The Falcon Choirs from La Crescenta HS in California are touring Germany from April 2 through April 11 with Incantato Tours. The choirs under the direction of Tammi Alderman are presenting concerts in Munich, Steingaden, Chemnitz, Dornheim (J.S. Bach's wedding church) and Berlin.
Showing posts with label Incantato Tour Infos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Incantato Tour Infos. Show all posts
Here is a translation for parts of the article (Thüringer Allgemeine):
Take 43 young and talented singers from the USA, a fully occupied wedding church and wonderful spring weather – what more could you need for a successful choir concert?
The travels from California went smoothly, all the way until shortly before Dornheim. Then, there was a closed railway barrier that no one had expected, thus making the concert start late yesterday, in the Bach wedding church, St. Bartholomäus. Luckily, nobody was bothered, because they were all very excited about the opportunity – both the audience, as well as the singers. […]
[…] There was an immediate connection between the choir and the audience yesterday. The young American singers showed that they can not only sing, but that they have fun while singing as well. After the concert there was coffee and cake in the Bachstübchen - and a donation from the choir to the society. The fact that the railway barrier was still closed, again, seemed to bother no one.
Fünf Jugendchöre gaben in der Traukirche ein Konzert
43 junge und begabte Sänger aus den USA, eine volle Traukirche und herrliches Frühlingswetter - mehr Zutaten braucht ein erfolgreiches Chorkonzert nicht.
Von Kalifornien bis kurz vor Dornheim gab es keine Probleme. Nur mit der geschlossenen Bahnschranke hatte keiner gerechnet. So ging es etwas später los gestern in der Traukirche St. Bartholomäus. Aber niemand störte es. Denn alle waren froh, das sie gekommen waren. Die Zuschauer, weil noch vor kurzem niemand mit diesem Kontert gerechnet hatte. Und die Sängerinnen und Sänger, weil sie begeistert waren von dem geschichtsträchtigen Dornheimer Gotteshaus. Wie passen 43 Sänger überhaupt in die kleine Kirche? Das Geheimnis ist: Es müssen ja nicht immer alle zusammen singen. Konzertieren die Damen, gehen die Herren auf die Empore - und umgekehrt. Und so geht das mit fast allen der fünf Chöre, die da gemeinsam durch Deutschland reisen. Sie kommen zwar alle von einem kalifornischen Gymnasium, der "Crescenta Valley High School", aber von den 1000 Gymnasiasten sind 200 in Chören aktiv. 43 von ihnen machen gegenwärtig ihre "Oster-Tour" durch Deutschland. München ist dabei und Berlin, wo sie in der Gedächtniskirche singen. Und Dornheim. Eigentlich sollte es ein Kontert in Erfurt werden, aber irgendwie kam das nicht zustande. Als Susen Reuter von der Arnstädter Stadtmarketing davon hörte, stellte sie den Kontakt her. Und die deutsche Agentur war gestern von der Dornheimer Kirche und den Gastgebern so begeistert, dass sie vielleicht wiederkommen wollen mit anderen Gruppen. Auch zwischen Chören und Publikum sprang gestern der Funke schnell über. Die Jugendlichen zeigten, dass sie nicht nur singen können, sondern dass es ihnen auch Spaß macht. Hinterher gab es Kaffee und Kuchen im Bachstübchen - und eine Spende der Chöre für die Vereinskasse. Dass die Schranke da immer noch zu war, störte noch immer keinen.
The Berlin Wall East Side Gallery is a 1.3km-long section of the wall near the center of Berlin. Approximately 106 paintings by artists from all over the world cover this memorial for freedom, and make it the largest open air gallery in the world.
While the Falcon Choir is spending time in Berlin with Incantato Tours, they will visit the East Side Gallery on April 10 and experience a part of German history.
The Gallery consists of paintings by artists from all over the world, painted in 1990 on the east side of the Berlin Wall. The East Side Gallery was founded following the successful merger of the two German artists' associations VBK and BBK. The founding members were Bodo Sperling, Barbara Greul Aschanta, Jörg Kubitzki and David Monti. It is possibly the largest and longest-lasting open air gallery in the world. Paintings from Jürgen Grosse alias INDIANO, Dimitri Vrubel, Siegfrid Santoni, Bodo Sperling, Kasra Alavi, Kani Alavi, Jim Avignon, Thierry Noir, Ingeborg Blumenthal, Ignasi Blanch i Gisbert, Kim Prisu, Hervé Morlay VR and others have followed. The paintings at the East Side Gallery document the time of change and express the euphoria and great hopes for a better and free future for all people of the world. In July 2006, to facilitate access to the River Spree from O2 World, a 40 meter section was moved somewhat west, parallel to the original position. Two-thirds of the paintings are badly damaged by erosion, graffiti, and vandalism. One-third have been restored by a non-profit organization which started work in 2000. The objective of this organization is the eventual restoration and preservation of all the paintings. Full restoration, particularly of the central sections, was projected for 2008. Remediation began in May 2009.
On Saturday, April 10, 11:30 am, the travelers of the Falcon Choirs are going to visit the Jewish Museum Berlin. Incantato Tours has arranged a combined visit and workshop under the title "Survival through Music".
The Jewish Museum Berlin covers two millennia of German Jewish history, and it consists of two buildings. One is the old Kollegienhaus, a former courthouse, built in the 18th century. The other, a new addition specifically built for the museum, was designed by world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind. This was one of the first buildings in Berlin designed after German reunification. The museum opened to the public in 2001. Princeton professor W. Michael Blumenthal, who was born near Berlin and was later President Jimmy Carter’s Secretary of the Treasury, has been the director of the museum since December 1997.
Survival through Music - Tour of the permanent exhibition and a visit to the Rafael Roth Learning Center: A tour through the exhibition section "German Jews' reaction to National Socialism" is combined with a visit to the Rafael Roth Learning Center. Here, the story of Coco Schumann - who experienced social exclusion as a young Jew in Berlin - is interactively and excitingly relayed. At the age of 18 he was deported first to the Theresienstadt ghetto and then to the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp, which he survived as musician to the guards. Numerous documentary film clips as well as pictures, texts, and audio recordings give a powerful insight into his life and survival. With the help of a worksheet, visitors independently engage with the multimedia content of the Learning Center, answering questions on the offerings and source materials that they view and listen to at the computer stations.
The pictures are from the official homepage of the museum.
On April 9 and 10, the Falcon Choirs are going to discover Berlin! This city is the capital and one of 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.4 million people, Berlin is also Germany's largest city. Located in northeastern Germany, it is the center of the Berlin-Brandenburg Metropolitan Area, comprising 5 million people from over 190 nations. Geographically embedded in the European Plains, Berlin is influenced by a temperate seasonal climate. Around one third of the city's territory is composed of forests, parks, gardens, rivers and lakes.
First documented in the 13th century Berlin was successively, the capital of the Kingdom of Prussia (1701–1918), the German Empire (1871–1918), the Weimar Republic (1919–1933) and the Third Reich (1933–1945). During the 1920s, Berlin was the third largest municipality in the world.
After World War II, the city was divided; East Berlin became the capital of East Germany while West Berlin became a de facto West German exclave, surrounded by the Berlin Wall (1961–1989). Following German reunification in 1990, the city regained its status as the capital of all Germany hosting 147 foreign embassies. Berlin is a major center of culture, politics, media, and science in Europe. Its economy is primarily based on the service sector, encompassing a diverse range of creative industries, media corporations, congress and convention venues. Berlin serves as a continental hub for air and rail transport, and is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the EU. The metropolis is home to world-renowned universities, research institutes, sporting events, orchestras, museums and personalities. Berlin has evolved into a global focal point for young individuals and artists attracted by a liberal lifestyle and modern zeitgeist.
On their way to Berlin, the Falcon Choirs are going to stop in Leipzig on Thursday, April 8. Leipzig is, with a population of 515,459, the largest city in the federal state of Saxony and in the New states of Germany. It was after East Berlin the largest city in East Germany before German reunification. Johann Sebastian Bach worked in Leipzig from 1723 to 1750, at the St. Thomas Lutheran church, and Richard Wagner the composer was born in Leipzig in 1813, in the Brühl. Robert Schumann was also active in Leipzig music, having been invited by Felix Mendelssohn when the latter established Germany's first musical conservatoire in the city in 1843. Gustav Mahler was second conductor (working under Artur Nikisch) at the Leipzig Theater from June 1886 until May 1888, and achieved his first great recognition while there by completing and publishing Carl Maria von Weber's opera "Die Drei Pintos", and Mahler also completed his own 1st Symphony while living there.
Chemnitz, more than 800 years old, is situated in the heart of Saxony. The city is the third-largest in the new Federal States; about 245,000 people live here. More than 10,000 young people study at the University of Technology Chemnitz. Fascinating architecture reflects the changing times and spirit of those things which have shaped the city: industrial monuments, redeveloped Gründerzeit residential quarters such as Kassberg, the Schocken department store, Villa Esche or the city centre, which has been completely modified since Re-unification, constructed by Helmut Jahn, Hans Kollhoff and Christoph Ingenhoven, bridge the gap from yesterday to today and tomorrow. The city alone has invested more than 50 million Euros in the new city centre, investors more than 500 million Euros. Just as famous is the 7.10-metres-high Karl-Marx bust made of bronze by Lew Kerbel in 1971, locally known as "Nischel" (head). Probably no other city in Germany fits the description "City of Modernity" quite so well as Chemnitz does. Developed at the time of Classical Modernism, which still gives impetus to the development of business and science, the influences of the cultural and architectural Modernism are visible and perceptible.
The Falcon Choirs under the direction of Mrs. Tammi Alderman are the featured guest choir for the Easter Sunday morning service at the beautiful Sankt Lukaskirche (Church of St. Luke) located in the heart of Munich. The impressive church was built from 1893 through 1896 in the "Historismus"-style. This is the first performance of the 2010 Incantato Tour to Germany. The special and very festive Easter celebration service begins at 10 am and is scheduled to last until 11.15 am. After participating in the service, the Falcon Choirs are presenting a short matinee concert. For more information on the church, visit the website and the map on the left shows you where the church is located.
Here is the official announcement from the church website:
Gottesdienst mit Abendmahl (mit Chor aus USA: Falcon Choir of Crescenta Valley High School)
Hey everyone! This is Annie Lawler (a senior at CV) writing you from Germany! That's right, we made it safe and sound, and had an excellent first day here. The flight over was quite smooth and was filled with entertainment :). We each had a personal screen in the seat back in front of us so we could watch a huge selection of movies and TV shows or even listen to the CD's they provided. We landed nearly an hour ahead of schedule and on the way to the hotel enjoyed a short tour of Munich. Later that night we had an amazing Bavarian dinner at the hotel before knocking out for the night ... or most of it at least. Most of us experienced a not so wanted case of waking up at 3 in the morning unable to fall back asleep for at least an hour. I'm looking forward to tonight when we'll all really get some sleep. Today we went on a real tour of Munich, seeing the grounds where they held the olympics in the 70's, the english gardens, and the glokenspiel. We then had the afternoon completley to ourselves to do whatever we wanted. Most people ended up going into a few of the magnificently ornate churches and at least one museum. There was so much to do, on so little sleep it was a little overwelming. At 6 we got back together for dinner at the Augustiner. We all had an amazing day and are really looking forward to tomorrow when we'll have our first preformance at St. Lucas cathedral. Hoping to figure out this crazy keyboard and how to put pictures up soon, I'll write more tomorrow after a good long night of sleep. Auf Wiedersehen! Annie :)
The Falcon Choirs Tour is about to take off on Incantato's preferred airline: Lufthansa. And lucky travelers they are as the 52 members of the 2010 La Crescenta HS Germany Performance Tour, are heading non-stop on the German airline to Munich. While we recommend that you do get some sleep on the transatlantic overnight flight, you are in for several treats such as hot towels to refresh yourself shortly after take-off, at least two warm meals served with salad and dessert plus two or more recent movies. For more information on the on-board experience, visit Lufthansa's website.
Dear members of the Falcon Choirs, There are just a few hours left until your flight to Munich departs. Incantato Tours wishes you a safe and relaxing flight to Europe! For your days in Berlin, April 9 and 10, we just confirmed some more activities. Check out the schedule for your time in the German capital:
Day 9, Friday, April 9 After breakfast you go on a guided city tour to see the famous sights in Berlin. Later you enjoy an afternoon at leisure under the guidance of your tour manager. Then get ready for the finale highlight concert at the Gedächtniskirche. The evening ends with a Curry-Wurst or Döner Dinner prior to your return to the hotel.
Day 10, Saturday, April 10 After a late breakfast you will enjoy a guided tour of the Jüdisches Museum (Jewish Museum) which is going to be a combined visit and workshop “Survival through Music”! After a light lunch, under the guidance of your tour manager, we recommend you visit nearby Kreuzberg, Bergmannstraße. At 3:30 pm the coach drives to the East Side Gallery (longest remaining part of the Berlin Wall). Your farewell dinner takes place at the Umspannwerk Ost. The day ends with a Berlin by night panorama drive via Potsdamer Platz, Reichstag, Unter den Linden and back to your hotel.
The Stadtbrauerei (city brewery) of Arnstadt, the oldest wheat beer brewery in Germany, welcomes the Falcon Choirs on April 7 for Lunch. In 1438 the city established the first brewery in Arnstadt. The Felsenkeller brewery was built in 1866 on this site. 1997 the current building was re-opened after a mayor renovation. The Falcon Choirs will enjoy the „Brauhauslunch“ during their visit, which includes Schnitzel, peas and french fries. Bon appetit!
Dear Singers, Family and Friends of the Falcon Choirs, we sure hope you enjoy the blog and recommend that you become a follower by clicking on the respective option in the right side bar of this webpage. As a follower, you will never miss an update and once the groups heads over to Germany there should be lots of news coming your way. For the Falcon Choirs the students Annie Lawler and Cody Chase are going to blog about their experience abroad and upload pictures and videos during their time in Europe.
Cody Chase is a senior at Crescenta Valley High School. "I'm really excited about this opportunity to go to Germany and tour so many cities and sing in so many amazing venues. I have taken two years of German during my sophomore and junior years of high school and I can't wait to put everything I've learned to use and see in person what I've seen so much of in my text books", he tells. He is also an aspiring photographer and designer and has kept up a blog of his own in the past so he sees this as a perfect opportunity to take amazing pictures that he will be sharing on this blog and use to build his portfolio. Cody: "Germany offers so many different sights and experiences that you just can't get here in the States and I cannot wait to capture them. I hope you enjoy following this blog as much as I'll enjoy posting on it!"
As the Falcon Choirs Tour to Germany will start on Thursday, Incantato Tours had a look at the weather forecast. On Friday, April 2, Munich will welcome you with a mostly sunny sky. The highest temperature will be around 55° F. Some clouds will show up on Saturday, but you'll catch a glimpse of the sun every now and then (61° F).
Dear Travellers,
Incantato Tours proudly presents the new itinerary for the Falcon Choirs. There are just a few days left till your tour starts. Enjoy!
DAY 1 Thursday, April 1
Overnight flight to Germany
DAY 2 Friday, April 2
Willkommen in München Evening arrival in Munich after a nonstop flight. Meet your Incantato tourmanager and drive to your hotel for a welcome dinner and overnight.
DAY 3 Saturday, April 3
Munich in-depth Visit the capital city of Bavaria with a stop at the famous Marienplatz to see and hear the Glockenspiel. Experience the Easter market. Enjoy dinner at the Augustiner Restaurant.
DAY 4 Sunday, April 4
Easter Sunday: Church Service and Matinee Concert in Munich You are the featured guest choir for the Easter Sunday morning service at the beautiful Sankt Lukaskirche (Church of St. Luke) located in the heart of Munich. The church was built from 1893 through 1896 in the "Historismus"-style. In the afternoon you'll have leisure under the guidance of your tour manager. The day ends with a traditional Bavarian dinner at the Munich Hofbräuhaus.
DAY 5 Monday, April 5
Castle & (K)Night Walk First stop today will be the beautiful baroque Pilgrimage Church Wieskirche (recital) prior to hiking up to the fairy tale castle of King Ludwig II. of Bavaria: Neuschwanstein. After the visit, continue to the walled town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. After dinner, a night walk awaits the choir and guests.
DAY 6 Tuesday, April 6
Morning in Rothenburg & Concert in Chemnitz Experience Rothenburg and learn more about its rich history, then travel to Chemnitz. At 7.30 pm your first formal concert starts at the Markuskirche. After dinner at the hotel restaurant you spent the night in Chemnitz.
DAY 7 Wednesday, April 7
In Bach‘s Footsteps - Concert Explore Arnstadt with a special emphasize on Johann Sebastian Bach and have lunch at the local brewery. Then prepare for your highlight concert at the wedding church of J.S. Bach. Followed by a special reception with coffee and cake hosted by the Bachverein.
DAY 8 Thursday, April 8
Via Leipzig to Berlin Continue on the Bach route and visit the Thomaskirche in Leipzig for a recital, then head to the capital city of the reunited Germany.
DAY 9 Friday, April 9
Berlin in-depth - Concert Your sightseeing tour features many highlights starting with the Reichstag, the remains of the Berlin Wall, Charlottenburg Castle etc. Afternoon at leisure for museum visits and shopping, then prepare for your third formal concert - at the famous Gedächtniskirche.
DAY 10 Saturday, April 10
Leisure Day in Berlin
Leisure day with activities yet to be determined. Your tourmanager and your coach will be at your full disposal.
DAY 11 Sunday, April 11
Departure Return flight to the US.
Dear Travelers,
Incantato is now sending the press releases for your concerts in Germany out to the newspapers, churches and city councils. Here is the one for the Falcon Choirs performance in Chemnitz:
Pressetext Falcon Choirs Chemnitz
Während wohl die wenigsten in Chemnitz wissen, wo das amerikanische La Crescenta liegt, ist die deutsche Stadt schon über die Grenzen der 19.000-Einwohner-Stadt im Bundesstaat Kalifornien bekannt. Der Grund: Die fünf Falcon Chöre der Crescenta Valley High School kommen im April auf große Deutschlandtournee. Unter der Leitung von Tammi Alderman zeigen die 43 jungen Sängerinnen und Sänger am Dienstag, 6. April, um 19.30 Uhr in der Markuskirche in Chemnitz unter dem Titel „Awake My Heart to Sing - Stimmen des Herzens” ihr Können.
Seit rund einem Jahr laufen die Vorbereitungen für die Auslandstournee der Falcon Chöre, die mehrfach prämiert sind, Festivals rund um Los Angeles veranstalten und bereits viele ehemalige Schüler an landesweit bekannte Chöre empfehlen konnten. Weitere Konzert-Stationen, die die US-Amerikaner auf ihrer Reise ansteuern, sind - neben Chemnitz - München und Arnstadt sowie Steingaden und Berlin, wo die Jugendlichen am 9. April in der Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche ihr großes Abschiedskonzert geben. Organisiert wurde die Tour von der deutsch-amerikanischen Agentur Incantato.
Vorbereitet auf das große Abenteuer „Deutschland“ hat die Schüler Dirigentin Tammi Alderman. Die US-Amerikanerin ist seit zehn Jahren Musikpädagogin und im sechsten Jahr Leiterin der Chor- und Musikabteilung der Crescenta Valley High School. „Ich bin das erste Mal als College-Schülerin nach Deutschland gereist und habe mich verliebt in die Menschen und die Städte. Jedes Jahr verbringe ich die Ferien dort und freue mich nun sehr, heuer meine Schüler mitzubringen“, berichtet die Vollblut-Musikerin. Alderman ist begeistert, dass die Jugendlichen auf ihrer Tour die Möglichkeit haben, an historischen Schauplätzen zu singen. „Ich habe dafür Musikstücke ausgesucht, die ihre Talente hervorheben und sie als junge amerikanische Schüler präsentieren“, betont die Dirigentin.
Mitbringen werden die zwischen 15 und 18 Jahre alten amerikanischen Sänger demnach neben ihrer Vorfreude und einem großen Interesse an der Deutschen Kultur ein vielfältiges Repertoire, bei dem sie sich rein auf ihre Stimmen verlassen. Zur Aufführung kommen Werke internationaler Komponisten von A wie Aichinger bis W wie Whitacre. Ebenfalls zum Programm gehören bekannte Klassiker von Bach, Brahms, Hassler, Rachmaninoff und de Victoria sowie in Deutschland noch eher unbekannte zeitgenössische Chormusik aus den USA. Abgerundet wird das Repertoire durch afro-amerikanische Gospels und Spirituals.
Auch wenn das Musizieren im Vordergrund steht, werden für die Jugendlichen das Erleben fremder Orte und der Spaß, gemeinsam mit Freunden zu reisen, nicht zu kurz kommen. Denn 37 der 43 Sängerinnen und Sänger betreten mit ihrer Deutschlandtour absolutes Neuland: Sie haben noch nie zuvor die USA verlassen. Deswegen können sie es auch kaum erwarten, mit Einheimischen in Kontakt zu kommen und neue Freundschaften zu knüpfen. Stadtführungen und kulinarische Erlebnisse runden den Trip nach Europa ab - diese Kombination zusammen mit den Auftritten wird dafür sorgen, dass die Schüler diese Reise so schnell nicht vergessen werden.
Termin: Falcon Choirs, „Awake My Heart to Sing - Stimmen des Herzens“, Dienstag, 6. April, 19.30 Uhr, Markuskirche Chemnitz
"Our tour was so much more than a music festival. It was a complete cultural enrichment including great performance venues, hotels, restaurants, local tour guides, as well as connections with other choirs and instrumentalists. An added bonus for us was an introduction to an Italian composer who presently will be joining us in NC for 3 concerts featuring some of his choral music. So the cultural exchange continues. Bravo, Incantato!" Dr. Sue Klausmeyer, Chapel Hill Community Chorus, Chapel Hill, SC
"As a director I loved the personal touch Incantato was able to provide and the attention they gave to even the smallest details. Incantato worked with us to suit our tour of Central Europe to our ensemble’s needs and objectives. The result was a brilliant tour that featured amazing performance venues, excellent guides, and unique cultural experiences that the students and I will remember for a lifetime."
Dr. Graeme Langager - Director of Choral Activities, University of Arkansas
"Having recently returned from a successful tour of Ireland, I can say without a doubt that this was my finest tour experience. I have used several different tours companies in my years of performance tours, and none have matched the attention to detail, the thoughtful planning, excellent venues & marketing, meal & hotels, and overall management by Incantato Tours. Their pricing was excellent, and when the US currency dropped, they did not raise any of our cost. I would recommend this company to anyone planning a tour, whether they are a large professional ensemble, or a small church choir." Nathan J. Kreitzer - Director of Choral Activities Santa Barbara City College, CA
“When we travel to Europe again, it wil be with Incantato. I have been more than impressed with their professionalism and attention to detail. We sang in great and unforgettable venues, had excellent marketing and audiences. I highly recommend Incantato.“ Howard Cheung, San Marino Chamber Choir, CA
“I’ve worked with many other tour companies, but our Incantato Tour exceeded even my most optimistic expectations. The singers will remember their time in Italy the rest of their lives. To have had the opportunity to perform in those amazing cathedrals with large appreciative audiences was truly memorable.“ Judy Filibeck, Choir of the Sound, Seattle, WA
“From start to finish Incantato was tremendous in terms of the planning and execution of our tour. We found the staff professional yet personable, and without doubt we’ll travel with them in the future.” Philemon Theodorou, SCHS Vocal Arts, CA
“Incantato Tours has created the most musically satisfying tour we have ever taken. For the singers touring is about the music in the wonderful cathedrals and the exchanges with the local kids. A toast to Incantato for fulfilling your dream, and for making so many people so happy - now and in the future.“ Arlene Jacobs, SCS Touring Choir, Akron, OH
“Incantato Tours impresses me because their clients come first. Their advantage lies in the selection of venues, impressive itineraries and the ability to tend to details.” Dr. Gary L. Unruh, Professor Emeritus, CSU Fresno
