Friday July 25th
O how glorious

Today we achieved many wonderful things. We sang in the great chapel of St Johns’ College, Cambridge, a concert which attracted hundreds of people, including world-renowned choral conductor Dr David Hill (albeit only briefly). Then the boys, slightly tired after such an impressive effort at midday, regained their strength for a stellar performance of Evensong later that night. To hear the anthem from that Evensong, O Quam Gloriosum, click here.

Thursday July 24th
St Pauls Cathedral is big

Up bright and early for the coach to London, the boys saw the most incredible sights, and sang some incredible notes as well. Today we went to the glorious St Paul’s Cathedral to sing a half-hour concert with a string ensemble and chamber organ to boot. The incredible wash of sound created by the wide open spaces presented a challenge, but the boys (complemented by Christ Church Teens and St Johns’ College Cambridge men) rose to it wonderfully.

After the concert, there was an opportunity to explore the Cathedral, and we climbed the 300-odd steps up into the dome, so we could look down to the magnificent church below. To top (quite literally) it off, we then ascended higher to the outside of the dome, which provided a breathtaking view of London.

After descending the steps with now quivering legs, we ventured towards another beautiful place of worship. Westminster Abbey still gleams as it did when it was first constructed almost a millennium ago. Then, following a boat ride with supper, the boys hopped on the London Eye, a ferris wheel to end all ferris wheels. Providing 360º views of London, it topped off a wonderful day.

Wednesday July 23rd
Eastanglosaxon

After rehearsal and a delicious meal at Wescott House, a seminary college connected to Cambridge University, we headed out into the countryside to see an amazing recreation of an Anglo-Saxon settlement. Filled with thatched roofs and farm animals, the village was an interesting alternative to the vast cathedrals that the boys have been visiting. On the way there we drove through Newbury, a town famous for its horse racing. Our nice coach driver Alan told us that most of Newbury’s population is involved in the racing business, which includes three tracks and hundreds of breeders.

Back in Cambridge, a lucky few were able to attend a concert given by the world-famous choir of St Johns’ College Cambridge (which just happens to be your humble scribe’s previous choir). We had front-row seats, and we were delighted and bedazzled by the 90-minute concert. It gave those choristers who attended a glimpse at perfection, and a pinnacle of musicianship to aspire to.

Tuesday July 22nd
Riverdance

Waking up at 7:30am, the boys had a non-stop twelve hours of work and play, where they sung rehearsals, services, played cricket, punted on the River Cam (living to tell the tale) and settled down to watch movies. And to top it all off, they performed even better than the day before.

Cricket came with challenges – the boys couldn’t resist dropping the cricket bat as they ran back and forth between the wickets (kind of similar to bases in baseball), as years of baseball training had conditioned them to drop and run. But they were fast learners, and before very long they were all having a great time.

Punting was also nerve-racking, as you need to stand at the back of a boat and try not to fall off. If you have a look at some of the photos on the right, you’ll see why!

Monday July 21st
Down to business

After having a bit of sleep and acclimatisation we began the week with a short morning rehearsal. Endeavouring to make the most of the beautiful weather, we had the first of three sports sessions. Today: Rugby, the finest of oval-balled sports. Then, later on, we sung our first service at St Edmundsbury Cathedral, in the picturesque town of Bury St Edmunds. The boys excelled themselves, and we were accompanied by a number of young professional singers from Cambridge and beyond who elevated the music to the vaulted ceilings of the Cathedral.

Sunday July 20th
Amazing!

Today we arrived in England, tired from an overnight flight, but excited for the tour to come. We were whisked away in a coach to our first taste of the English countryside, a beautiful garden maze. Eric Gourdon is pictured above, surveying the maze having successfully reached its center.