WRA student report: "The most beautiful city I have ever been to"

Ann Yu who joined the WRA group a few days late, shares her first impressions on March 17, 2012: "Seville is probably the most beautiful city I have ever been to. The beautiful palaces, cathedrals, and architecture were completely breathtaking. I will always remember the gold and silver monuments, frescoes, and intricate designs along walls and pillars. It was so fun getting to know the history and culture of Seville." The pictures shows Ann playing at the Catedral of San Salvador.

WRA Media coverage for Huelva and Lisbon

Dear members, friends and supporters of WRA Choir and Ensemble

Here you have some samples of the media coverage for WRA concerts in Huelva and Lisbon
Again, you can see printed newspapers, cultural agendas, internet news... all kinds of media that you can track, together with the posters marketing, to bring an interested and informed audience to your concerts.
Being the last days of this Spain and Portugal Performance Tour, we wish you a wonderful time and a succesful concert in Palacio Foz, next Tuesday 20th, at 8 pm

http://www.cierraporfuera.com/huelva/evento/western_reserve_academy_choir_and_ensemble

http://lahuelvacateta.wordpress.com/tag/western-reserve-academy-choir-and-ensemble/

LISBON

http://escape.sapo.pt/cartaz/musica/western-reserve-academy-3649433 

Sunday's highlight: Retracing WRA history at La Rábida Monastery

Another highlight awaits the WRA group today.  On Sunday, March 18, 2012, the choir and ensemble from Hudson, Ohio will visit and perform at the La Rábida Monastery. After the noon mass, the students from Western Reserve Academy will present a concert under the direction of Mrs. Margaret Karam and Mr. Edward Wiles - a very unique event for the Franciscan monks that otherwise do not get very many visitors from abroad.
La Rábida Monastery is the First Historical Monument of the Spanish Peoples, as well as Humankind Patrimony and the third declared National Monument in Spain, as early as 1856. And there is a strong and unique connection between La Rábida and Western Reserve Academy. Mrs. Karam explains:
“The cross that hangs in our Chapel actually has the name "La Rabida" and formerly hung in the church where Columbus prayed before setting sail...it seems that Spain brought it to the US as part of the World Expo at the turn of the 20th century, and then sold it to pay off bills from that event. A benefactor of the school bought it.”

It will be quite a special moment when the students can talk to the Franciscan monks about that very cross and show it to them – if only on cell phones or cameras.

Katia, Incantato's concert manager Spain and Portugal continues: Let me add a little about the importance of the Monastery in the Columbus adventure:
LA RÁBIDA: WHERE COLUMBUS DREAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE
After eight years being unsuccessful in Portugal, where Columbus was trying to get royal sponsorship for his new route to “the India”, he arrived into Spain in 1485. Then Columbus decided to leave his son Diego in Huelva, with some family, and to travel to Cordoba, to present his idea to the Catholic Monarchs. But he was not successful either. And this took him six long years.
Poor and without any more possibilities, he came back to Huelva in 1491. Then, in his way to board a boat to France, he stopped in La Rábida Franciscan Monastery, where he would be hosted for free - as he was broken. Here you have a pic of the room where he should stay.
And surprisingly, it was in La Rábida Monastery were Columbus got finally a good audience and the key contacts for his final travel.La Rábida Monks had many links with the sailors’ world, as they were in charge of the religious affairs of all the Atlantic islands. And Columbus explained them all his idea.

You can see this very famous painting from Cano de la Peña depicting this very moment.
Columbus had long conversations with Fr. Marchena, and possibly told his “secret” intentions to Fr. Juan Perez, who gave him a support letter for the Queen Isabella. The Royal answer was an invitation to be received “with new and decent clothes, and a horse” in Granada. The Catholic Monarchs were victorious at the Reconquest final battle in Granada. And there Columbus had a – finally!- successful meeting with Queen Isabella. He told her the “secret” possibilities that this trip could bring... and they signed a contract (Capitulaciones de Santa Fe). Columbus then came back all the way to La Rábida Monastery, to get ready for the most incredible trip of the Era…
As you might suppose, none of the sailors around the area would believe his words, and even when he had the money, he was lacking the crew for this boats… Then the monks were once again the key. They introduced him to Alonso Pinzon, a shipyard owner who had the money and enthusiasm to support Columbus and contacted other VIPs for him. Supposedly, Columbus had to share also with him the “secret” intentions of his adventure to gain his confidence. With all these supports, Columbus could finally enroll a crew for the trip to the unknown America… mostly from the areas nearby La Rábida, Palos de la Frontera…And still for his following sailings, most of the crew were local inhabitants of the area… a long long long sailing tradition!
By the way, do you know the secret intentions that pushed Isabella so much to support Columbus trip? No less than the Lands of the Great Khan, the Mongol Empire! And she was just finishing the “Reconquest” of Spain!

WRA travelers at the Alcazar in Seville

For more information on this UNESCO world heritage site, please visit: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/383

Joint Concert in Córdoba at Conservatorio Profesional de Música de Córdoba

Today concert and exchange were a lot of fun, as you can see in the previous posts. Now we want to share with you some pics of the concert..

Concert started at 7,35 pm, already with 90 people sitted on the Auditorio. The concert was divided in two parts: First part was WRA alone, and the musicians from the Orquesta, all dressed in black, were sitting down in the first rows, but the left 2 rows empty for our singers and musicians from WRA, this is why you will see these empty front rows in the pics.

We had a continuos arrival of audience during all the concert, as parents and students from the Conservatory wanted to see the concert as much as possible, thought they could not stay all the time.

On the second part of the concert, WRA Choir and Ensemble performed together with the Joven Orquesta del Conservatorio Profesional de Música de Córdoba three different pieces.
First we heard two instrumental works proposed and conducted by Director Manue Pérezl: Ammerland and Nocturno Andaluz. 2 violins and 2 violas from WRA played with them.

After, and as a great finale, all WRA and Orquesta del Conservatorio played together, under the Direction of Doña Margaret Karam, the Requiem by Mozart, which was a wonderful closing to the concert, which the audience celebrated with lots of clapping.

Impressions from the Western Reserve Academy student exchange with the Cordoba Conservatory orchestra

Group picture with new friends

Dance lessons with Maestro Manuel

WRA student report: "Breathtaking Pillars and Mosaics"

Annie Sell comments on some of the activities on Friday, March 16, 2012: "Today we toured the Mosque of Cordoba with a local guide. Its pillars and mosaics were breathtaking. Later that day we performed at the Conservatory with a group of Spanish students who later surprised us by showing up at dinner. Hasta Luego!"

WRA student report: "I can't wait to sing with the Spanish school group"

Joanna Malson sums up what happened on Friday, March 16, 2012: "Today was The second day in Cordoba. We had a tour around The big city as Well as through a beautiful Mezquita. Unfortunately the weather was not the greatest it has been. It was raining during our free time to visit the shops. So far there has been wonderful food and fun shops to look at. The people in Cordoba have been very nice and very helpful. I can't wait to sing with the Spanish school group and to see what we will be having for dinner tonight! Spain has been quite the adventure!"

More pictures from WRA on tour: Group shots at Jardin de la Mezquita in in Cordoba

WRA student report: "Two very fun concerts"

Caroline Depew: "Hola! Our trip has been absolutely amazing so far! Once we landed in Madrid, we were on the streets sight seeing within two hours! Needless to say, we were all exhausted by dinner time! Yesterday we left Madrid and arrived in Toledo which was breathtaking. We went on an amazing tour of the city and sang two concerts which were very fun. Today we got on the bus again and took a stop to visit windmills on the way to Cordoba which is also beautiful! Now we are headed to dinner and after a flamenco performance which is going to be very fun! Audios!"

WRA student report: "Windmills and Flamenco"

Ai Miller comments on the activities of Thursday, March 15, 2012: "Today after an extended bus ride (during which we had the opportunity to see windmills a la Don Quixote) we came to Cordoba, which has a fascinating and massive cathedral built by Charles V over a mosque. We will go on our tour tomorrow and fully explore the history if this fascinating city, but in the meantime tonight we are going to see a flamenco dance performance!"

WRA student report: "Greetings from Cordoba"

Jonathan Depew reports about Thursday, March 15, 2012: "Greetings from Cordoba. Last night we had the honor to attend a local Flamenco dancing club. This local club is known for producing nationally ranked Flamenco dancing performers. While enjoying Fanta's we were entertained until 12 midnight. This was a great opportunity to experience local night life in the labryinth city of Cordoba. Cordoba does not seem to have any organizational plan. This past afternoon a group of men travelled the narrow alleys of Cordoba and spent one hour of our free time retracing our steps back to Hotel Selu. The Spanish cities have all been a different cultural experience and we intend to enjoy many more Spanish cities. Best Regards!"