Rain and clouds greeted us on Thursday morning as we set out for London. Due to heavy traffic, we didn't arrive at St.Mary LeBow Church until almost 12 noon. After a quick warm-up we performed our last concert to a small but apprective crowd which included the parents of Christine Ramsey and Bonnie Foster, a student from Utah! We boarded the bus again went directly to the hotel on the Thames and right next to the London Eye, a magnificent ferris wheel structure which rotates slowly allowing for the passengers to view all of London. Everyone was relieved and happy to put away their musical ctivities and be free to enjoy the town. Some headed off for dinner and a show. The tops picks were "Wicked", "Mary Poppins" and "The Lion King". About 10 of us attended the 5:00 Evensong Service at Westminster Abbey. Friday was another wonderful day in London with improved weather. Many visited Harrod's, the museums and ate authetic Indian food. Hollis, Jean, Sarah Johnson and Dr. Lyle attended a performance of Othello at the Globe Theater. Bonnie, (the student from Utah) and her parents went shopping for a new violin while in London.
We said goodbyes to each other very early on Saturday morning. The faculty and students alike felt a deep sense of accomplishment! The first Harlaxton International Chamber Music Festival was a huge success.
Today was our last day at Harlaxton Manor! The weather today was sunny and warm. Rehearsals continued up until 3:00 pm in preparation for our final two recitals. The recital at 4:30 was our last in the Great Hall and what an amazing program it was! Our students performed some of the most difficult chamber music in the repertoire by Brahms, Mendelssohn and Dvorak. Scottish Songs by Beethoven sung by MaryBeth Sanders and Mary-Lacey Rogers and John Andrew Wesley added more sparkle the program!! There has been an incredible amount of musical growth taking place here at the Festival. Immediately after the recital ended we boarded a bus and headed over to the Wembly Arms in the village of Denton just a few miles from Harlaxton. There we celebrated the end of the Festival with a meal featuring amazing desserts. The British do know how to make dessert!
John Andrew Wesley turned 21 today! Lauren, Claire and Chevelle provided a cake with birthday candles and a rendition of Happy Birthday was offered in appropriate Harlaxton Festival style. The traditional "award ceremony" brought us to the end of a memorable evening.
Tomorrow we are off to London for our final concert at St. Mary LeBow!!
The Harlaxton Festival moved on to the Peterborough Cathedral for a lunchtime concert. This cathedral was erected in the 1100s by the Normans and is also the resting place for Anne Boleyn, one of the unfortunate wives of Henry the VIII. The performance area was in the center of the Nave and we were all quite pleased with the acoustics and with the audience. As usual, there are people who afterwards want to engage us in conversation and who are very interested in our impressions of Britain.
The concert included the Bach Double Violin Concerto and Dover Beach by Samuel Barber beautifully performed my Joe Hopkins and a string quartet. The choir rounded out the program with a lovely performance of Elgar's The Snow with Elizabeth Andrews and Katy Tomlin, violins.
After the concert, a group of students lead by faculty members Sarah Johnson, Luis Fred and Saxton Rose took a train to London to attend a performance by the London Symphony Orchestra. The rest of the group headed back to the Manor for rehearsals and a quiet evening as we prepare for our last day at Harlaxton.
Today was a marvelous day!! We enjoyed two fantastic concerts presented at the Manor with incredible performances by students and faculty alike. Both events were well attended and the audience response was resounding in the Great Hall of the Harlaxton Manor. AnnaGrace, Ariana and Lawrence "wowed" us with a beautiful performance of a work by Mendelssohn. Lawrence returned later in the program to perform brilliantly in a Partita by J.S. Bach. Kenneth Law stepped in at the last moment for Jean Loder who was ill with the Harlaxton Plague that has spread through our group. Several of our singers have lost their voices but are now ready to perform again! Dr. Lyle and Sarah Johnson performed charming works for voice and violin followed by incredible performances of music by Ravel (Converse Trio) and a virtuoso performance by Dr. Weeks of a piece by Lowell Lieberman entitled "Gargoyles" literally brought down the house!!
We look ahead to our concert at the Peterborough Cathedral and to our time in London with great enthusiasm!
The day began with a short bus ride to Thetford and Lynford Hall. Lynford Hall Hotel and Country House is a beautiful place in the county of Norfolk. At one time, Lynford was a summer residence complete with formal gardens and well known hunting grounds. Some years back, it was turned into a hotel. 
Films and British TV shows have been filmed there as well. It was a relaxing day for the Harlaxton group as we performed in a causal setting for the Sunday brunch guests and then later, at 5:30 we played in a more formal venue for invited guests.
We enjoyed a fine "carvary" luncheon with beef and lamb, delicious accompaniments and lovely desserts. Our return to the Manor was a most enjoyable ride through the English countryside. On Monday, we look forward to two concerts at the Manor!! There is so much music and so little time !!
A Free Day!
Students and faculty alike took off in several directions to enjoy our free day. Christine Ramsey and friends traveled to London to see a performance of "Wicked". Arlyn, Katy and AnnaGrace made a trip by bicycle into Grantham. MaryBeth Sanders walked into town! Dr. Lyle, Professors Johnson and Law along with Luis Fred, faculty from the Puerto Rico Conservatory, enjoyed a car trip to Newark to see the sights. At 3:00 pm. an authentic English High Tea was hosted by Dr. Lyle and Ms. Johnson in their cottage. 
Fresh clotted cream, scones, strawberries and other sweets accompanied the steaming hot tea. Everyone is so excited about tomorrow. We depart at 9:00 a.m. for Lynford Hall where we will spend the entire day. We will perform a casual lunchtime concert and then a formal concert at 6:00 pm. In between, we will tour the grounds and enjoy lunch. 
Just in case you don't know the story, in 2005 the owner of Lynford Hall happened to attend a concert at Lincoln Cathedral. Afterwards he invited the entire group for dinner which we were able to arrange on very short notice. We had a marvelous time and were treated like Kings and Queens. Since that time, we have stayed in contact and once again will visit this lovely hotel- conference center. Our concert will be attended by an invited audience and will be a fundraiser for a worthy cause. More on Lynford next time.....Cherrio!
On Friday June 8, we headed off to Stamford, an old market town less than 20 miles from Harlaxton Manor. The town is over 1,000 years old!! We enjoyed the huge open air market featuring fresh produce and flowers, cheeses and sausages, handmade items, shoes, clothing, handbags, jewelry....everything one could imagine. Many of us sampled the local fare such as a Cornish Pasty and a Lincolnshire sausage. 
The people who greeted us at All Saint's Cathedral, a church founded in 1165, were warm and welcoming. Our concert began at 12:30 pm. and we had a very nice audience. Our performance was rewarded with much applause and an invitation to return again next year for two concerts- one at lunchtime and one to be scheduled in the evening.
Rehearsals resumed again in the evening.
The Harlaxton Festival continues!
We began our second week in England with lots of rehearsals. In the evening we attended a concert presented by the Hong Kong Collegium Musicum Chamber Orchestra featuring works by Vivaldi and J.S. Bach.
This young student orchestra under the direction of Dr. Poon, played energetically and with great committment. Today, June 5th we traveled by coach to the new Coventry Cathedral. The old church was completely destroyed by the German bombs during WW II. In 1956, a modern cathedral was erected next to the ruins which were incorporated into the structure to remind all visitors of the tragedy of war. 
We were most fortunate to arrive in time for the concert because just as we drove into the town, the clutch on the bus gave out!! We came to a halt and realized that the bus had broken down next to a city bus stop! How lucky for us... we 
boarded the next bus and arrived at the Cathedral in plenty of time to enjoy our lunch and have a proper warm-up for the concert. The driver refused to accept money from any of us! Meanwhile, a new bus was sent from Grantham to pick us up and take us to our next destination: Stratford upon Avon. After several hours of walking about enjoying Shakepeare's birthplace, afternoon tea and shopping, we returned to Harlaxton refreshed and ready for Wednesday's busy concert schedule.
The music making around here has been incredible. Everywhere throughout the Manor, we hear students practicing.
Today we presented two wonderful concerts at 1:00pm and again at 7: 30p.m. The audience was enthralled with the high level of musicianship shown by the performers. Tomorrow we visit Belvoir Castle (pronounced like Beaver!) for a tour and a short concert for the tourists who wander through. Then more rehearsals in the evening as we prepare for a trip to the Stamford Cathedral on Friday.
Several of our group have been fighting colds and sore throats. Fortunately, there is a nurse on the staff who has provided the neccesary remedies. The weather today was cooler and overcast. Perfect weather for the occasional frizzbee game out on the lawn or a walk around the Italian garden. Bob the Swan is still as cranky as ever! The birds around here are amazing.
The weekend began after a lecture/recital offered by Miles Hoffman entitled: J.S. Bach Was Handsome Once. Not only did Miles amuse us with his own special thoughts about Johann as a composer and human being but he performed the Suite in D Minor brilliantly. There will be no more viola jokes being told around the Petrie School of Music!
Other weekend activities included trips by train to Scotland and to London. Faculty members and students attended the Elgar Birthday celebration at the Royal Albert Hall which featured the Enigma Variations, two Pomp and Circumstance Marches and the Concerto for Cello performed by Julian Lloyd Webber. Excellent weather allowed for all of us to enjoy walks around the Manor and in Grantham.
Our Festival resumed on Sunday evening with two special events: A lecture/demonstration given by Johnnie Poon, director of the Collegium Musicum Hong Kong Chamber Orchestra and a wonderful concert performed by the Samford University Chamber Choir under the direction of Tim Banks.
Rehearsals begin on Monday morning bright and early! We have a busy week coming up with performances at Coventry Cathedral and two concerts at Harlaxton Manor.
Hello! On Thursday between 4-5pm, we had an amazing thundershower pass over the Manor, complete with lightening and a ton of rain. Very exciting. However, we have a very good weather report for today and the rest of the weekend.
Thursday was an "at home day" at the Manor. Lots of great rehearsing happened in between walks around the grounds and short trips to Grantham via shuttle for supplies!! In the evening, Dr. Lyle and Prof. Johnson hosted a pizza party and a rousing game of "Famous People", taught to us by Jean Loder ensued! We finished the last round at 11:00pm.
Today, Friday June 1st, we have regular rehearsals until 3:00 p.m. when Miles Hoffman will present a lecture recital entitled: J.S. Bach Was Handsome Once!
We break for the weekend at 5:00pm. Christine Ramsey, Chevelle Walsh, Claire Hughes and many others will be heading off for Scotland for an adventure! Saxton Rose, Kenneth Law, Susan Lyle and Sarah Johnson are traveling to London to attend a "Happy Birthday Elgar" Concert at the Royal Albert Hall featuring the Elgar Cello Concerto performed by Julian Lloyd-Webber (yes, the brother of Andrew)!! We will also hear such favourites as : Pomp and Circumstance and the Enigma Variations.
Others will remain at home this weekend to relax and practice. Time moves much slower here as we do not have all of the normal distractions.
Should be fun....everyone will have stories to tell when they return to the Manor.
Our third day in residence at Harlaxton began with more rain and cool weather. However, due to the positive nature of our students and faculty, the inclement weather did not diminish our experience in Lincoln Cathedral.
We departed the Manor at 9:00 a.m. arriving at our destination shortly before 10am. The Cathedral dominates the landscape, as we could see the beautiful towers rise in the distance even from miles away. Our concert was to be in the Chapter House, a chapel-like setting, circular-shaped, with a central column gracefully arching upward in true Gothic fashion. This area of the Cathedral was used recently as a setting for the movie The Da Vinci Code. A large display featuring pictures of the making of the film, with movie star Tom Hanks and director Ron Howard was tastefully presented for visitors along the corridor leading into the Chapter House. 
Our concert was to begin at 1:10pm, so after a brief warm-up, we set out to explore the quaint town of Lincoln. Claire Hughes, Mary-Lacey Rogers and E'owyn Morrow were seen enjoying crumpets and tea! "The Steep Hill", a long street leading out from the Cathedral into the business area of Lincoln featured many wonderful shops to explore. Several faculty members visited a cheese shop featuring local delicacies such as : Yellow Belly Cheddar and Licolnshire Stilton!
We re-grouped at 12:45pm for the concert which was our first for the 2007 Harlaxton International Chamber Music Festival! The concert featured a Trombone duo performed by our guests from Puerto Rico, The Chamber Choir and the faculty piano quartet. Several audience members lingered after the performance to chat and convey their appreciation for the wonderful concert.
Upon the return to the Manor, rehearsals and individual practice resumed until the evening quiet hours. Sarah Spigner and Dr Lyle were seen exploring the swan pond and the Italian Garden. The sunset was beautiful, giving way to the hope that the weather is going to improve!!
On Thursday between 4-5pm, we had an amazing thundershower pass over the Manor, complete with lightening and a ton of rain. Very exciting. However, we have a very good weather report for today and the rest of the weekend.
We arrived safely early Monday morning to cold weather and rain in London and throughout the UK. We could see our breath! Everyone was digging through their suitcases for warm clothing and jackets! We had left such warm weather back in the USA. After waiting in the airport for all of the participants to arrive from various and sundry points of departure, we boarded the bus to Harlaxton College in Grantham, 2 hours north of London.
A tired, sleepy bunch were we...but we arrived at 3:00pm, just in time for tea and sandwiches and check-in and by dinner time, everyone had been refreshed with a shower and a nap. A group meeting of the first Harlaxton International Chamber Music Festival was held at 7:00pm in the Stately Dining Room where information about our first days was given and everyone, students and faculty alike were introduced. Today, Tuesday May 29 was our first day of rehearsal. Music filled the Great Hall and four other designated rehearsal spaces throughout the Manor.
The staff here at Harlaxton commented how wonderful it was to hear the music wafting through the halls all day long. Several asked us about the concert schedule and told us that they had been waiting in anticipation for the Festival to begin so that they could attend our concerts.
This evening we have a "house tour" and then everyone is free to relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings here at Harlaxton. Tomorrow, Wednesday May 30 we travel a short distance to visit Lincoln Cathedral where we will present our first concert. The Chamber Choir will perform along with three of our chamber groups, including Faculty. After the concert, we will roam about the town and are free to explore the Castle and view one of the few original copies of the Magna Carta. We will return to the manor in the afternoon and resume our rehearsal schedule in the evening.
More after we return from Lincoln...