After getting a full night’s sleep (the first real rest we’d had after a busy day of travel), we woke up to have the morning free to explore Cambridge. We wandered around looking at all the amazing historical buildings that blend right in with the modern establishments. Sunday was a beautifully clear, crisp day that was perfect for doing some great sightseeing. Our group enjoyed a tour of Cambridge and its colleges. Our guides gave us great insight about King’s, Queens’, Emmanuel, St. John’s and a few others which we were privileged enough to get to see and experience. Some of the buildings that we entered were up to 800 years old.   Since we don’t have that type of history in the United States, it was very rewarding to venture into these landmarks of science, religious and social development.

Interacting with the people who live in Cambridge was a fun time as well. We shared a mutual curiosity about one another that allowed insightful conversation to flow. I was surprised and happy about how welcoming they were. The street market was a new experience for me that I really enjoyed. Right in the heart of the city there is an open-air market that houses a variety of shops selling everything from music to home goods to an on-the-go little coffee shop cart. The marketplace was surrounded by department stores, restaurants and churches and added to the feeling of comfortable elegance about the city.

In the mid-afternoon we headed to Witham, small town about an hour from Cambridge. We passed the rich English scenery that reminded me of what would be seen on postcards and in the movies.  Most of the homes in the country, as with all of the homes in England, dated back hundreds of years and contributed to the sense of tradition that has encompassed our whole stay here. The entire country seems to have this wonderful acceptance and blend of the old and the new that we are not accustomed to back home. We’ve only been here for a matter of days, though it feels like hours, and I can hardly wait to explore more of what England has to show us.

When we arrived in Witham, we got to tour the home of Madeleine Rainbow, who coordinated our performance at St. Nicolas Church. Her home was built in the fourteenth century (as had the church) and, though it had undergone renovation and expansion, the old-time feel was prevalent. Her home seemed to accurately represent the importance of history that is accepted all throughout England as well as the use of modern accommodations.

The Chamber Choir had the privilege of participating in Evensong at St. Nicolas, a service that has been practiced for centuries. Following the service, we did a full performance of the entire repertoire we have prepared for the tour. The space had warm acoustics, which were very different than that of the cathedrals that tend to have a more ringing tone. I enjoyed this performance very much.

During our concert following the Evensong service at St. Nicolas, there was an “interval”, or intermission, in the middle that allowed choir and audience to gather together in the parish center for about 20 minutes. During this time we really got to connect with the people of the town of Witham, who were very interested in our music and our tour. Of all the performances thus far, I felt the greatest connection to this audience mainly because of the interval. When you get to know one another, the performance becomes much more personal and musically affective. The people of Witham were very engaged in our singing and obviously really enjoyed the performance. During the interval, it seemed as though every small group in conversation contained Drake students and townspeople. Getting to have  discussions with the members of the parish was an absolutely meaningful experience that added to the excitement of such a wonderful performance.

Our first full day in England was very busy, full, educational, musical and fun. I hope the rest of our tour will follow in its path!