DAY 7 - 12 JULY Our first performance at the Festival!

A fairly heavy rainstorm overnight into morning has cooled off Pärnu – woohoo!

Maestro Kaljuste is back with us in the Atelier rehearsal, pushing all of us to add the needed nuances, dynamics, and balance. We are all enjoying the hard musical work.

Following lunch, we rehearse again for our evening performance, iron our informal shirts (!), and enjoy free time in small groups of friends.

In the evening, we listen to lovely performances in Beach Park by a lively Estonian girl choir, a sweet children’s choir from Taiwan, a lovely Belgian young women’s choir. AYS is up next!

The audience bends in excitedly to hear us, getting more into it with each song – they are clapping along and singing with us on our last piece, Au Revoir les Bateaux!! The hard work during rehearsals has really paid off – beautiful solo and ensemble work, the best yet! Every Singer is proud and smiling, with new fans congratulating them for their wonderfully engaging performance. Can’t wait for the next one on DAY 9 :)

Tomorrow, a free day to relax and visit a farm museum!

DAY 6 - 11 JULY Europa Cantat junior Festival!

We love Hannele! She has been so helpful, and is translating for us whenever we need it.

Today, our Atelier rehearsal is with the woman conductor of the Estonian youth choir. She has a beautiful singing voice and amazing vocal range. After lunch, we rehearse in the Concert Hall side lounge again, preparing for our 2 AYS performances (in addition to two of the Kreek Requiem) during the festival.

During our afternoon free time, we learn how to make glass jewelry (necklaces) at this cool art studio located at the Red Tower, a portion of the 15^th century town wall.

The daily Open Sing is again great fun – we learned songs in multiple languages and one by King Henry VIII, leaving early to walk to a soundcheck at the Beach Park tent.

After dinner, we walk back to the Beach Park for a concert featuring two young Estonian choirs and one from Belgium. A quick walk to the beach afterwards to play on the funky equipment, dip our toes in the Baltic (!!!!), and goof off in the sand a little before heading back on one of the local buses (free with our Festival nametags).

Tomorrow, our first tour performance!