Good day 3 from the kittykatmeowmew competition, eh!

Hello from roommates Jaclyn, Genna, and Lily!

Powell River is absolutely, exquisitely beautiful. We had our largest amount of free time today to do some exploring around the town. Half of the alto section woke up early to take an amazing run through the area surrounding the hotel, and let us tell you, while Mt Hood is stunning, it ain't nothing compared to Powell River. 

The three of us, along with others, decided to spend our free time at Willingdon Beach walking over rocks full of GIANT sand fleas and sitting on the picturesque dock. We lounged in the sun and ate venison pepperoni sticks which Ethan bought from a local butchery and dared us to eat (they were delicious, and $15 goes to the first person to come up with some kind of venison eating pun). We also visited a local coffee shop and fudgery (is that a word?) where we were asked to sing by two of the adorable sales ladies. We obviously obliged because fudge is freaking delicious (just so you know this post will be entirely food heavy, just like our stomachs).

In the evening we got gussied up in our choir formals to participate in the opening ceremonies (THE CHOIR HUNGGGGEEEERRRRRR GAMES!) in a giant hockey arena, because it's Canada, eh! We waited in the stifling hot holding area with the other choirs for the opening ceremonies to begin. Hot Choir Dad Eric Stearns fearlessly processed in while holding the American flag during the parade of choirs and made us look real good. We had a blast watching as well as participating as the last of choirs featured in the International Spotlight. Before us were a children's choir from Taiwan with the cutest choreography ever, a Russian university choir with an amazing mezzo soloist (mezzo pride from Jaclyn!), and a Kenyan women's choir that sang Hakuna Matata (for realsies!). We sang a face-melting rendition of Elijah Rock. The highlight of the ceremonies was witnessing all of the native culture surrounding the town and the history of the competition. There was a blessing of the totem pole by one of the Squamish tribe elders, and a lot of First Nation song and dance. 

We ended the night in pure Chamber Choir fashion by holding hands in a circle in the parking lot of the hotel and being immensely grateful for this experience which we have been given.

And now for fun:

Ethan likes snacks. All kinds of snacks. Seaweed snacks, muffin snacks, string cheese snacks, funny gummy snacks, blueberry snacks, chicken wing snacks, and fudge snacks. So many snacks. 

Stay tuned for a list of Ethan's favorite socks (hint, no other choir director here has any quite like them).

Casabar, McAllister, Breshears OUT!