Wednesday: Letters from Sue and Bob

Letter from Sue

The end of tour is like the end of anything: happy, sad, full of perspective about the past, and wondering about what lies ahead. The closing ceremony, during which all tour participants have a few minutes to say what is in their hearts, gives us a chance to hear the truth spoken: most are choked up by tears before they can get everything out, but we all see the beauty of each person as they share intimate thoughts about what the choir year and tour has meant to them.  For me, it is a joy to know that we who relish "the performance," all feel the same things: the thrill of a job well done, of knowing that we need each other to accomplish it, and that we did our absolute best in delivering it.  One of the singers said that music is so much more than music: it is all emotions put together.  I am so happy to know that all of these singers are on the right track in life and will not be narrow-minded human beings, because they have experienced the world outside of America and seen that all people are the same the world over: they are kind-hearted, care for their children, and hope for peace. Some day, I hope to go to Haarlem and Dover, but for this year, I will drink to Belgrade, Maribor, and Groznjan and turn the glass over one more time.

Sue Bohlin

Letter from Bob

I'm writing this message as our faithful and reasonably air conditioned bus transports us from Sombor back to our hotel in Beograd. We gave our last tour performance to a very nice audience in the city hall of Sombor this evening. We sang a full program very well. There was a lot of heart and group spirit in the performance.  The audience responded with a standing ovation. For the singers soon to graduate emotions ran especially high but even for those of us continuing on it was a special moment.

In my mind this tour stands out in several ways.  The first four days in Groznjan were very special.  The medieval village was a beautiful and a remote setting for the beginning of our artistic collaboration with Carmina Slovenica.  There were few distractions and no technology.  The collaboration itself was unlike anything we'd previously tried.  Putting two high level choirs together with very different conductors and styles required some real adjustments.  I'm very happy that our singers were able to work closely with Karmina Silec.  She is one of the most creative and inspired conductors in the world. Our singers had to rise to her expectations of focus and discipline.  I hope that some of that discipline will stay with us. The collaboration resulted in performances with a very high artistic standard. With the resumption of Project Attacca in October, I think we will introduce a dimension of choral music not previously seen or heard in the Bay Area. That return visit of Carmina Slovenica will also provide an opportunity to renew and enrich real friendships that are developing between members of the two choirs.  The concerts in Maribor and Kostanjevice were very well received by audiences with significant capacity for listening. The success of the home stays in Slovenia can be measured by the copious tears shed as we boarded the bus for Serbia.

We came to Serbia expecting to stay in Zrenjanin and sing in a festival with other choirs but in fact, the concept of the festival in Zrenjanin was to bring choirs into the country and arrange for their concerts in different cities. There is a conscious attempt to bring in energy and a breath of fresh air to a country that has been isolated from the world community for a substantial portion of the last 15 years.

We were booked into a low budget hotel that was distinctly different than anything we had experienced in the previous week. It took us a couple of days to adjust but adjust we did and now many of the kids are walking around talking about how they love the hotel and Beograd. Our reception has everywhere been gracious and warm. We had three performances in three different cities and in every case we have felt very appreciated. We have received genuine invitations to return and the children's choir from the music school in Vrsc is interested in attending our next Golden Gate Festival in 2009.

The members of Ensemble have conducted themselves in fine fashion throughout. There have been few problems between members and very few problems at all. The chaperone crew has been a very good team with an easy rapport. I think we've all gotten used to having a camera on us at all of our events and I'm sure Dan Pinkham has a great deal of material for the documentary project.

A final note: When all is said and done, I look at each tour as a unique gathering of musical people who have created their own community during their years in choir. Although their observations and perceptions often belie their years, they are still children completely capable of simple play. Several of the kids inspired a game based on a children's song that we will call "Ride My Pony." A particularly joyous memory of this tour is the various times in all three countries that we visited when children and adults joined in this song/game with great abandon. The children inspire us to remember that we are part of a global village!