Concerts & Chorale Social
We flew back to NYC on August 2 and then gave one concert in VA and two in PA. Sunday evening after the last concert we had a chorale social at the Roman Stoltzfoos farm, SpringWood Farm.
Unforgettable Moments
Then there was the unforgettable chorale Director and his sometimes motley tribe. Discussions. Games like Sudoku, Ghost, and Scum. Parody songfests. Ticklish Reuben. Gene’s legacy of travel woes. The Hood. You never knew what you were going to see or hear next. This was a group with a strange mixture of maturity and hilarity, neither trait being mutually exclusive in anyone! What a joy to travel with them.
Travel in Ireland
Jonathan and Joyce Yoder, also members of Dunmore East Fellowship, established the contacts and put together our itinerary. We were blessed to have them travel with us to most of our concerts. They also planned a number of memorable sightseeing stops, which we thoroughly enjoyed. One highlight for everyone was a hike to a mountain lake, a lake nestled between crags of one of Ireland’s “mountain” peaks. Other memorables included Waterford Crystal, the Dean and Rock of Cashel, London (and the Tower Bridge at night, and the red telephone booths, for some), Bunratty Castle, and the Dunbrody famine ship.
The People We Met
Even more important than the sights, though, were the people we met. Our hosts were always generous and kind. They also paid a price to make this a delightful tour. We were frequently served a meal before and a tea after a concert. Along with the unforgettable Dean of Cashel, we could mention the brothers and sisters at Dunmore East, our tour guide in London and his family, the family at Sandiway Gospel in Norwich, the couple stranded at JFK due to lost passports, our bus driver Shawn, and the many dear Christian people we spoke with before and after concerts. Listening to the stories of their lives just confirmed that God is at work in the hearts of people all over the world, wherever anyone is listening. We also had a number of opportunities to share our faith and history. Many people recognized us as Amish but that is about all they knew. So, we were sharpened and encouraged as we answered various questions.
Hospitality of Our Hosts
Here we were also served many delicious meals, cooked by the local ladies and by two of our chorale members whose primary responsibility was food management and preparation.These two did such a good job that we let them travel around with us and attend each concert. We also took in some fine Irish and English cuisine in homes and restaurants. However, sometimes the food readily available was out of our preferred price range, so we patronized local grocery stores.
Hosted by Amish Mennonite Congregation
After we arrived in Ireland on July 16, we spent several more days rehearsing and re-memorizing our music. This took place at Dunmore East Christian Fellowship where Brother Dan Yoder is the Senior Pastor. This Amish Mennonite congregation graciously allowed us to use their church building for our rehearsals. This place functioned as our home base. From here we went on several one day trips, a three day trip through northern Ireland, and a four day trip to England and Wales. Most of the male choir members also lodged here, while the ladies stayed in the homes of various members of this congregation.
Second Trip to Ireland
In July 2007, Oasis Chorale completed their second tour to Ireland and England. A core group of Chorale members had also been on the 2003 tour, but for many of us, a singing tour in a foreign country was brand new. We were not disappointed. The highlight was, of course, singing! We sang in many beautiful churches but also in some rather ordinary churches. More importantly, our audiences were very appreciative and communicative, which helped our tour to feel like a ministry rather than just a series of performances.
Practice in May
Like usual, nothing good comes unless a price has been paid by someone. We as a chorale met in May for a weekend rehearsal in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. During this time, we penciled our music scores with all manner of coded scratches at the direction of our beloved director. Then we headed home, took a deep breath, and commenced to memorize everything. Many intense hours were spent, which proved to be a worthy investment.
Oasis Chorale Concert List 2007
Friday, July 20
8:00 @ Kilkenny Presbyterian Church, Kilkenny City
Saturday, July 21
7:30 @ Dunmore East Christian Fellowship, Co. Waterford
Sunday, July 22
7:00 @ Clon Beg Church (short 1/2 hr. service)
8:30 @ Church of Ireland Cathedral – Cashel, Co Tipperary
Monday, July 23
8:30 @Clogher Presbyterian Church, Co. Tyrone
Tuesday, July 24
7:00 @ Newbridge Bible Fellowship Church, Co. Kildare
Friday, July 27
7:00 @ The Finnish Church in London, England
Saturday, July 28
7:00 @ St. Mary’s Church, Aylesbury, England
Sunday, July 29
6:00 @ Sandiway Gospel Church, Northwich, England
Tuesday, July 31
8:00 @ Good Shepherd Convent, Waterford City
Wednesday, August 1
8:00 @ Listowel Christian Fellowship, County Kerry
Friday, August 3
7:30 @ Bank Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg VA
Saturday, August 4
6:30 @ Shippensburg Christian Fellowship, Shippensburg PA
Sunday, August 5
2:30 @ Weaverland Mennonite Church, Blue Ball, PA
Oasis Chorale Detailed Itinerary 2007
Monday, July 16
Depart for JFK International Airport – 2:30 pm
Tuesday, July 17
Arrive at Shannon International Airport- 8.55AM
Tour Bunratty Castle & Folk Park
Travel to Dunmore East
Overnight at Dunmore East Christian Fellowship
Wednesday, July 18
Rehearsal
Cliff Walk
Overnight at Dunmore East
Thursday, July 19
Rehearsal
Beach Walk
Overnight at Dunmore East
Friday, July 20
Morning rehearsal (if needed)
Tour Nicholas Mosse Pottery
Kilkenny City
CONCERT: 8:00 @ Kilkenny Presbyterian Church, Kilkenny City
Overnight at Dunmore East
Saturday, July 21
Tour Dunbrody Famine Ship
Tour Hook Head Lighthouse
CONCERT: 7:30 @ Dunmore East Christian Fellowship, Co. Waterford
Overnight at Dunmore East
Sunday, July 22
Church at Dunmore East Christian Fellowship
Travel to Cashel
CONCERT: 7:00 @ Clon Beg Church (short 1/2 hr. service)
CONCERT: 8:30 @ Church of Ireland Cathedral – Cashel, Co Tipperary
Overnight with hosts in Cashel
Monday, July 23
Tour Rock of Cashel
Travel to Tyrone
CONCERT: 8:30 @ Clogher Presbyterian Church, Co. Tyrone
Overnight with hosts in Tyrone
Tuesday, July 24
Tour Ulster-American Folk Park
CONCERT: 7:00 @ Newbridge Bible Fellowship Church, Co. Kildare
Overnight at Newgrange Lodge
Wednesday, July 25
Tour Dublin
Travel to Dunmore East
Rest, Rehearse, and Relax
Thursday, July 26
Morning sailing from Rosslare, Ireland to Fishguard, Wales
Travel across Wales and England to London
Overnight at Thameside Hostel
Friday, July 27
Tour London
CONCERT: 7:00 @ The Finnish Church in London, England
Overnight at Thameside Hostel
Saturday, July 28
Travel from London to Oxford
CONCERT: 7:00 @ St. Mary’s Church, Aylesbury, England
Overnight at Oxford Hostel
Sunday, July 29
Attend a morning service at a local cathedral
Travel to Cheshire
CONCERT: 6:00 @ Sandiway Gospel Church, Northwich, England
Overnight on bus and ferry en route to Dunmore
Monday, July 30
Return to Dublin on night ferry
Travel to Dunmore East
Rest
Overnight at Dunmore East
Tuesday, July 31
Tour Waterford Crystal
Hike and Picnic at Mahon Falls
CONCERT: 8:00 @ Good Shepherd Convent – Waterford City
Overnight at Dunmore East
Wednesday, August 1
Travel along southern Ireland coast
CONCERT: 8:00 @ Listowel Christian Fellowship, County Kerry
Overnight at Jamaica Inn near Shannon
Thursday, August 2
Leave from Shannon International Airport – 9:30 am
Arrive at JFK at 11:40 A.M.
Arrive in Lancaster, PA between 4:00 and 5:00 pm
Friday, August 3
Travel to Harrisonburg, VA
CONCERT: 7:30 @ Bank Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg VA
Saturday, August 4
Travel to Shippensburg, PA
CONCERT: 6:30 @ Shippensburg Christian Fellowship, Shippensburg PA
Sunday, August 5
Sunday School at SCF
Travel to Lancaster, PA
CONCERT: 2:30 @ Weaverland Mennonite Church – Blue Ball, PA
Oasis Chorale Personnel 2007
Soprano I
Jeanene Nisly
Kendra Miller
Phoebe Raber
Suzanne Good
Soprano II
Susan Lapp
Lana Martin
Lisa Fehr
Charlene Stoltzfoos
Marlene Schrock
Alto I
Martha Lapp
Regina Brubaker
Crystal Miller
Joy Mast
Alto II
Rose Stoltzfus
Brenda Kuhns
Audrey Kuhns
Ginger Good
Bass I
Jotham Yoder
Daniel Miller
Jonathan Fisher
Kyle Stoltzfus
Bass II
Gene Miller
Philip Lebold
Lavelle Beiler
Joe Miller
Tenor I
Laverne Glick
Franklin Miller
Wendel Hershberger
Lauren Kauffman
Tenor II
Mannie King
Arlyn Kauffman
Nolan Martin
James Swartz