Please note:

Some of the posts below have been updated after the fact, so please be sure to scroll down to check for new photos and info!

DAY65 – 14 JULY: WCG/CHICAGO 2012 GOLD!

(I just realized that I posted "Day 65" but in a way it feels like we've been on tour forever, so I'm leaving it!--BT)



Just a very quick post to let you know:

We are so proud of these wonderful young people!

PM Edition:

Phew! It's been a long couple of days, and today was full to the brim with activity (as usual)!

As you see from the photos above we won GOLD! Hooray! The Singers and Staff are truly delighted that the judges saw the results of all of our hard work. During the Awards Ceremony the announcer started from the lowest score to the highest score, so each group that was announced meant we were a bit closer to the top, and each time a new group was announced our hearts skipped a beat. 

There were 21 Children's Choirs in our category, and we were ranked sixth overall, which is simply wonderful. Earning a gold diploma at the WCG means that the AYS TCC is now qualified to compete in the Champions' Competitions at the 2014 World Choir Games in Latvia!

We took a scenic bus ride to the original Skyline Chili

Congregating to hide from the rain

The Parade of Nations at the Closing Ceremonies
Featuring the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
and the
May Festival Chorus

A beautiful Lativan a cappella group

 Idina Menzel!

Enraptured Singers singing along to "Defying Gravity"

Idina Menzel and Marvin Winan 

sing

"We Are the World"

Which was a bit random, but kinda awesome.

End-of-the-day Decompression Session (this is a nightly ritual)

Our last lobby concert
featuring the Venezuelan Choir

Bill being buried by singers

DAY 5 – 13 JULY: WCG/CHICAGO 2012 Friday the 13th is our Lucky Day to be at the WCG!

Happy birthday to (boy) Joey!  We'll be having a lunchtime cupcake fest for the birthday boy   (shhh! don't tell!).

After a morning of swimming, shopping, and playing we'll be heading to the Underground Railroad Museum this afternoon then more Friendship Concerts! Yay!

Watch this space for more photos and updates!

AYS with Whirl, the WCG mascot

The South African Stellenberg choir

We who believe in freedom can not rest

Purple girls

Anuna album cover (ask Ginny)

Playing the public piano

Walking to Kentucky 

Looking at Cincinnati from Kentucky

PM update:

After lunch and a rehearsal we traveled to the Freedom Center (there is never enough time to fully experience this type of museum!) then we walked across the bridge to Kentucky and back. Whew!

Singer News:

July 13, 2012

The last four days have been vigorous. We competed in the competition two days ago. Our performance was very satisfying after all the time and effort our choir has but into each piece individually. No matter what medal we get (which will be announced tomorrow!) I will be content with our singing in the Games.

...

Anyway, there are so many amazing, exotic people here! Dad, you will be pleased to know that I met a Russian girls’ choir. They were well-mannered, talented, and all wore orange berets. I learned one of the names of the girls among them—“Katarina”.

I miss you all a lot. Today’s the 13^th so Sim must be coming home. Sorry I missed Abraham’s Tent. I bet it was funny. 

Please write back about what’s going on in Atlanta; I’m in the dark…and this time I didn’t turn off the lights. (haha)

--Joey (fem.)

DAY 4 – 12 JULY: WCG/CHICAGO 2012 Hanging Out, Workshops, and hearing a Friendship Concert

Today is going to be a more relaxed day. The Singers are having some down time (swimming, reading, hanging out) before we get ready to go to workshops about South American music and Shape-Note Music. Then tonight we'll attend a Friendship concert to see a choir from Hong Kong and the Crystal Choir from LA.

Horsing around at the WCG

Cup Game

Jamaican Choir Rhythm Game

Oscar Escalada

 Shape Note Workshop

Tygerberg Children's Choir from South Africa

 Mommy?

Russian Choir

Northwest Choral Society from Indiana

Crystal Choir from LA 

Channel Island Girls' Choir

====================================================

Singer News

Hannah (post-concert from yesterday)

Now we’re done performing. I think we did really well. The crowd loved us!

Hannah

Hello family!

I miss you all! I really like Cincinnati. Everything is so pretty. Palmer and I met some people from South Africa. They are really nice and have really cool accents. I love you all!

Chloe

Dear Mom, Dad, & Alana,

I hope you are all doing well. Sorry I haven’t written. We have been very busy. My finger is doing okay, the stitches have started to come out. I have met people from all over the world (and the US). Cincinnati is nice, the weather is good (but still a little too hot) and the pigs are really cool (look up Cincinnati pigs). Say hi to Cinnamon & sunshine for me!

Lots of love,

Nell

DAY 3 – 11 JULY: WCG/CHICAGO 2012 Friendship Concert and Competition Concert

We had a fantastic day today, beginning with a solid rehearsal in preparation for our two concerts.

The Friendship Concert took place outside the Proctor & Gamble headquarters. P&G in Cincinnati is like Coca-Cola in Atlanta--this is the city that P&G built. There were hundreds of people assembled to hear several choirs, including choirs from the Czech Republic, China, and Ohio.  We also ran into the most important man in Cincy....

Friendship Concert 11:30AM

Czech Republic

China

Warming up in the shade

US!

Mr. Clean, our biggest fan

 After the Friendship concert we headed back to the Duke center for lunch, then to the hotel to rest and prepare for the Competition.  On our way to the gig we ran into Henry Leck, which the adult staff took as a VERY good omen!

 TCC, Paige, and Millie with Henry Leck!

 Pre-Concert Warm-up

 We have been so happy with the fantastic work, attention to detail, and musicianship of our TCC Singers (plus they are great people!), and their hard work really paid off! Their concert went very well--they had fun and they sang with great joy, and they were rewarded with an enthusiastic standing ovation at the conclusion of "Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit"! 

After the concert we ran into former AYS member Reggie Smith, 

who came by to see the Singers after his rehearsal of 

La Traviata with the Cincinnati Opera.

Our bus driver requested a song:

(Bill and some kids had to get off the bus mid-song to pick up our dinner from Subway)

The driver LOVED us!

The post-concert boogiedown in the Singers' lounge

Singer News!

AM Edition

Having fun! I met some different people and played a cup game which I utterly failed at. But t’was fun. Had some communication problems but we managed somewhat.

Diya

I met some people that didn’t speak English, but we figured out how to communicate with hand motions. The food is great! Miss you a lot!

Love,

Sophia

It’s really fun. We’re about to perform for judges! I’m scared! I miss being home.

Hannah

Having a great time! I met some girls from an Indianapolis Choir. We are getting ready to sing for the judges. I hope we place!

Audrey

Dear Mom and Dad,

Cincinnati is great! There are pig statues everywhere! I am rooming with Audrey, Diya, & Hannah. We have an awesome view and the hotel looks very fancy. So far the fruits/veggies I’ve had are bananas, apples, strawberries, green beans, tomatoes, and lettuce.

Today, I met some Chinese girls and some people from Colombia, South America. They taught us a cool cup game. I will be showing you at home. Yesterday we met some nice Russian girls and we sang them our song in Russian, they sang to us too. I wish I had gotten to swap with them. I also traded with a girl from Hong Kong. Things are awesome!

I really liked the parade. I saw lots of people and here most of the policemen ride on horses!

Miss you lots. Today we will compete. I’m nervous and excited! Hope we place!

Love,

Sophia

**************

Singer News!

Post competition:

It sounded so good I could die. I don’t care if we get gold or not, I just had fun. See you soon!

Love you 

Christian

Hey mom dad and bug

I got a really cool hat that says World Choir Games on it and today we sang at the WCG and we sounded really good! Sorry for saying “Bus”. I meant to say BUG.

Love you!

Henry

Harmonizing to One Direction? I think yes.

          Love,

          Palmer <3

I’ve made so many friends. It’s really fun and so is singing. I’ve just been dancing with the peeps. My legs are so tired. I did the stuff I promised, Mom.

LOVE,

Gillian

DAY 2– 10 JULY: Arrival at the World Choir Games!

Hi there everyone!

Today we will be leaving our old Kentucky home to head to the WCG. We'll register at the Duke Energy Center then spend the day meeting other choirs, rehearsing for tomorrow's concert at the Corbett Theater, and getting the lay of the land. This evening is this week's World Choir Games opening ceremonies, which will include a Parade of Nations with the Parade Marshall Bootsy Collins!!

Please note: Starting today our wifi access and social media time may be limited, so please be patient and check back often for updates. Our #1 priority of tour is making sure our Singers are at their best! We will do our best to post whenever possible!

Love,
The AYS Staff


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Beginning of Day 2 Singer News

Dear Mom,

Having so much fun. Henry and I are luggage handlers. How are you? On our way to Cincinnati to practice. Can’t wait to come back. I’ll buy you a souvenir.

Love,

Christian F.

Hi Mom and Dad,

I love you and I am having lots of fun at tour and I am glad you sent me. But I do miss you so please answer back.

Love,

Jacy

Hi Mom and Dad, Audrey,

I love you guys soooooo much. I am having lots of fun and have good pictures and stories.

Love you lots, Mom and Dad and Bus (?)

Love,

Henry

Hi Mommy

Hi Daddy

I miss you guys

(shoes)

It’s been fun so far. The 8 hours on the bus were fun. Joey sat next to me and the boy Joey sat across from us J. Love you HERP

(shoes)

--Mara

I remember when I was younger reading a book where some kids went to see a movie called “The Mutant Moth from Toledo”. Maybe I’ll actually see it today (the Ohio Toledo, not the Italy Toledo).

I bring Toledo up because our van keeps listening to this ridiculous song sung by what sounds like a toothless man on and one of the Lollipop Kids in its middle age.

Also, I have met a fellow person who plays yellow car!

--Joey (fem.)

Hi Mommy!

We are on the bus to Cincinnati. I am having a great time already. We were on the road for a total of 7 hours yesterday! We watched 3 movies on the bus. I was very tired last night. I hope you, Zachary, and Benson are doing well!

Love,

Joey (male)

Hello dear Parents,

We’re on the bus to “Ohi-ohi0”. I had fun and beat Joey S. in a game of card. W

“OHIO HI-O!

Round on the ends

HI in the middle.”

Love,

Palmer <3

Hi Mom and Dad!

Last night we stayed in the Microtel and in our 1^st room….(unfinished and unsigned--the suspense is killing me!)

Our first view of Cincinnati

Ready for our closeup with the local news

Millie and Bill(y)

Sound Check onstage at WCG for tomorrow's competition

Our Message to the World in the Singers' Lounge--they have mini golf, 

ping pong, a DJ, Karaoke

A Sweet Russian/US Musical Exchange

AYS kids sang Rachmaninoff and their adults sang along (!)

then the Russian girls sang a sweet song about animals.

Friendly boys choir from Minnesota

Brie & Bootsy

Jysenia preparing for the parade

Parade of Nations

Kids Party Rockin' 

(notice the presence of several water bottles!)