12 July update

What a day! I am sure that there are many parents, family and friends eager to find out about today's activities, especially the Music of the Religions Category. You will have to wait until 3:30pm of today's events! (13 July).

Our beautiful rehearsal venue

We began Thursday 12th July with a breakfast at 8am and a walk to the Covenant First Presbyterian Church, where Pastor Russell Smith (a recent Masters Graduate from Stellenbosch University) graciously allowed us the "freedom” of his church building. It is a character-filled old stone building with the most beautiful and enormous stained glass windows in the sanctuary as well as arching pews and an organ that literally reaches for heaven.
(All rehearsal pics)

Sound check in the Masonic Hall for Cat 14 -
Music of the Religions

The boys practiced for an intense two and half hours before leaving for the sound check of the Music of Religions Category. We had a brisk 20 minute walk to the Masonic Hall where we literally had ten minutes on the stage to arrange our sound-check.  It is a beautiful space with the seats literally “on the stage”, the seats rise from a single level (no real stage) in an amphitheatre type arrangement. 

A quick walk to lunch and then back to the hotel for the boys to change into their Music of Religions robes and meet in the lobby of the hotel.  The boys were a little disconcerted that they had to walk through the streets of Cincinnati in their robes!  But.. they got over it!
At the performance centre we were ushered into a holding room with three other choirs who were to perform today.  Yesterday a previous round of Category 14 was held in this venue, and the remaining 5 choirs would perform today.  Eliane and I have to secure a press pass at each venue every day and are then ushered into the “Press” section.  We were even interviewed by a television reporter about what I write for my readers back home about the Games – in the newspaper for which I work!  We established ourselves in a handy photographic place, central and elevated.  We also helped get Zac into the venue as he stepped into the breach and allowed us to borrow one of his Djembe drums.  Our drum was damaged (the skin tore) after one or two rehearsals.

Kearsney's Director of Musical Performance, Bernard Kruger,
 looks happy with the performance and audience response

Bear in mind that we are only allowed 15 minutes for the routine, after which penalties are imposed.  In the line-up for the afternoon were: an Indian Choir from Cincinnati, A Chinese school choir, The Stellenberg Girls’ Choir, Howard University choir from Australia and last but not least Kearsney College.  The Chinese choir performed for 35 mins – they are a young choir with excellent tone/ pitch and completed complicated moves.  The Stellenberg Choir was technically excellent and then it was us….  The level of nervous energy amongst the “press” contingent rose dramatically at that point.  The boys gave an excellent performance which had energy and pace.  The standing ovation was spontaneous and enthusiastic.  Then from the audience came a cry, “Do it again!”  Even after the boys left the building, the audience applauded them on the street.

Aronhoff Hall, where Celebration Concert took place

The boys were given a 20 minute stop at the hotel to change into the Folklore outfit and to pack the robe and report to the Lobby of the Hilton as a meeting point.  A quick supper and then a walk to the Aronoff Centre for the Celebration Concert. The first choir was colourful and bright with the typical Latin-American movement style from Venezuela – this choir received a standing ovation.  Kearsney performed a religious programme in their robes (on top of their Folklore outfit!) and Bernard had to talk while the boys changed and presented themselves in their Folklore outfit for the next half of the programme.  They improve each time they perform the programme!  The standing ovation was long and unanimous!  It was announced that we would be selling CDs off the Arondoff property after the show and we were swomped.  The third choir from Turkey, we did not hear. Folks will be returning to the Aronoff tomorrow, in order to purchase more CDs.
(All pics from Concert)