Day1: Mr. Priddy's Texas Boys Choir Argentina Tour Travelogue 2012

The boys don't have their electronic devices to communicate with us while on their trip so we are relying on the emails we receive from artistic director, S. Bryan Priddy.  Each boy has been provided a notebook and pen, but Mr. Priddy is so eloquent and thorough in his descriptions, that I am preserving it here on my blog so when my son comes home with an empty notebook, I will have a momento of his trip.

Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral, the boys were given permission to sing. 

Mr. Priddy's Argentina Tour Travelogue

Day 1 May 18, 2012

It has been a crazy ride but we are in Buenos Aires and all is well. It has been non stop since we landed this morning around 8 a.m.  The hotel is very nice and we are being treated like celebrities.  The hotel lobby has a big marque with a promo of all of our concerts.  They said we could take it with us when we left...and we will because it is so cool looking.  Great piece to frame and put in the choir room to inspire future singers.

Today we checked in to the hotel and then had time on our own to have the boys make quick calls home to say we made it here o.k.  Then we went to eat.  It was new experience trying to communicate in Spanish.  I know in my group we ended up at a pizza place.  I told the boys that I did not know what we ordered, but to be adventurous and try it just the same.  The pizza was great.  One of them actually had crumbled boiled eggs as a garnish on top.

We met at 3 pm to have our first of two guided tours of Buenos Aires.  It has been dark and overcast with light showers today, so the tour guide took us to visit the Basilica.  You may remember that the boys sang at the Basilica in St. Louis last year.  Today, the structure was not as large, but it was an imposing Romanesque style building.  I was struck by the fact that we were in what is referred to as their national church in the country of Argentina.  The only thing that would make this better is if we were allowed to sing here and perform a selection from the most popular folk mass in Argentina, composed by an Argentine.  Well, believe it or not, our tour guide asked the priest if we could sing.  He agreed, and we performed the Kyrie from the Ramierez folk Mass Misa Criolla.  It sounded wonderful in those acoustics.  Afterwards I was approached by a couple from Brazil.  They shared that they were on their honeymoon and had entered the Basilica to ask God for peace in their lives.  No sooner had they entered the space and suddenly angelic voices were heard from the Chancel area.  They were so appreciative.

I do not know how often I will be able to get updates posted, but I will send as many as I can.  It has been a little frustrating trying to type this update because I am using a Spanish keyboard and it has extra keys and I think I have hit every incorrect button so far.

Overall, we are having a wonderful time.  The schedule is so good about giving the boys some down time just to chill.  Today we also had opportunity to visit one of the artisan areas for shopping.  The boys have no problem shopping.  They are behaving well, and they are looking out for each other.  Everywhere we go, people comment on what a fine group we have.

And to you, parents, please know that I know we would have never gotten the boys down here without considerable help from you.  Many, many hours of behind the scenes work went on, especially the two weeks prior to our departure.  Our parent club president, Michelle, and Karen Mueller in particular went many extra miles getting the tuxes prepared.  But we also had helpers to pass out t'shirts, do baggage checks, organize journal notebooks, and a host of other things.  It really did take a village.  Thank you!

In a few minutes we are off to eat dinner.  It will be the perfect ending to a very long day.  Tomorrow we tour North Buenos Aires.  Then we travel to rehearse with Opus Cuatro.  Then we have our first performance with Opus Cuatro and the National Childrens Choir of Argentina.  Then back the hotel and then we go to dinner and watch the Tango Show.  Way too much fun.  The boys are discovering that South American girls are very attractive.  We are trying to keep their jaws off the payment as they gawk.  The city is amazing.  Kind of a mix between Paris, Madrid and other European cities.  

Again, I will try to send updates as I am able.  We will also try to upload pictures when possible.

Bryan Priddy
Artistic Director
Texas Boys Choir

Texas Boys Choir Travels to Argentina!

Recognized by composer Igor Stravinsky as the "best boys´ choir in the world," the Texas Boy's Choir is brilliant. Since 1946, it has won hundreds of recognitions including two Grammys awards. They have sung in several countries of the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania, as well as for the Pope, several U.S. presidents, kings and heads of state from around the world.

The Texas Boys Choir is preparing to leave for Argentina on May 17, 2012 to participate in an international music festival in Argentina. This is the first time the choir has traveled internationally since 2004. They will be the only group representing North America at this festival. We are very proud of our boys and excited about the opportunity to participate in this event!

Iguazú en Concierto is an international festival featuring children and youth orchestras and choirs. Seven hundred children and youths from the five continents play music together in one of most amazing natural scenarios of the world: the Iguazú Falls and the Misiones forest in its entire splendor.

During 6 uninterrupted days, free concerts are held at the best hotels of the region, La Aripuca and the Puerto Iguazú amphitheater. The festival closes with a mega-concert at the Sheraton Hotel gardens, within the Iguazú National Park. An outstanding staging that gathers orchestras, choirs and soloists in a single stage with the Iguazú Falls as backdrop.

This year, Iguazú en Concierto will feature a film soundtrack repertoire that will go through greatest movie songs of all times. Also, Gustavo Santaolalla, winner of two Oscar awards for musical composition for Brokeback Mountain (2006) and Babel (2007), will be the guest of honor and one of the directors of the grand final concert.

The 700 children and young musicians

Iguazú en Concierto has received representatives from all over the world: China, United States, Russia, South Africa, Germany, France, Italy, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, Spain, Costa Rica, among many others.

Each orchestra, choir and soloist is chosen after a thorough research by the festival´s Artistic Direction headed by Andrea Merenzon, nationally and internationally recognized in her field and winner of a Latin Grammy award in 2005.

The 700 children and youths rehearse all together at master classes conducted by professors and soloists of the Colón Theater. During those rehearsals, these little talents prepare the final repertoire that they will perform at the grand final concert, at the so-called “Iguazú en Concierto Grand Orchestra and Choir”.

Don't Miss Narnia!

You don't want to miss this fabulous musical rendition of C.S. Lewis' of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" at Scott Theater in Fort Worth, Texas.  There is still plenty of time to get tickets!

Texas Boys Choir singing "This Christmastide"

Texas Boys Choir 2011 Christmas Concert Schedule

Performances by the Texas Boys Choir

Getting to Know the Texas Boys Choir

Supporting the Texas Boys choir

Texas Boys Choir - Free Public Concert May 13th

Texas Boys Choir - Free Public Concert May 13th

Hello Again!

It's been a long time since I've blogged on this site. Back in the day when I first set this up Facebook was in its infancy, MySpace was for the young kids, and Twitter was unheard of. Boy have times changed quickly! 5 years ago, I vowed that I would not be one of those people constantly on my mobile phone - I would have one only for emergencies. Ummm yeah...famous last words. I now do almost everything on my mobile phone that I used to do on my desktop (except print and that's really annoying). My main form of communication with my family and friends is either text messaging or Facebook. I have even been known to text my kids to let them know when dinner is ready (mom fail).

So If you care to look back over the few years on this blog, you will see that I spent several years finishing my degree and working on my teacher certification. I finally achieved this, got a job as a teacher, then got too busy to blog! After 2 years in the classroom, I have finally come up for air. I am able to walk out of school without a huge bag of grading, teacher editions, or lessons plans. I have finally gotten into a groove and have figured out how to get MOST of my work done at school. With all of this newfound time, I am looking for ways to hone my teaching skills, share with other teachers, and hunt down great deals. Over Christmas break I watched TLC's Extreme Couponing and realized how much money I could be saving at the grocery store. I started collecting coupons and finding lots of information on couponing sites like Couponing 101,Passion for Savings,Budget Savvy Diva, and The Krazy Coupon Lady. After a few months of working at this, I realized that extreme couponing in the true sense is not for me, but stocking up on a reasonable amount of groceries and getting a few free things along the way sure is satisfying and fun! So if you are interested in what I have to share about my family, classroom, and couponing adventures feel free to follow along and share your comments on my "official" blog here. I will keep this blog for more personal things like bragging about my kids, random thoughts, and posting pictures.

Thanksgiving 2008

Texas Boys Choir at "A Celebration of Reading 2008"

New links to visit....

I just added two new links for you to visit: Heart and Seoul is about the journey of a couple adopting from Korea. In order to raise money for the adoption, they have launched a dessert business. I have personally tasted some of the desserts and not only are they delicious, they are also beautiful. Keep them in mind for your holiday entertaining.

The second site is Bluebonnets and Brownies. One of my classmates at Ashford University is a transplanted Texan living in the northeast and has found little in the way of southern comfort food up there. This site is a tribute Tex-Mex and other foods that we all find comfort in!

Friday Night Lights, Homecoming, and Halloween!

A routine of our own!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Some good CofC humor!

Let's play: "Pretend you're a doctor and find the broken bone!" (Click on picture to make it bigger)

Can YOU find the break?
This is a sure-fire way to slow down a man that doesn't know the meaning of sitting still!

Preston broke his ankle Thursday evening while unloading luggage for some friends who just returned from England. After a few hours in the emergency room, a soft splint and a pair of crutches, he is in "misery" (haha, get it?). He is going to the doctor on Monday and will hopefully get a cast and relieve some of his discomfort!

A clean house=accomplishment!

There is not a room, closet, cabinet, shelf, container, or box in my house that has not been gone through and purged this summer. I rock.

VBS '08..DAVID AND GOLIATH

It's a nice day for a Webkinz Wedding!