Saturday, January 7 JOURNALS

by Steven Patton, sophomore baritone

Saturday was exactly what the Drake Chamber Choir needed. Coming off a Friday full of two rehearsals, performances, and several hours of driving, I think we all just needed some time to relax. The day started off easy with a nice tour of Cambridge, including a pretty brilliant look at King's College Chapel. From there we had a group lunch and a chance to shop around. (I may have been caught in the GAP store, which was a bit embarrassing). After that, it was off to the bus, with a chance to sleep as we made the lengthy trek towards London's Docklands. In arriving at Saturday evening's concert venue (Christ Church) it seemed to lack some of the grandeur and mystique of the massive cathedrals we had sung in Winchester, Salisbury, and Ely. However, the absolutely amazing spirit and welcome of the congregation changed our perception. Not only did the people of the parish welcome us into their homes (showing us what true English life is about), but, following the concert, they were kind enough to throw a great potluck for us as well, in the sanctuary itself. Their attentive ears and warm smiles made this concert in a seemingly acoustically dead space (looks are deceiving - it was a warm and lovely acoustic) come alive as much as our performance in the Lady Chapel in Ely. This was the first venue wthat did not have a huge reverberation. It gave us a true account of the sound we were producing and both choir and audience seemed extremely pleased.


by Jean Neibergall, non-singing tour participant

"Magical is the word I would use to describe the Drake Chamber Choir performances Saturday evening and Sunday morning at Christ Church in the Docklands. The locals arrived Saturday night with their potluck contribution, ready to be filled with beautiful music. The most noticeable thing about the people was their love for their church and each other.
My thirteen year old son, Nick, and I sat by Anna Cooper. She was an elderly lady less than five feet tall but filled with more spirit than a giant. She, like many, had heard the Drake Chamber Choir four years ago when they first visited. Anna’s kids are now adults and live far away. Anna explained that attending the concert was her "taking care of herself." Within five minutes of our introduction to Anna, she had invited Nick and me to her flat, which was three blocks away. Her offering was just an example of the generosity extended by this community.
Aimee’s energy level was high and spilled over to the students. The result was amazing. The encore song ("Nelly Bly" – Stephen Foster) had the congregation humming the melody the remainder of the evening. Wine and fellowship were shared, as well as the potluck meal. What a beautiful gift for a wonderful community!
The students stayed with host families. Their memories and stories will be precious. The magic continued Sunday morning at the worship service, which the choir sang as a thank you to the congregation for their hospitality. The crowd was smaller. The only wine consumed was at communion but the warmth continued. The choir sang a new set of music, including "The Three Kings" by Healey Willan.
Like Anna Cooper, I found myself thinking about how music cleanses my soul. Thanks, Drake Chamber Choir, for allowing Nick and me this opportunity.