Following on from Holy Week and Easter, then having a few days off, the Choir met on the morning of Thursday 9 April to embark on our halfway around the world trip to Western Canada. Vancouver was our first destination via London Heathrow, taking flight at 1500 and landing again 9 hours later at 1630 local time! Needless to say that the time difference took some getting used to for everyone. What did help was a beautiful ferry ride between the mainland and Victoria on Vancouver Island, where we were treated to some stunning scenery and a magnificent sunset. However, it was getting to the early hours of the morning British time and everyone was very glad to be in what seemed to be not just hotel rooms, but hotel suites with the boys having their own sleeping quarters within their rooms!
After some much needed sleep, the Choir was straight into the Mozart Requiem rehearsals with the superb Victoria Symphony Orchestra on the first morning. The afternoon was free for activities and the boys enjoyed a trip to the lovely Beacon Hill Park. Here we saw the world’s tallest Totem Pole (with a real Bald Eagle on top too!), a petting zoo and a beach onto the Pacific Ocean. All with the coast’s synonymous seaplanes flying overhead. That night, an early night was had by all and the amount of sleep greatly helped the ticketed Open Rehearsal (a first as far as anyone can remember for King’s College Choir) with the Orchestra. This was the busiest day of the Tour as the evening had the concert with the Christchurch Cathedral Choir in their Cathedral. The Choir enjoyed singing with those from Christchurch and it was impressive to see what they had achieved after only being founded 8 years ago.
The next day saw the final concert of the tour, a sold-out matinee performance at the Royal Theatre. Having given those who bought tickets to the open rehearsal a few days before a small taste of the Mozart Requiem, the Choir provided the full experience. It was clear that the audience enjoyed the performance (nearly as much as the boys themselves!) and it would live long in the memory. In the evening the Choir was entertained by one of the friends of the Orchestra with a meal at a Chinese buffet. This was a very generous offer and the boys made impressive inroads in the buffet! I won’t say it was the highlight for some, but it probably came close!
Unusually, we had a rest day after the concerts and we were enjoyed a walk around Victoria’s picturesque marina and then a trip out into the ocean on a whale watching catamaran. Packed to the gunnels with anti-sickness tablets and paper bags we set sail in the search of the area’s famed wildlife. We saw Bald Eagles, Harbour Seals, Cormorants, Mouflon Sheep, Sika Deer and Stellar Sea Lions but sadly no whales. Though we were told that if we ever came back there would be an opportunity to venture out with them again. One more reason to visit this lovely part of the world once more!
The final day and a half were travel days as we hopped on the ferry back to Vancouver and then spent the afternoon in Stanley Park, burning off some energy before our overnight flight back to Britain. There were lots of tired, contented sleeping members of the Choir on the flight back and no doubt many hours of sleep were had by all upon their return! Overall, this trip was a thoroughly enjoyable experience for all involved and we would like to thank all of those people who had a hand in making the magic happen.