as well as lots of green space. Everybody shopped a bit and many people took a "Hop On - Hop Off" bus tour -- a great way to see a lot of the city in a short time. The highlight of our time in Budapest -- if not the whole trip so far -- was singing in St. Stephen´s Basilica. It was a very emotional experience. Last night we enjoyed a traditional Hungarian dinner -- complete with goulash and musicians to serenade us while we ate -- at a restaurant near the Danube. And, of course, I can`t forget to mention the clean rooms and enormous buffet breakfast at the hotel. Total luxury after a week in the dorms (aka shedje).
Personally, I´m finding Vienna a little overwhelming. In a good way... So much ornate architecture everywhere you look. Those Hapsburgs really went all out. Plus, as musicians, this city has a lot of significance for us. Most of the heavies of the classical music world spent at least part of their careers in Vienna. We have lots of free time while we´re here and I think some bus tours, museum visits, and meals/drinks in outdoor cafes are in the works.
Only sad part is that a few people went home today. We miss them!!! Hope the trip home was smooth.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Budapest
Just a quick note to say we made it to Budapest. Gorgeous city. Will post more as time/internet access permit.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
I´m a proud male member of a women`s choir....
....and not just any women´s choir, ladies and gentlemen. Only one of the best in the world... officially. What an absolute joy and privilege it has been to work with these Ladies every day and night all week. Here it is nearly a week since we left St. John´s (which I´m missing very much...) and today (Saturday) was our first full free day to truly explore Debrecin on our own time and privately celebrate our hard-earned accolades.... after a night of much more public and louder celebrating last night. What a time.
Tonight, there´ll be a little more celebrating. Tomorrow morning we take part in a local church service, something I´m really looking forward to. Then we pack our things and it´s off to Budapest for a few days, then Austria.
The Ladies have been so wonderful and respectful to me as the only guy in the bunch. It´s an amazing honour to be here with them and for me to contribute in some small way as we have achieved all the goals we aimed for from the day our application for this competition was put forward last year. This is a very different and far superior choir than it was even just six months ago. It´s incredible what this calibre of performance and competition can do to and for a group. This was a true team effort from Kellie´s vision, to the actions of the board of directors, to the nitty-gritty of our most recent rehearsals and the huge effort of the singers (and accompanist...). The efficiency and effectiveness and open communication of this very fine group sets the highest example for any organization. Every objective set over our five years has been met and there´s much more in store.
I´m proud of Lady Cove, its high standard and the way we´re representing Newfoundland and Canada. I´m very, very proud.
We´re reading all of your comments every day, family and friends. Thank you so, so, so much for your involvement. Keep those comments coming. You´re here with us. Back home on the 12th...
All the very best,
David.
Tonight, there´ll be a little more celebrating. Tomorrow morning we take part in a local church service, something I´m really looking forward to. Then we pack our things and it´s off to Budapest for a few days, then Austria.
The Ladies have been so wonderful and respectful to me as the only guy in the bunch. It´s an amazing honour to be here with them and for me to contribute in some small way as we have achieved all the goals we aimed for from the day our application for this competition was put forward last year. This is a very different and far superior choir than it was even just six months ago. It´s incredible what this calibre of performance and competition can do to and for a group. This was a true team effort from Kellie´s vision, to the actions of the board of directors, to the nitty-gritty of our most recent rehearsals and the huge effort of the singers (and accompanist...). The efficiency and effectiveness and open communication of this very fine group sets the highest example for any organization. Every objective set over our five years has been met and there´s much more in store.
I´m proud of Lady Cove, its high standard and the way we´re representing Newfoundland and Canada. I´m very, very proud.
We´re reading all of your comments every day, family and friends. Thank you so, so, so much for your involvement. Keep those comments coming. You´re here with us. Back home on the 12th...
All the very best,
David.
A few more details...
Whew...the initial excitement is starting to wear off and I'm getting my head around the idea that we really did it! Last night, we celebrated at the Duke of Debrecen...good times.
So, here are a few more details. My blogging colleagues will fill in anything I leave out.
To give you a bit of context, there were no first and, if memory serves, no second prizes awarded in the Children's and Youth Choir categories. We saw those results before going in to get our own results and there was definitely a collective "gulp." The announcement for our category was kind of dramatic. There were four choirs in the Female Choirs group. The guy got up and announced that the first choir (from Hungary) received a mark of 69 point something. Then he announced the third place winner, the Greek choir, who got 79 point something. Then, he said there was no second prize and that first place was awarded to the other Hungarian choir who got 87.6. So, there we were clapping for the Hungarians and smiling graciously (if a little stiffly!)...and wondering what the heck was going on. I wondered if we had somehow been disqualified...none of us knew what to think. Then, the announcer broke in saying he had more good news...first prize was also being awarded us...with 88.2!!! It took us (well, me, anyway) a few minutes to realize what that meant. Anyway, that's how it all went down. We are beyond thrilled.
Today, I think we get to take it easy. We're singing in a local church tomorrow morning and then we have the closing concert and dinner in the evening. We're off to Budapest on Monday.
Even though the main event is over, we'll keep posting so you can hear what we're up to. Always an adventure with the gorgeous, talented, and FUNNY women of Lady Cove.
Oh yeah, and WE MISS YOU!!!
So, here are a few more details. My blogging colleagues will fill in anything I leave out.
To give you a bit of context, there were no first and, if memory serves, no second prizes awarded in the Children's and Youth Choir categories. We saw those results before going in to get our own results and there was definitely a collective "gulp." The announcement for our category was kind of dramatic. There were four choirs in the Female Choirs group. The guy got up and announced that the first choir (from Hungary) received a mark of 69 point something. Then he announced the third place winner, the Greek choir, who got 79 point something. Then, he said there was no second prize and that first place was awarded to the other Hungarian choir who got 87.6. So, there we were clapping for the Hungarians and smiling graciously (if a little stiffly!)...and wondering what the heck was going on. I wondered if we had somehow been disqualified...none of us knew what to think. Then, the announcer broke in saying he had more good news...first prize was also being awarded us...with 88.2!!! It took us (well, me, anyway) a few minutes to realize what that meant. Anyway, that's how it all went down. We are beyond thrilled.
Today, I think we get to take it easy. We're singing in a local church tomorrow morning and then we have the closing concert and dinner in the evening. We're off to Budapest on Monday.
Even though the main event is over, we'll keep posting so you can hear what we're up to. Always an adventure with the gorgeous, talented, and FUNNY women of Lady Cove.
Oh yeah, and WE MISS YOU!!!
Friday, August 1, 2008
WE WON!!!
They awarded first place to 2 choirs -- us and one of the Hungarian choirs -- BUT we got a mark of 88.7 and they got 87.6. So, we think that means we won super first prize.
We may sing in the grand prize competition...we have not found out yet. We'll keep you posted. Once again, thanks so much for your support and prayers and best wishes!!!
xoxo
We may sing in the grand prize competition...we have not found out yet. We'll keep you posted. Once again, thanks so much for your support and prayers and best wishes!!!
xoxo
Finals
Hi everyone,
We sang in the finals a few hours ago and we feel great about the performance. We could not have sung better, I don't think. So...now it's out of our hands. We get the results around 7:30 pm but I think we all feel that, no matter what happens, there is no way we could possibly be disappointed. I can only speak for myself, but our performances today and yesterday rank among my all-time best musical moments. And really, that's what it's all about.
Still...keep your fingers crossed...
One of us will write again as soon as we've got the results.
Also, thanks for checking in! It means a lot to us to know we have so many people at home supporting us.
We sang in the finals a few hours ago and we feel great about the performance. We could not have sung better, I don't think. So...now it's out of our hands. We get the results around 7:30 pm but I think we all feel that, no matter what happens, there is no way we could possibly be disappointed. I can only speak for myself, but our performances today and yesterday rank among my all-time best musical moments. And really, that's what it's all about.
Still...keep your fingers crossed...
One of us will write again as soon as we've got the results.
Also, thanks for checking in! It means a lot to us to know we have so many people at home supporting us.
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