Samo Choir in England

Samohi Choir went global this past Spring Break and toured across England, showcasing their talent. This was Samo Choir’s 2017 choir tour, which was organized by Choir Director Jeffe Huls with a company called Witte Travel. Program organizers along with Huls planned the trip and incorporated a mix of performances and a lot of sightseeing in London and elsewhere in England. “England was honestly one of the best experiences of my life,” Alexis Lopez (’17) said. Both Chamber and Madrigals choirs performed at a few historic cathedrals which were built hundreds of years ago and are known worldwide for their beauty, classical architecture and especially superior acoustics for performances.“My favorite part was listening to Madrigals sing, since we had group pieces and individual pieces, and being able to look around the cathedrals while listening to their songs,” Camille Candaele (’17) said. “It was unreal being able to sing in the places we did.” As part of the tour, the students had the experience of visiting many historic places in England, stopping at many cathedrals to perform. “As we toured, the students started getting groups of fans who followed their concerts from town to town,” Spanish teacher Claudia Bautista, a chaperone on the trip, said. “Their talent was so evident, everyone who attended always left telling them they were brilliant. I felt blessed to witness their concerts.” They stayed in a city called Woodstock about an hour and a half outside of London. They explored different palaces and historic buildings like Blenheim Palace, Buckingham Palace, Gloucester Cathedral, Wells Cathedral and the Ely Cathedral. They also stayed in a town called Bath where they visited the historic Roman Baths, they visited various towns such as Winchester, Cirencester, Cambridge, and also stayed in London. Many visited the London Eye, Stonehenge, and had free time to explore in the various towns, especially in London. “We got to sing in the prettiest cathedrals and we got to go to such cool places like Stonehenge and the London eye,” Lopez said. For both the groups, this trip meant a lot to them, as a tour is something which choir students work toward throughout their four years at Samo. It also meant a lot to students to be able to honor their friend Kelly Cano, a former member of the Madrigal ensemble, who passed away this past February. “This trip was extremely special to me, because everything we sang was for Kelly,” Senay Ozkan (’17) said. “England is known for being cloudy, but every cathedral we performed in had sun shining through stained-glass windows, creating streaks of beautiful colors on the walls. The vibrant colors reminded me of Kelly, and reassured me that she was there with us.”The ten-day trip benefitting to all members and brought the groups closer together. The students arrived at LAX International Airport with big smiles, reminiscent of their fun-filled, ten-day expedition. “I felt that this trip made all of choir a lot closer and we created memories that I will carry with me for the rest of my life,” Lopez said.