California choir trip and OG Reunion 2011
Choir Tour USA
St George’s College, Weybridge Music Department
From the Director of Music
Miss T Castledine MA., MMus., FRCO
tcastledine@st-georges-college.co.uk
01932 839364
19 October 2010
Dear Old Georgians,
This is an exciting time for music at the College; in terms of instrumentalists, we currently have several pupils in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, Pro Corda, and London Schools’ Symphony Orchestra, and our singing, hence the 2011 tour, is going from strength to strength. When I arrived at the College five years back, it was my hope that singing at the college would develop to a height of professionalism and sophistication unparalleled in this area. I am delighted to report to you, that our pupils are achieving just that. Indeed, the choir has just recorded its first CD of Christmas music entitled I am the day on the Regent record label which will be available for order from early December onwards.
Four years back the choir enjoyed a wonderful week in New York, and the cultural, musical, social values, and sheer independence and life-skills that they got from the tour were an invaluable part of their growth in the choir, with a really strong sense of being a part of something extraordinary. To coincide with our current period of musical prosperity it was decided and agreed that the choir would repeat the journey to the USA, but this time to the West Coast, visiting our Josephite and Georgian friends. I am indebted to the Head Master both here and at St Joseph’s High School, Santa Maria, where we will perform for the students, for their support of this project, and indeed to the Josephite priests and Daughters of Mary and Joseph both here and in California for the warm welcome they have extended to the children and the provision of concert venues and hot meals! As you can imagine, organising a tour of this magnitude, some 6 engagements over 9 days, has it’s challenges and our contacts with everyone so far have proved that a supportive; I believe an enthusiastic welcome awaits us next year.
The choir are very excited about our plans, and we will be departing in just four months on 18th February 2011, visiting Los Angeles, Santa Maria, and San Francisco during our trip (draft schedule below). I am acutely aware that a music tour is about more than just the music, and it is with this in mind that I write to you now, as I organise the cultural and social activities which will combine, alongside the music to make the trip a success. The children have undertaken a massive amount of fund-raising over the past two years to help support themselves, and I am aware that a number of pupils have taken holiday, administrative, and musical jobs to help increase their own funds, in order that their families can support them on the trip. I firmly believe that having signed up to this trip every pupil should then have the right to enjoy it without financial worry. As such I should like to invite our old members to consider whether there are any ways in which they or their businesses/contacts might be able to help to contribute to the spiritual, moral, and musical success of this trip. At the end of this letter I have listed a number of items which we would be most grateful for your support with, along with a schedule for our visit and details of the concerts. Any contribution, however great or small will help.
Your attendance at some of our concerts and events is of course enthusiastically sought, as our children would love to have the chance to meet you, swap stories of the College, and show you how well they are doing in benefitting from the College and its music. Please be assured that the tour has been planned astutely and with caution, and we are currently in a position to make a success of the visit. However, I am aiming to develop the wider opportunities within the tour which would be a welcome addition in making the trip a more wholesome and fulfilling adventure for the children.
Thank you for taking the time to consider helping our tour. In return for any assistance that you can contribute, we would be delighted to thank you publicly for your generosity in our souvenir programme which will be available at all events the children. In addition to this, we would be pleased to advertise your business or corporation in our brochure to maximise the potential for you. Moreover, you will of course be helping to make this the trip of a lifetime for our promising young Georgian family.
I do hope you’ll be able to visit one of our musical events, and we look forward to meeting you then.
Tansy Castledine
Director of Music
Schedule, California 2011
February 18-22, Los Angeles
February 22-23, Santa Maria
February 23-26, San Francisco (OG Dinner on Thurs 24th Feb 2011)
Travel for the choir
Group travel for 3 day MUNI pass on the San Francisco transportation system ($900)
A day of coaching (c$600): we currently require 5 days of coaching. Days 1-3, to take us around LA, Day 3 to drive us to Santa Maria, and then Day 5 to drive us onto San Francisco
Transfer from LAX to hotel ($400)
Transfer from San Francisco to the airport ($400)
Activities
LA Philharmonic performance, “Jazz and the orchestra”, at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Saturday February 20th (c$1,260)
A trip to Alcatraz (c$600)
San Francisco city tour (eg duck/bus)/ Golden Gate Cruise ($1,300)
A wine-making trip / tour (this various hugely of course!)
Tour wear
Tour jumpers usually worn throughout the tour ($850). These could have corporate logos on.
Tour t-shirts usually worn throughout the tour ($500). As above for logos
Advertising
We would be pleased to offer space for you to advertise your local business, un-connected to a particular event if you prefer.
Full page $500
Half page $300
Quarter page £200
