Keystone State Boychoir

  Eugene, Oregon

Let’s get a few things straight first. Locals pronounce Eugene with emphasis on the second syllable. It’s euGENE. Not EUgene. On the OTHER hand, locals pronounce Oregon with the emphasis on the first syllabe. ORegon. Not oreGON.

Eugene is a very cool town – home of the University of Oregon. Today I meet with Peter Robb, Artistic Director of the PICC Fest – Pacific International Children’s Choral Festival. I will learn more about the wonderful experience members of our Concert Choir will have from June 23rd to June 30th.

I’ll also be exploring further the possibility of some of our Towne Choir and Graduate Choir members participating in PICC Fest II in July.

More later…

It is set! On Christmas Eve 2015 the Keystone State Boychoir will make its triumphant return to Antarctica. KSB made history in 2009 as the first choir in history to travel to and perform in Antarctica. The boys sang at the Chilean Christmas Party with several other countries’ scientists and their families in attendance. It was a surreal experience for all. On our return trip, we will bring a harp and harpist along and perform Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols. This will be another historic first – serious music in Antarctica. Below are a few photo highlights of our first trip, but none of the boys pelting me with snowballs. Uncool! No, very cool. (Get it. “Cool.” As in Antarctica is cold “cool.”)

Then you will love Isla Magdalena. This is a little island a few hours from Punta Arenas, only accessible by boat. The island is inhabited by a colony of penguins. The boys will be able to observe them up close, much like they did the kangaroos in Australia.  Way cool.

Penguins are cool. And so is KSB. And that’s why KSB should visit Isla Magdalena

Three fingers tall. This penguin is obviously a singer.

Penguins, penguins and more penguins…

Feet 6 inches apart! Not 7! 6!

One of Chile’s Natural Wonders of the World, the “Gateway to Antofagasta” is something like 35 million years old. I feel a little younger now – but just a little. This is one of the many amazing sites KSB will take in during its tour of the Northern Chile.  No boys, we can’t climb it. (I already asked 😉

Portada (“Gateway”) de Antofagasta

I hadn’t been on the ground more than an hour and a major earthquake tremor was felt in the Chilean city of Antofagasta and throughout northern Chile, Peru and Bolivia. Locals I met with in planning our concert tour feel quite strongly that I had caused it. I take this as a great compliment!

Indeed musical tremors are being felt in this desert city as I and various cultural entities explore the possibility of a major collaboration with KSB, the choir of the Catholic University of the North and the Orchestra of Antofagsta. We are envisioning a Christmas Concert as a gift to the city at a breathtaking outdoor venue that has the Huanchaca ruins of an old silver mine as the backdrop. Stunning!

Ruins of old silver refinery in Antofagasta

….but the weather and the people are both so warm that it doesn’t matter much now! There are many places in the world to which I love to travel but not many where I feel like I’m home. Chile is one of them. Many wonderful memories of our first concert tour have been flooding back – makes me really psyched to think about KSB returning next December.  

Volcano in Frutillar where KSB will perform

Last time, the boys never saw the breathtaking volcano in Frutillar, my first stop in my tour planning journey. Of course there it was today, in all its glory. I will NOT accept clouds covering this volcano on the second KSB concert tour. I will climb up the volcano and wave the clouds away myself. Otherwise NO one will believe me when I say there is a gigantic volcano right in front of us.

Machu Picchu – KSB’s next venue!

Heading abroad tonight to plan KSB’s triumphant return to Chile and Antarctica!  This time around, we’ll also hit Peru where we’ll sing at one of the 7 wonders of the worlds:  Machu Picchu!  Why don’t you come along? Check in daily!

Homestays in Kimberley for Group 2 (Group 3 is all in the hostel!)

To download individual pics from Flickr – Homestays set