The end of choir tour came too fast for us seniors and possibly for the rest of the choir as well.  We longed for one more day to explore London in all its glory.  However, with our one free day in London most were limited to the highlights.  Many were able to visit the London Tower, which contains the crown jewels and a lot of Henry VIII’s armor from the 15th century.  The London Eye is a must-do when in London, but unfortunately I personally did not get the pleasure of riding this ferris wheel which can hold nearly five hundred people at one time.  Platform 9 ¾ in King’s Cross Station is also a must-see for all Harry Potter fans.  Several choir members got their pictures taken with the luggage cart sticking out halfway through the wall.  Other venues visited include the British Library, Camden Market, and various other museums.  You could spend weeks doing things in London, although you would need a lot of pounds to do so.  London is quite an expensive city, but well worth the visit.

    Our final concert was held in St. James Piccadilly Church near Piccadilly Circus.  Its acoustics and architecture were quite similar to St. Martin-in-the-Fields, and therefore had much of the same sound as that church.  As the last concert on the tour and the last concert for me personally as a chamber choir member, it was a very meaningful.  This was the case for me possibly more so than the rest of the choir.  As a whole we were quite tired and weary from a day of walking around London, and I got the feeling that a lot of people just wanted to be done.  I was very tired due to lack of sleep and extensive walking, but I was determined to do my best for our last concert.  When we arrived, the church was dimly lit, which I thought was very beautiful.  The organ stood barely visible in the back of the sanctuary, looking like it was trying to hide.  Christopher Wrenn’s beautiful woodwork was highlighted behind the altar, and I sat and reflected on our great journey thus far.  I thought about all the wonderful things we had seen and the places we had been.  They were all fantastic and inspiring.  But most of all, I thought of all the beautiful people I had traveled with on this trip.  I realized you don’t go on choir tour to see all these wonderful things and do all of these fun things, but you go to be with beautiful people and make and share beautiful music.  I thought about how much closer I had gotten to each and every person on that trip and how it was the music that brought us together.  I thought about how lucky I was to be able to sing and to do so at Drake University with so many amazing other amazing people, and how I wished I could do it forever.  The concert went quite well despite everyone’s lack of energy.  I doubt the audience members could tell we were so tired.  A piece that particularly means a lot to me and went especially well that evening is called, “Clear and Gentle Stream.”  This piece is about a man returning to his favorite a childhood place—a stream.  As he is walking along the stream he is flooded with memories of the fun he would have at this stream and was able to return to his childhood through that stream.  As I grow older, I hope to have many clear and gentle streams, but I know in my heart that one will always be Shelsow stage.  There is no place in the world I would rather be at 3:30PM on Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday than Sheslow stage.  It is where I was able to have so many magical moments with so many wonderful people.  I will miss them so much!  But as I grow older and come back to Drake and each time I return to Sheslow stage, I will be able to look back and think about all the amazing times we had in Italy, Austria, England, but most of all, Des Moines.  It seems like such a short time ago I was a freshman walking into ABC’s office asking to be in choir.  It seems like a short time but a much different me.  I have grown up, and Drake Choir has definitely helped me do that.  I used to be rather quiet and shy, but have opened up.  I used to have trouble expressing my feelings to others, but I have gotten better.  Drake Choir has been such a big part of my journey to adulthood and for that I am so thankful and proud to be a member of Drake Choir.  I will never forget my Drake Choir experience as it has allowed me to see the world and has shaped me as a man and musician.  I am so thankful to have one last semester in Drake Choir and to have one more regional tour with my best friends.  Thank you to all who made this trip possible, but most of all thank you to Dr. ABC, Dr. Saylor, and to all chamber choir members for making this trip a tremendous success and just tons of fun!  It is a lifelong memory that I will cherish forever.  I love you all.