It has been a very quiet day here in Limerick. Everyone had the chance to sleep in and have a lazy morning. Some of us chose to take the bus into Limerick to the grocery store. All of the stores are closed on Sundays so the grocery store was the only option we had. Lunch was on our own today so some got lunch at the store to make in our apartments.
This afternoon was a full rehearsal with the festival choir and the local orchestra with dinner after at the Pavilion right here on campus.
Tonight was the Closing Gala Concert. Performing were the Parteen National School Choir, a children's choir of 40 from Ireland; the Milford National School Choir, a 60 voice choir made up of 4th through 6th grade classes here in Ireland; the Cantette, a county choir with voices from age 9 to 16 years from schools all around Limerick; and ending the concert with the Perform International Festival Choir which is all 3 choirs from Missouri directed by Dr. Cameron LaBarr and accompanied by the Limerick Chamber Players, a professional orchestra from Limerick. As you can imagine, the walls rang with beautiful music and the choirs were spectacular! If you did not have a chance to watch the concert live, it is available through the choir Facebook page. There is a link to the live feed through Perform International.
After the concert, there was a Post Concert Festival in the Pavilion on Campus as the final farewell to the festival portion of the trip with drinks, "nibblers", and time to let down and socialize. The next two days are full of sight seeing through Ireland and a concert Wednesday of just the Kickapoo choir which will also be live streamed beginning at 1:15 pm (7:15 am Springfield time).
Settling in for one more night here at the University of Limerick before heading down the road. Time for a good night's rest. Memories are truly being made and above the performances, memories are the most important part of any of these trips. Days may be forgotten but the memories and friends these kids have experienced and gained will always hold a special part in their lives.
Until tomorrow.....
Kristin
This afternoon was a full rehearsal with the festival choir and the local orchestra with dinner after at the Pavilion right here on campus.
Tonight was the Closing Gala Concert. Performing were the Parteen National School Choir, a children's choir of 40 from Ireland; the Milford National School Choir, a 60 voice choir made up of 4th through 6th grade classes here in Ireland; the Cantette, a county choir with voices from age 9 to 16 years from schools all around Limerick; and ending the concert with the Perform International Festival Choir which is all 3 choirs from Missouri directed by Dr. Cameron LaBarr and accompanied by the Limerick Chamber Players, a professional orchestra from Limerick. As you can imagine, the walls rang with beautiful music and the choirs were spectacular! If you did not have a chance to watch the concert live, it is available through the choir Facebook page. There is a link to the live feed through Perform International.
After the concert, there was a Post Concert Festival in the Pavilion on Campus as the final farewell to the festival portion of the trip with drinks, "nibblers", and time to let down and socialize. The next two days are full of sight seeing through Ireland and a concert Wednesday of just the Kickapoo choir which will also be live streamed beginning at 1:15 pm (7:15 am Springfield time).
Settling in for one more night here at the University of Limerick before heading down the road. Time for a good night's rest. Memories are truly being made and above the performances, memories are the most important part of any of these trips. Days may be forgotten but the memories and friends these kids have experienced and gained will always hold a special part in their lives.
Until tomorrow.....
Kristin