Day 11 - Outdoor Concert, Parade and Closing Concert
We woke up this morning with a bit of a crisp bite in the air and grey skies...
The kids were excited they were able to sleep in a bit this morning for we didn't really have to leave the hotel until around 1:00.
We headed down to breakfast and then with about 40 min of leisure "hang out" time at the hotel before closing circle, the kids had fun jumping on the trampoline outside or just hanging out with each other.
During circle, the kids said some very touching things about the importance of Ensemble in their lives, and Bob summed it up nicely, in that, really, what it is, is that everyone in this group shares the same passion, and that is what is bringing all of us together, the passion of music. Lots of tears and hugs, mentor/mentee gifts, chaperone gifts, as well as gifts to all the members of the choir.
Instead of venturing out or having sandwiches for lunch, the hotel staff made us pizza for lunch. We all enjoyed our first "Italian Pizza" lunch. The kids were satisfied, and it didn't stop there! Not only was today our last full day of tour, it was also Marisa's birthday! The hotel staff baked 2 delicious sheet cakes and we all sang Marisa happy birthday!
We were back on the bus to head to our outdoor concert in a piazza. It was completely beautiful! They sang in front of a church and the sun was just beaming down on them. They sounded great, and drew in a majority of the crowd! Following the concert, there were some gelato purchases and some souvenir purchases as well, a tight squeeze between the end of our outdoor concert and the parade. Just as we were lining up for our parade, the grey skies started creeping back. We knew we had to get this thing started otherwise we would be drenched pretty soon! We were lined up alphabetically by country, and we were behind an adult choir from South Africa. The adults in that choir had a good time taking pictures with our kids, and especially with our American flag! Bob said, "Sing them a South African song," which the kids had a few that they have sung in the past, and the adults sang along. After everyone was lined up, the parade started and we were off. It was a very short parade, leading us in about a 3 block stretch around the bend, putting us right back to the front of the church where we sang earlier. The streets were lined with spectators, cheering, and clapping as all the choirs sang their way through the streets. Despite the few drops of rain that started to fall, the energy was great! The kids felt it, as well as those lined up on the streets.
All the choirs gathered together to sing the two Italian songs that were to be prepared for the festival and as this was happening, those few drops kept accumulating, and before you knew it, it had rained on our parade... No one really seemed to mind. The children's choir from Russia had their ponchos and were trying to figure out how to get more than one child under them, music was getting wet, umbrellas were up, but the ceremony continued onward!
By this time, it was coming down pretty good. We sang our two songs, tried to find our way back to our bus, which was a bit of a trick, and were on and heading back to the hotel, drenched. Once we got back, the kids were encouraged to start packing a bit before dinner and then heading out one last time for our final concert, which was a joint youth concert shared with a choir from Bulgaria, Italy, and the Czech Republic. All the other choirs were quite impressed with our singers, especially with "Ticking Time." The Italian choir begged us to stay after the concert so they could take pictures with our kids. Bob was able to speak with many of the conductors from the other choirs and get their information. Who knows... maybe one of these days we will be seeing them at one of our festivals!!
We loaded the bus and went back to the hotel. Another late night, but I guess that is how things go in Italy. Just not too ideal for an early morning wake-up... the kids are resilient though... just not when it comes time to get up on early mornings. Just wonder what is really going on after we kick the shoes in the door!!!
As of now, all is quiet in the halls. Hopefully everyone is packed, except for some of us chaperones still putting finishing touches on things.
Another beautiful day in the Dolomiti. Really hard to believe we are leaving this picture perfect place tomorrow.
Click through the slideshow below to view some highlights from today:
