Head's Newsletter

Choir Tour 2015 to Tallinn and St Petersburg

On 27 th July the choir assembled at Gat- wick Airport for Simon Toyne’s last choir tour as Director of Music. We took the scenic route, flying to Helsinki and then the ferry across the Baltic, which offered the added benefit of a superb buffet sup- per. Tallinn is a delightful city with plenty of sightseeing and opportunities to sam- ple the roast bear, wild boar, Vana Tallinn (spiced rum liqueur), Kalev chocolates & marzipan. The concerts at Kaarli Church and Niguliste Museum-Concerthall were well received with large, appreciative au- diences. A highlight (particularly for ex- naval officer, Mr Leeves) was the visit to the recently opened Seaplane Harbour (Estonian Maritime Museum). The coach transfer to St Petersburg involved crossing the visa checkpoint at Nava; eventually, thanks to our Russian speaker Philip Chilcote, everyone was permitted entry. St Petersburg, described as the ‘Venice of the North’ due to its elegant

canals and 342 bridges is a city of excep- tional beauty. Built by Peter the Great it became the Romanovs’ showcase capital and Russia’s first great, modern city. We could have spent days in the Hermitage, seeing everything from Egyptian mum- mies to Picassos, and the endless palaces and cathedrals. Again, the concert ven- ues were well attended, culminating in our participation in the Singing World Fes- tival at Lutheran Church of St Peter and St Paul, which can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUq 7DyhppV0. They sang out of their skins - Ben Knight's solo in Mendelssohn Hear my prayer was quite the best that Mr Toyne had ever heard from any treble an- ywhere: it starts at 15 mins 50. In addi- tion, The Tiffinians' set at a different ven- ue in St Petersburg was caught on camera at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz AelZ4IvIs. It's pretty special.