The City Choir of Washington—On Tour, July 2018

The City Choir of Washington Tour Choir outside Temple Church, London (photo: Sid Stone)

The City Choir of Washington embarked a ten-day, four-concert tour of the United Kingdom in July 2018. The program featured American, English and French choral works spanning the 19th century to today. An especial highlight of the program was the UK premiere of the late Sir John Tavener’s Tolstoy’s Creed, commissioned by The City Choir of Washington in 2012.

The City Choir performed to enthusiastic audiences at Gloucester Cathedral, Ely Cathedral, Keble College Oxford, and Temple Church in London. On days off, the choir enjoyed visits to such famous destinations as Stonehenge, Salisbury Cathedral, Berkeley Castle, Bath, the Cotswolds, Cambridge, and the Tower of London. A truly fantastic time was had by all!

The City Choir of Washington England Tour Program Book

Cherished Memories: Tour “Scrapbook”

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Photo Gallery

We are greeted by the incomparable Esther, our local guide (photo: Vivian Chakarian)

Esther, our tour guide (photo: Audrey Bigelow)

Esther and her red hat (photo: Gail Crane)

Salisbury Cathedral (photo: Jay Labov)

Salisbury Cathedral (photo: Jim Blackburn)

Salisbury Cathedral (photo: Anne Woodworth)

Salisbury Cathedral (photo: Juliet Weenink-Griffiths)

Agnes Donohue (RIP) at the "Messiah Gate" in Salisbury (photo: Emily Tsai)

Emily Tsai in Salisbury (photo: Ben Tsai)

Ravens viewing Stonehenge (photo: Jim Blackburn)

The Boundary Stone (photo: Jay Labov)

Stonehenge (photo: Jay Labov)

Bob Shafer (photo: Rachel Tester)

The choir tours Stonehenge (photo: Jay Labov)

Bill Doepkens (photo: Audrey Bigelow)

From left: Jim Blackburn, Jeanne Blackburn, Dick Morrison, Joyce Siegel (photo: Jay Labov)

Rhoda Metcalfe (photo: Juliet Weenink-Griffiths)

From left: Rachel Binger, Rachel Tester, Katie Jagielski, Zain Shariff (photo: Rachel Tester)

Bristol welcome dinner (photo: Rachel Tester)

Bristol (photo: Rachel Tester)

Berkeley Castle (photo: Rachel Tester)

Berkeley Castle (photo: Peggie Hatton)

Berkeley Castle (photo: Emily Tsai)

Filming "The Spanish Princess," Berkeley Castle (photo: Juliet Weenink-Griffiths)

Berkeley Castle (photo: Rachel Tester)

Bob listens to his "whisper" (photo: Audrey Bigelow)

Berkeley Castle. Seated at center: Joe Jones (photo: Rachel Tester)

Entering Gloucester Cathedral (photo: Jay Labov)

Gloucester Cathedral (photo: Jay Labov)

Gloucester (photo: Jay Labov)

Gloucester Cathedral, dress rehearsal (photo: Shelley Stewart)

Gloucester Cathedral (photo: Juliet Weenink-Griffiths)

The choir gets ready at Gloucester Cathedral (photo: Jay Labov)

Our "stage" at Gloucester Cathedral (photo: Audrey Bigelow)

Concert at Gloucester Cathedral | July 5, 2018 (photo: Classical Movements)

Concert, Gloucester Cathedral (photo: Classical Movements)

Gloucester concert (photo: Vivian Chakarian)

Bath (photo: Rachel Tester)

Bath (photo: Jay Labov)

Head of Minerva, Bath (photo: Jay Labov)

Bob Shafer with Minerva, Bath (photo: Rachel Tester)

Foreground: Amy Solomon, Bath (photo: Rachel Tester)

Bath (photo: Audrey Bigelow)

Bath

Bath (photo: Emily Tsai)

Tea, Bath (photo: Rachel Tester)

From left: Ben Tsai, Emily Tsai, Al Bradford, Bath (photo: Rachel Tester)

Tea, Bath (photo: Rachel Tester)

From left: Steve Briggs, Deborah Gudelsky, Lani Kanakry, Audrey Bigelow, Bath (photo: Rachel Tester)

Tea, Bath (photo: Rachel Tester)

Zain Shariff (l), Katie Jagielski (c), Ryan Davis drinking tea, Bath (photo: Rachel Tester)

Bournton-on-the-Water (photo: Jay Labov)

Bournton-on-the-Water (photo: Rachel Tester)

Celebrating Wimbledon (photo: Joyce Korvick)

Bournton-on-the-Water prepares for the World Cup (photo: Anne Woodworth)

Keble College, Oxford (photo: Rachel Tester)

Katie Jagielski (l) & Rachel Binger, Oxford (photo: Rachel Tester)

Oxford (photo: Jay Labov)

Vivian Chakarian with TCCW posters in Oxford (photo: Vivian Chakarian)

TCCW posters in Oxford (photo: Audrey Bigelow)

Rhoda Metcalfe with TCCW posters in Oxford (photo: Anne Woodworth)

Music at Oxford posters (photo: Rachel Tester)

TCCW posters in Oxford (photo: Emily Tsai)

Concert at Keble College, Oxford | July 7, 2018 (photo: Classical Movements)

Ely Cathedral (photo: Rachel Tester)

Ely Cathedral (photo: Jay Labov)

Ely Cathedral (photo: Peggie Hatton)

Ely Cathedral (photo: Rachel Tester)

Ely (photo: Jay Labov)

Ely Cathedral (photo: Jay Labov)

Ely Cathedral (photo: Rachel Tester)

Concert at Ely Cathedral | July 8, 2018 (photo: Classical Movements)

King's College, Cambridge (photo: Emily Tsai)

Cambridge (photo: Rachel Tester)

Porters at Trinity College, Cambridge

Cambridge (photo: Jay Labov)

Pembroke College, Cambridge (photo: Rachel Tester)

Punting in Cambridge (photo: Joanna Ward)

King's College, Cambridge (photo: Jay Labov)

WWI Memorial, King's College Cambridge: Rupert Brooke's name is second from the top (photo: Emily Tsai)

Mathematical Bridge, Cambridge (photo: Emily Tsai)

"A Midsummer Night's Dream," Cambridge (photo: Juliet Weenink-Griffiths)

The Tower of London (photo: Jay Labov)

Tower Bridge (photo: Jay Labov)

Tower Raven (photo: Jay Labov)

Vivian Chakarian with a Tower of London guard (photo: Vivian Chakarian)

Foreground: Lani Kanakry (l), Bob Shafer (c), Leo Settler (r), London (photo: Rachel Tester)

Seated: Meg Hemingway (l), Juliet Weenink-Griffiths (r); Standing: Gail Crane (l) & Rhoda Metcalfe (r) on the Thames (photo: Gail Crane)

RAF anniverversary flyover (photo: Rachel Tester)

RAF 100th Anniversary flyover (photo: Anne Woodworth)

Foreground: Jim Hutchinson, Jr. (l) & Bill Doepkens (r), Buckingham Palace (photo: Rachel Tester)

Fish & chips (photo: Joyce Korvick)

Fish & chips (photo: Audrey Bigelow)

Sunday roast (photo: Joyce Korvick)

Cream tea (photo: Emily Tsai)

Ben Tsai enjoys a cream tea in Bournton-on-the-Water (photo: Emily Tsai)

Delectable drinks (photo: Joyce Korvick)

Steve Briggs & Deborah Gudelsky enjoying a Pimms cup (photo: Gail Crane)

Katie Jagielski & Zain Shariff, Bristol (photo: Rachel Tester)

Jeanne & Jim Blackburn, Berkeley Castle (photo: Rachel Tester)

Rhoda Metcalfe (l), Anne Woodworth (c), Gail Crane (r), in Gloucester (photo: Anne Woodworth)

Lani Kanakry (l), Amy Solomon (c) & Durrie Golding (r) (photo: Audrey Bigelow)

Bob Shafer (l), Susan Schreurs (c), Peggie Hatton (r) in Oxford (photo: Rachel Tester)

Audrey Bigelow (l), Gail Crane (c) & Glenda Finley (r) (photo: Gail Crane)

Audrey Bigelow

From left: Connie Ridgway, Gail Crane, Anne Woodworth, Barbara Greene, Joyce Korvick, Agnes Donohue & Elaine Wunderlich at St Pancras Station (photo: Gail Crane)