Europa Cantat Utrecht 2009

I am writing to you after 10 days of choral madness at the Europa Cantat Festival in Utrecht, The Netherlands! What an amazing time! The festival is for anyone who likes to sing. 2500 participants gather and form many different choirs which rehearse throughout the week, and perform a a concert at the end.

Of course, I started the festival with my Girls' Choir and parent team. After some initial arrival confusion, we figured out where we were sleeping, eating, and hanging out. I always find that moment of confusion somewhat humorous... The Girls sang in the Latin American choir while I took in the conductors program. So, while they rehearsed tangos and merenges with girls from all over the world, I went to reading sessions, workshops, visited choirs, and shmoozed with conductors from around the world. The rehearsals and workshops were every morning, while in the afternoons, we attended many different choir concerts, and musical events. After 5 days of preparation, the Girls' and their new friends put on their concert. It was fantastic! The salsa rhythms and generally fun music made for a great concert. We, the MHC Girls Choir, also got to put on a performance of our own. I was very proud of myself and the choir for all of our accomplishments and the sounds we made.

So after 6 days, the Girls all headed home. They were exhausted and out of money so none of them complained. I continued at the festival for another 4 days. More concerts, workshops, and listening. I think I heard a total of about 30 choir concerts in the last week. I also got to sleep on a sailing ship! My accomadation changed mid-week and I ended up sleeping on a sailing ship parked in a canal in the town of Maarssen. Pretty cool.

Some quick highlights (and some low points depending on how you look at it)
1) wooden shoe and drumstick rhythmic dancer show
2) open singing - 2000 people sight-reading choir music
3) drinking La Chouffe with Hoop
4) Latin pronounciation workshop
5) African Children's Choir concert
6) MHC Girls' Choir performance
7) Having Dutch family come to my concerts
8) sleeping on a sailing ship
9) taking a PACKED bus full of hot sweaty Germans singing at the top of their lungs
10) Riding on the back of the bike of a Dutch woman
11) making 2 phone calls all bymyself
12) eating a fresh stroopwaffle
13) beer o clock
14) free van ride with Germans to Zeist

I don't think any of what I've just wrote makes any sense, but it could be due to the fact that I've averaged about 6 hours of sleep a night for the last two weeks. I am back at my Netherlands home however - the corner room at my cousin's place - and I hope to get some rest here before the next leg of my adventure begins!

Broodje.