Linn-Benton Community College

Check out Re-Choired Element Chamber Choir’s solo performance at St. Pancras Parish Church in London on July 2. The Choir gave a performance of 12 pieces back to back including some of their larger works from this year. The hall began to fill during the performance as pedestrians who heard them from the street came in to listen amongst those that were already seated in the hall, wrote LBCC choir director James Reddan. “The experience was absolutely stunning!” wrote Reddan afterwards. “We sure feel so lucky to have this opportunity to represent LBCC, Oregon, and the USA this evening!” Video ( 'http://corp.kaltura.com/products/video-platform-features" ) Platform Video ( 'http://corp.kaltura.com/Products/Features/Video-Management" ) Management Video ( 'http://corp.kaltura.com/Video-Solutions" ) Solutions Video ( 'http://corp.kaltura.com/Products/Features/Video-Player" ) Player

Wednesday, July 4th Our final full day in London, and what a busy day it was. We were up early this morning for breakfast and then out to Knightsbridge for some final site seeing, lunch, and last minute souvenier shopping.  Then off to our Dress Rehearsal! 2:30 pm  Dress rehearsal begins with the Royal International Orchestra of Academia in Cadogan Hall, home to the Royal Philharmonic, soloists, and a world of singers! 5:30 pm  Dress rehearsal is finished.  20 minutes to grab a bite to eat, then change, and be on stage by 7pm! 7:30 pm  The concert beings, finishing with Beethoven's 9th Symphony "Choral" as the finale!  What a way to end a fabulous year of music making!!!!! 9:15 pm  We say our goodbyes to the other choirs and it is off to dinner at Belgo Centraal, a Belgian restaurant.  We sit, we eat, we laugh (and we sang...what else should be expected???!!!)...off to the hotel to pack! This has truly been a trip of a lifetime!!!! 

Wednesday, July 3rd Today we had a little bit of time to relax (very little, but still some). 9:15 AM  It was out and about this morning.  First stop - the London Eye!  What was the largest wheel in the world, this giant ride was a great way to view London from above, with all us in one pod!  You could tell it was ours with all of the camera flashes!  The view, even with clouds and some rain, was breath taking. After the London Eye, it was time for a final chance to explore and enjoy all London has to offer!  Students experienced the 4D experience on the south docks, finished some final souvonier shopping, and made a mad dash to many of the sites they were still wanting to see.  They included the home of George Frederic Handel, Charles Dickens, the Sherlock Holmes Museum, tours of Westminster Abbey, and much, much more. 4:15 pm  After some lunch we made our way back to the hotel to change for our West End Show experience...all dressed up...

Tuesday, July 2nd Wow, what a wonderful day it has been.  A bit stressful at the outset, but absolutely amazing when completed! 7:00 AM   Wake-up!  It's performance day!  Unfortunately, we do not have alarm clocks in the room and the hotel didn't call one of the rooms for the wake-up call, so 2 people got a rather sudden awakening as near to the time we were supposed to leave for rehearsal.  Not their fault, but we all made it was all good! 9:30 AM  Second mass-choir rehearsal...wow!  A full run of Beethoven's 9th Symphony, and all six of the other mass choir pieces.  It is all sounding phenomenal!  I can't believe we perform this all in just 2 more days!!! 12:30 PM  Finished with rehearsal...and amazing experience.  Now on to lunch! 2:00 PM  A visit to St. Paul's Cathedral!  It is magnificent.  The beauty of this cathedral is just breath taking.  Many of us climbed the 500 stairs up to the dome...

Sunday, July 1 st Today was a day for everyone to explore and do the things on their “bucket lists.”  Some went out to Stonehenge for part of the day.  Others shopped and took in the many different sights of London.  Several also went to see Shakespeare’s Henry V at the Globe Theater for just £5!  The food, the diversity of the people, so many things to see and do!  How can we even think of doing it all in a week!  It’s clear many of these students have plans to come back!  What a great way to show them what the world can offer them! 11:00 pm  Bed checks!  Tomorrow is our next rehearsal, a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral, and our Solo performance!  More to come!

Saturday, June 30 th 7:00 am    We are all awake for breakfast, packing the bags for the day (music, water, etc) and off to rehearsal. 9:00 am   We are introduced to Maestro Eric Knapp who is directing the worldwide mass choir.   We are put into sections with the other choirs and rehearsal begins at St. Andrew Holborn Church.     What a beautiful church!   After rehearsal, the Maestro informed Professor Reddan of how impressed he was with the LBCC Re-Choired Element’s preparation of the music, sound, and positive attitudes.   He also was happy that we asked to stand (sitting during rehearsal was a bit different from our normal standing for several hours) and was pleased with that.   He informed us he will be coming to our solo concert on Monday!   What a great way to start this concert week! 12:30 am   We are of to the South Bank of the River Thames near the Globe Theater.   Lunch and sight seeing. ...

Friday, June 29 th 7:30 am   We have landed…we are here!   And the line to clear customs is LONG!   However, it is moving fast.   By 9:30 am we had all cleared immigration/passport control, collected our baggage and met our guide Birgit at the hotel.   We loaded onto the bus with another small group of singers and off we go. 10:00 am   We met our tour guide for the day as we travel around the city.   We saw Big Ben and Parliament, Westminster Abbey, many of the Museums, Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace (also the Diamond Jubilee has just started!), lunch at Covent Garden…and we have yet to really sleep! 3:00 pm   We checked into the hotel…the IBIS Docklands Hotel on London’s east side.   Nice hotel.   Everyone is getting some rest and the off for some free-time this evening (if they don’t all pass out…which many might).   A lot of choices for dinner.   A group wanted some help navigating the tube and kid...

Thursday, June 28 th 3:35pm we landed in Toronto.   We are all exhausted, but in great spirits.   We cleared Canadian customs and passport control.   Now to get some food, check the internet, and board our flight to London! 5:45pm   We begin boarding the flight.   Everyone’s on, but there is a mechanical issue with the plane.   After about an hour delay, we are on our way.   Take-off.   In just 7 hours we will be across the pond!   Dinner, movies, and more.   Intermittent sleep, but it’s all worth it!   We are all so excited!

Wednesday, June 27 th Today has been busy.   We had our final rehearsal today for our Olympic Journey.   Rehearsal finished just after noon and now everyone has left to go finish packing. We met at 11:45pm in front of Takena Hall.   All aboard the bus...the journey to London, UK and the 2012 Summer Olympic Festivities has begun!   The five-hour bus ride to Seattle was a bit grueling.   At first, we all fell asleep, then once we hit the bumpy roads of Takena we were all awake!!!   \ We arrived at SEA-TAC, our bus driver told us he was glad we all made it (it was the first time he had ever driven there!).     We checked in for the 8:00 am Air Canada Flight 540 to Toronto and then connecting to AC 856 to London Heathrow at 6:30pm.   Two of the students took their first trip on a plane!   What a way to make your first airplane trip!   One student even called out… “We’re on our way to London”…as the choir cheer...