Letters from Los Angeles 2005

If you see this message, your java-script may have been de-activated, or the menu is just slow to load. A complete menu is at the bottom of this page

Letters from LA!

Return to Tours

Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2005 1:04 PM
Subject: Welcome to L.A.
Good morning to everyone from LaLa land. We've had a terrific start to our tour. The bus yesterday morning was very smooth, with muffins and juice served to all and needless to say, coffee for the chaperones. We reached the border crossing and I think the customs officer took one look at the tired angelic faces of our choristers and decided we couldn't possibly pose any kind of threat to anyone. We were waved through and made it to the airport in good time. The OCC is definitely getting its name around given that Janet and Sheldon ran into a couple at the airport coffee shop who had been to one of our concerts. Granted its only Buffalo, but our reputation is making its way south.

The first leg of trip was to Cincinnatti and we only had a small baggage issue that resulted in the plane being overweight and delaying our takeoff. Liz and I were convinced that it was the 3,000 programs that had been stuffed into nooks and crannies everywhere but after 4 people gave up their seats (and luggage) for future vouchers we were underway. The Cincinnati crew must have anticipated our arrival, we were whisked away in our own personal shuttle bus and headed to our connecting flight to LAX.

There was another choir from Penn State College on the plane who will also be performing at the ACDA. They are a college age gospel choir so it was great for everyone to be surrounded by the excitement of the convention.

Once L.A. came into view, we landed 45 minutes ahead of schedule (strong headwinds) and all our programs, snacks and extra baggage arrived intact as well. The palm trees towered over the houses as we made our way by bus to the hotel and the HOLLYWOOD sign came into view. Very impressive.

Temperature a wonderful 70 (how quickly we convert to Fahrenheit).

While the choristers waited for their room assignments, they were treated to a live film crew in the hotel doing a scene for CSI. No sightings of Brad Pitt, yet though.

We walked to supper for a leisurely meal and that walked further up the street for the evening performance of the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. An amazing concert hall dedicated by Walt Disney's wife in appreciation of his love for music with a marvellous acoustic ambience.

Had the choristers not been operating on little sleep and an already long day, we might have managed to stay for the entire concert, but.....
the music was lulling. The soloists who were signing in German had overhead surtitles that told the story of two lovers who died tragically but the lyrics with poetic words like "you are always in my dreams" were too much for choristers who were already feeling sleeping. Seeing some heads starting to nod, we decided it was best to call it a day at the intermission and made our way back to the hotel.

Everyone has had a good night's sleep, we've enjoyed a terrific breakfast and the girls are anxious to be singing. We'll be heading into rehearsal shortly, so I'll sign off and keep you posted on the day's events.

Judith Scott

Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2005 2:07 AM
Subject: More news from LA
It is the end of another full, exhausting, long but gratifying day! The girls have now completed 3 of their 4 performances and the program has been so well-received that we have had returning listeners. We have come a long way from having our own parents rise to give us an ovation to having complete strangers appreciate the choir's performance and stand to applaud.

The venues have been magnificent. Yesterday' s performance was in a brand new cathedral called the Cathedral of our Lady of Angels that could easily house 1500 people and while the house was not full, we certainly had several hundred people in the audience to show off our program. We only had to have a chaperone go back to the hotel for two forgotten capes for the performance of Mulligatawny Macbeth, a very steep walk down and then back up from the hotel. But all that was accomplished in good time and nerves stayed intact.

Last night the hotel, with its own large performance hall, hosted some show choirs. These are song/dance choirs with a variety show type of performance and good fun to watch as well, so some of the girls took that in before calling it a night.

This morning we had a second performance, this time at the Wilshire Blvd. Temple, a Jewish synagogue with an equally magnificent building and rich in culture and heritage. Given that we were performing at 8:45 in the morning, we had an amazing crowd of people to watch. It is a wonderful experience to have total strangers come up to the choristers and remark on how impressed they were with the repertoire and their stage presence.

Then it was on to the Convention Centre right beside the Staples Centre (where the Lakers play) for the 2nd performance of the day. The girls took in the convention booths before heading on stage. The composer of "Mary Speaks" was in the audience and noted how pleased he was with their performance of his song.

The afternoon was a nice break for everyone. We had a bus drive us out to Hollywood and Vine where we took in the Chinese Theatre and the Walk of Fame. The handprints and footprints of so many stars! And the stars in the sidewalk go on and on. Even Britney Spears has a "star" on the walk of fame. There are plenty of extra spots left, however, for our girls.

Tonight has been a combination of enjoying some other fine choirs, swimming, and finally choristers lining up at the chaperones' door for a final snack and best good night wishes. We are looking forward to another great day tomorrow. The girls have been a joy to be with every minute so far.

Our best wishes to everyone.

Judith Scott

Return to Tours

History of OCC | OCC Tours | Photograph Album | Join The OCC | Concert Series

Order CDs | Contact Us | Links | Our Sponsors