HGC Foundation

Hello All!

As Bill is now out of email range for a little while, he asked if I could just send along the tour updates to the HGCF Executive Committee list directly.  Now that I have a little bit of downtime on the road to Chicago (I-90 makes its fourth appearance on tour), I wanted to update everyone on our first few days in the Midwest.

If nothing else, it is obvious that the Glee Club has become good at traveling at this point on tour.  Fewer rest stops are called for, we move more quickly on and off the bus, and the group is loading luggage like a group of professionals.  Considering our present location and drives, this is a very good thing to have developed.  Arriving in Kansas City after a night in LAX could have been disaster, but the group was attentive (if tired) and ready to go.

Upon our arrival, the Harvard Club of Kansas City had arranged for a fantastic lunch at world-famous and James Beard-award winning Stroud's Fried Chicken.  At first I felt bad for the vegetarians in the group (a common theme in the Midwest, it turns out); the Caesar Salad had anchovies and the green beans had ham and bacon.  After consuming way too much of the amazing fried chicken, gravy, and cinnamon rolls, however, most everyone came to envy the vegetarian's waistlines.  Having not had a real meal in over twelve hours, the Glee Club consumed an obscene amount of food in about 15 minutes and promptly fell asleep en masse on the lawn outside.  If I can find any pictures of this I will try to send them along; food coma does not do justice to what happened.

After lunch we went into downtown to have the guys meet their hosts and head home in mid-afternoon to fall asleep (a change from the original plan that had some activities planned).  So far as it goes, this was the end of the day for most everyone in the group.  Our hosts wished we could see more of their city - and a fair number of us did get to see the beautiful Nelson-Atkins' Art Gallery - but most guys were so exhausted they soon fell asleep after chatting with their hosts.

The next day we arrived at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral in downtown bright and early for our morning rehearsal.  It was a good rehearsal in a nice and resonant space, but it was soon over-shadowed by the lunch plans the Harvard Club had for us.  Not to be out-done from the day before, the Harvard Club provided us with lunch at Arthur Bryant's BBQ - another famous and delicious Kansas City institution that has never let a vegetable pass out the door without some meat attached to it.   All in all, it was another amazing meal: for those who have never been or never heard of Kansas City Burnt ends, I would highly recommend them. 

We traveled to the house of a local Harvard Club member after lunch for a very pleasant pool party throughout the afternoon.  For those of you who remember my first email from Phoenix, I cannot say I am looking forward to comparing the sight of pictures from that pool party to this pool party.  Nevertheless, it was a great time all around - despite some sunburns - and most everyone left quite relaxed.

Upon returning to the Cathedral - and after a very light dinner - the group got ready for our concert as part of the Harriman-Jewell Concert Series.  The concert went spectacularly well overall; it was a sellout, the audience was appreciative, and the group clearly wasn't about to start letting up after the musical high reached at Walt Disney Concert Hall.  To top it all off, Richard Harriman - the founder of the series - came to the concert and very much enjoyed our performance.  Satisfied with our performance - and relaxed and full after our time in KC - HGC got ready to depart in the morning.

It was a good thing everyone was so rested by this point, because the next day was rather grueling for the group.  We woke up early, drove 7.5 hours to the Twin Cities (for those wondering, there are apparently no restaurants in Iowa), and immediately had to start rehearsing for our performance that evening in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.  We shared the concert with "The Singers" - Dale Worlan's professional ensemble - and very much treasured the chance to hear another beautiful choir perform. 

For our part, however, the concert was proof that not all concerts can be above average.  It was not a terrible performance by any means - certainly better than our Spring Tours - but it was interesting nonetheless.  I think the highlight of the concert, and certainly an appropriate summation thereof, would have to be when an absentminded bass decided to sing along with an exposed and very high tenor solo... an octave down.  Terrible?  No.  Hilarious and going to stick with him for life?  Yes.

Yesterday was, finally, another relaxing day.  We started at noon with a Twins versus Tigers game; which the Twins handily won 7 to 0.  The game was rather boring overall, but listening to various guys try to explain baseball to our Danish member was a riot ("Four Balls makes a walk." "I thought there was only one ball?").  After the game we went to the Mall of America to let guys explore for an hour and a half - that was more time than needed.  For dinner we went to the house of one of our members for a fantastic meal and reception.  I'm not sure what it says about the Glee Club that those playing pingpong and video games were sweating more than those playing basketball - but it certainly says enough.

After a recording session this morning for Minnesota Public Radio (when it is broadcast and distributed I will send along the online link!), the Glee Club is now getting geared up for Chicago and Ravinia.  As a personal note, I must add that I am especially excited as my parents have decided to fly for their first time ever in order to come see the concert!  It is a big deal for them and the concert is a big deal for the group - here's hoping the Glee Club out does itself again!

In Glee and Good Humour - 4 Weeks In;
Kelby