Tag: ottawa

  • Ottawa Tour 2015 – Day 5!

    Today we started with the doors to the breakfast hall being locked, so after some confusion and some well placed phone calls by Heather Fradette we got our morning meal in lots of time.

    We then walked through Ottawa to get to the national arts centre and got to see some of the prep work for Canada day! Once we arrived we warmed up and started our unisong concert! It was amazing being up on stage with all our new friends and truly singing for the joy of it!

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    After our 10 AM concert we had some time to go for lunch and walk around down town Ottawa to enjoy the festivities. After lunch we returned to the preforming arts centre and sang/accompanied the national arts centre orchestra. The concert when really well and the absolute highlight was when we were closing the concert with nothing other when ‘Oh Canada’! We were given little paper flags to wave wildly after wards and there was an amazing sense of pride, especially when the crowed cheered and waved their flags and various items with us; It was like nothing else.

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    After that we had a delicious dinner at a local restaurant and got to go up to parliament hill and see the stage and the street vendors. We then had our final concert. As soon as it was done we hurried back to the hotel to make it back to the centre in time for the fireworks. They were spectacular! We then all headed back to our rooms and headed so bed after an amazing Canada day in the capital.

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    -XOXO heather and Kyla

  • Ottawa Tour 2015 Day 4!

    We started the day bright and early with an 8:30 rehearsal with Dr. Sirett, tired and groggy from “the grog”, the music woke us up.

     

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    After a lunch on the fly, the bus took us by 22 Sussex Drive, and the Governor General’s house, en route to the Royal Canadian Mint.

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    After a tour of the inner workings, and a strong man contest with a gold bar, we headed to the National Arts Centre for a rehearsal with the orchestra.

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    Following the rehearsal, we had some free time, where we walked past the War Memorial, as well as around the By Ward Market, enjoying Beaver Tails, Iced Cream, and Obama Cookies; and even singing a song in the square.

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    We then proceeded to head back to the NAC for dinner, before one more rehearsal with Dr. Sirett.

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    We’re ready. Three concerts tomorrow, where we will sing our hearts out, and wave our flags high and proud.

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    – Robbie, Josh, Matt, Paul, and Patrick

    Calgary Children's Choir

  • Ottawa Tour 2015 – Day 2!

    Today was a very eventful day. We went to the Museum Of Canadian History, the mall and had our first mass rehearsal for Unisong!

    We woke up quite early to grey skies and the smell of rain, making sure we were dressed in the right choir tee shirt for the day (it matched the sky). Crossing the river into Québec, we went to the Canadian Museum of History – a riveting and informative experience. We learned about the Confederation and Rebellions of 1867. Another exhibit was the Magna Carta, which was showing two of the six documenting the original Magna Carta. There were many other exhibits at the museum: one dedicated to Terry Fox and the other about the ancient Greeks.

    A panorama of the main entrance hall of the Museum of Canadian History

     

    The “Morning Star” Painting, painted on the roof of the Canadian Museum of History.

    The trip to the mall was an explosion of free time and choir children running loose. There was a surprisingly eco friendly serving system, using plastic trays and plates and metal cutlery. When done with the dishes, facility operators cleared and cleaned so they could be used once more.

     

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    The first mass rehearsal could be best described as busy, exciting and difficult. We met new people and learned new techniques for singing. The man conducting the mass choir is Mark G. Sirett and he focused attention to technique and detail. He was energetic and exuberant! I’m sure tomorrow will be filled with more fun and adventure along with singing!

    – Sophie Collins

    Calgary Children's Choir

  • Ottawa 2015 Tour – Day 1

    What a day! Starting off bright and early, we met at the Calgary airport at 8:10 am.

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    We took off right before noon. The flight was a little bumpy, but fun all the same! Granola bars and good company got us through the long flight.

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    Arriving in Ottawa, we saw it was cloudy and cool, which is honestly a bit of a relief from the hot weather back home. After singing together on the way to our dorms and eating some well deserved pizza, our first day on tour comes to a close.

    -Kasia DeSorcy

    Calgary Children's Choir