Hi everyone!After a couple fun days touring Victoria (including beautiful Butchart Gardens), we took the ferry back to Vancouver
yesterday. I think the kids were really tired - I know I was! We had to wake up around 5:30am to take a bus to the ferry, then ride the ferry to Vancouver, then ride the bus to Granville Island (where they have the sweetest public market and craft shops). Travel - eat - wait in line - eat - travel - wait in line. That's the nature of a tour, we're all learning. 
When we got to the hotel, everyone took a few minutes to recuperate, but soon we were off to the Richmond Gateway Theatre in Richmond (close to Vancouver) to warm up for our performance there last night. Upon arrival, we were greeted with the nicest people! Reggie, the President of the Richmond Youth Orchestra, Spencer, the conductor, and lots of very friendly young musicians greeted us. After warm up, we ate from a fantastic spread of Chinese food that the RYO prepared for us, and we exchanged some gifts with each other. It was so fun to see our kids mingle with theirs so easily. Music forges a bond! 
The Richmond YO has a beginning and intermediate string ensemble that performed before intermission (and were very good), and then our orchestra played one of the finest performances I've ever heard. I was so impressed with their musicianship, how they rose to the occasion. Then the RYO top
tier orchestra performed a very fine set, and then the groups joined to play Pirates of the Carribean together under Spencer's baton. It was so exciting! They had never sounded better... until...This morning we went down to the University of British Columbia for a 90 minute workshop with assistant conductor John van Deursen. When I
walked in to the sound of our students playing Handel's Musik for the Royal Fireworks under Mr. van Deursen's direction, I nearly cried! 
The sound was unbelievable. Nancy sat and listened for a while, and leaned over to me to say "This is so great for the students!" Everyone was just tickled to have the experience, I think.Right now, the kids are spending some free time swimming, shopping, and relaxing. They deserve it! Tonight they go to the Magee Secondary School for their second and final performance. We'll keep you
posted on how it goes!Jaime
3 comments:
It was so great to hear from you! Sounds like the musicians are having a good time and learning a lot. Hope you got to the umbrella store at Granville Island- but also hope you didn't need an umbrella. We miss you all!
See you next week.
sandi
Hi Jamie, Issy, and all. Thanks so much for creating this blog. It's great to log on and see what's been happening while you're on tour. I especially have enjoyed the pictures. I hope the rest of the tour continues to go well and that everyone is having fun. Vancouver/Victoria looks like a beautiful place to visit. "Hi" to all.
I'm glad you all are having a great time travelling, making music, and making new friends!
It's so cool that you got to visit Granville Island too. That is such a fun place and a beautiful farmer's market.
Best wishes for a safe journey home. I can't wait to hear some more stories and see more photos.
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