Wednesday 9th July, 2008

Cantate was split across two airports for their journey across to Graz, one group went from Luton and the other from Stansted. Having completed the journey across by plane, and dropped our bags off at our accommodation, we were all reunited at the Stadthalle (for our dinner) - where our Cantate T-Shirts matched the colour of the floor and toilet walls!!!!
The group which had flown from Stansted had seen part of the openning ceremony earlier in the day but the group from Luton had missed out so after dinner we went into the main arena to see part of the repeat performance.
The opening ceremony was a festival of colour including men who appeared to be dressed up as broomsticks. At the end of the ceremony there was a procession of representatives from each nation taking part, which seemed to be a competition of who can shout the loudest (of which Cantate of course were high ranking), finishing with the anthem of the World Choir Games 2008. We had to leave just before the end to get our tram back to where we were staying.
Once back we allocated rooms and unpacked for our stay, before getting a decent nights sleep in before tomorrow's exciting day!

Thursday 10th July, 2008

Cantate awoke earlier for their 7:15 breakfast slot (which gave them a good opportunity to check out the 'competition' in the breakfast hall! A short warm-up under the trees outside the residence followed breakfast prompting the gardener to check that we weren't going to be there all day.
We made our way into the centre of Graz on a tram past the Stadthalle to the Minoritensaal. We had about half an hour of free time to wander around the square and have a drink. We met back with our groups and went into the area we would be performing in later for a stage management practice and sound check.
After the sound check Cantate made their way back to the Stadthalle for a rehearsal. After the rehearsal we made our way to the lunch hall (with the Cantate green floors). A queueing system was in place today so we were all able to get food that much quicker today.
After a hearty lunch Cantate made their way back to the rehearsal room to get changed and have a bit of calm before heading to the competition venue (on a very hot and sticky tram). Cantate sat in on a choir from the Musica Sacra category before we had to report backstage for our category for registration.
Having registered Michael finished the last round of warm-ups, and Cantate went on stage. 'Yesterday afternoon Cantate gave their greatest-ever competition performance. The energy, concentration, musicianship and sheer beauty of the singing was outstanding. I was in tears at the end. Whatever the result - we wait to hear if we have been awarded a gold medal to participate in the Finals - the students know that they gave of their very, very best, and yesterday evening was characterised by smiling, happy, triumphant faces.' Michael, Musical Director.
After the performance the buzz from the entire choir was electric. We stood outside in the square for a while, receiving compliments from the audience members, before heading back to the Stadthalle. Michael had a girl's rehearsal while the boys (except those playing drums) sat outside on the grass.
After the girl's rehearsal they joined the boys on the grass and before long an inevitable collaboration of Cantate and Cheshire Youth Choirs ensued (obviously with drums from the rhythmic one!). 'It was fun singing with the other choir' Stevie, Soprano. Following Cantate & Cheshire's singing we made our way to the dinner hall, which tonight displayed queues of which every Brit would be proud.
After dinner we all caught a tram back to the residence, and had some chill-out time outside on the grass and around the fountain. Due to our very early start tomorrow (6am wake-up call!) we settled down early for the night.

Friday 11th July, 2008

Cantate got up very early this morning at 6 o'clock due to the girls' sound check early today for the Musica Sacra category. Breakfast was a slightly rushed affair but we all made it in time (thanks to the help of the South African choir in the queue).
With all of our necessaries packed for the day we made our way to the tram stop and caught a tram to the Mariahilfekirche. The boys sat outside in the cloisters while the girls had their sound check and as we were out there Pascale phoned with some news.
She had the results of the Mixed Youth Choir category: Cantate obtained Gold and are through to the finals of the Mixed Youth Choir category! Only 6 of the 36 choirs competing for a place were chosen to go through to the finals.
Cantate will be one of the 18 participating choirs in the Mixed Youth Choir category and will be competing on Saturday 12th July at 12:30. The choir were ecstatic!
But there was work to do so the girls went back to the Stadthalle to rehearse for their competition this afternoon and the boys went up to the Schlossberg as they had some free time. The boys took the funicular railway up to the Castle on the hill (Schlossberg).
It gave us spectacular views over Graz and at the top we had some free time to wander the grounds, before descending down the steps back to the town. We met back up with the girls for lunch in the Stadthalle. After a rushed lunch we got the tram back to the Mariahilfekirche for the girls competition.
The girls performed really well and their repertoire was a breath of fresh air (so the person behind us said!). They gave a performance worthy of English singing at its very best. After their performance they all got changed and Cantate had some free time in the Hauptplatz.
Cantate made our way to the square behind the Town Hall for a rehearsal for the gala concert tonight. The photos from the rehearsal show a choir glowing in the heat of the afternoon sun. The last few pieces of the rehearsal were rehearsed in the shade of the square, and then everyone was given free time for a half an hour before we made our way back to the Stadthalle.
At the Stadthalle everyone got changed for the concert and we went to dinner. Everything tonight seemed to have a tomato sauce with it with put the adult helpers on tenterhooks to see the concert dress so close to so much red! 'The lasagne was the best dinner yet!' Holly, Soprano. We caught a tram after dinner (all concert dress unscathed) back to the Hauptplatz for the Gala Concert.
The concert consisted of 4 choirs, each singing about half an hour of repertoire. First in the concert was an all ages choir from Austria, followed by an a capella ladies choir from the Czech Republic. Cantate were on after this choir and gave a performance to be proud of. The girls pieces, and the boys barbershop songs were particularly good, and Shenandoah had some of the adult helpers in tears!
After Cantate a boys choir from South Africa performed. Their repertoire featured some arrangements of the Beach Boys and other popular songs, as well as some more tradition south african songs. After the concert we caught our final tram back to the residence to be given the plan and timings for tomorrow. All of the students went back to their rooms to settle down before the early nights sleep.

Saturday 12th July, 2008

Saturday was our third day in Graz, and this is usually the day when everyone becomes tired and emotional. With 2 finals to compete in we simply did not have time for that to happen.
The day was full of rehearsing and competing with brief interludes for topping up on food and water in unaccustomed hot weather. Following a 7:30 rise we stayed at the residence to rehearse in the morning, then off to the Minoritensaal for a 12:30 slot for the Youth choir to give their all. Every student gave 110% in an electrifying performance of all 4 of the pieces. It was Cantate at their legendary best.
Lunch was at the Stadthalle, then back to the hotel for a Siesta for the Girls, prior to their performance in the Musica Sacra final at 8:20 in the evening.
After Siesta the girls, refreshed and clean, rehearsed before having a home made picnic. Then we were off again to the Mariahilfekirche for our second final of the day.
'This time the drama and intensity of the performance was almost unbelieveable. Holy City was celestial, with phrase after tantilising phrase of scintilating expression and pure collective joy.' Brian, Adult Helper.
Everyone listening knew that this was something really special. Michael had asked for their best, but they gave much much more.
We celebrated in the square of the old town, then walked to the tram station en mass through the clear Graz twilight. We surprised the locals with impromtu remditions of Siyahamba and Humble, before the tram driver attempted to explain that 'Singen ist verboten!'. So Cantate sang quieter.
Further celebrations followed back at the residence over take away pizza. All the students had a relaxed evening socialising with each other, with bedtime following in the wee small hours of the morning.