Buffet-style breakfast started the day when I found out that a Ugandan naturally pronounces my name properly when reading it off my badge! :) Panta seems to be the one introducing himself the most. I haven't actually talked to any of the Basque choir or the Filipino choirs yet. We had rehearsal from 10-11:30 then lunch...didn't we just eat? After lunch many of us rested, Melanie re-reading Goblet of Fire as a refresher for July as I tried to nap a bit. Then she said "Hey look what was at our door!" It was the cutest little plush spotted owl with a red envelope saying Brittahytta - Jack & Johnathon's RSVP for the party...hahaha! When we met at 1:45 to go over for our sound check I raved about the owl being so good to find me to RSVP all the way in San Luis Obispo, and Johnathon said "Yay that's the reaction we wanted!" They saw the owl at the campus store and couldn't resist. Very cute!
While waiting for our sound check we saw a video feed of the Santa Rosa choir on stage, then a little of the Filipino choir before we went into the next room. Once we got on stage we were thankful for plenty of room on the risers and the stage. We started all our pieces, which sound fabulous in their shiny new performing arts center. Dan asked "Can we chop up this hall & take it home with us?" Gary Lamprecht, in charge of the festival laughed and replied "Build your own!" We heard that we impressed many who heard us, so hopefully that's a good sign.
There was an afternoon reception, and I chatted with a couple of oeople from the host choir, finding out that on Sunday night the combined choirs get to sing Finlandia with their new pipe organ - can't wait to hear that! The disappointing bit is the folk round is so sold out they've also sold the seats for the choirs to listen to each other, so we're only going to be able to see them backstage on the video feed. The rest of our afternoon was free so after a supply run in Nathania & Kevin's van (I unexpectedly splurged on a possible new party prop! Heehee)...too long for Treo!...
