Day 1: Wednesday, June 28

And we're off to PICCFest in Eugene, Oregon!

On the bus from Portland to Eugene, and all is organized and serene. Really.

Welcome to the University of Oregon's Eugene campus,
where people hula their way across the street.

Our first night at PICCFest.
We attend the opening meeting, happy to have arrived after many hours of travelling.
Girls are all smiles, even though our Eastern clocks are telling us it's ten o'clock
and we've been up for 21 hours.

Day 2: Thursday, June 29

PICCFest means we have the opportunity to sing with other choirs -- literally!
(The girls in blue are the Princeton Girlchoir -- our East Coast neighbors.)

Counting off on the way to afternoon rehearsal.

Celebrating M's 16th birthday -- and the cake is AWESOME!

A big birthday smooch!




Singing the Nigerian birthday wishes song.




Making gorgeous party faces for the camera.

Day 3: Friday, June 30

Warm up before the PICCFest choirs' evening performance
at the opening of the Oregon Bach Festival at the Hult Center.

Guest Director Henry Leck conducts 385 singers -- grouped into two choirs --
and all dressed up and sitting on the floor!




Decorative tile faces at the Hult Center --
are they singing?

After a wonderful performance as part of the PICCFest choir, the girls relax
before we go in to hear the performance of Mozart's Mass in C minor,
conducted by world-renowned Helmuth Rilling.




But first, let's take that group photograph!
(See if you can find Jodi and Mark -- and the PG girls are there somewhere. Really.)

Day 4: Saturday, July 1


Maestro Helmuth Rilling visits PICCFest
(and is greeted by the choirs' standing ovation.)
He answers the singers' questions about his life as a conductor and musician
with grace and humor.




In the afternoon, it's our turn for the Choral Workshop with Director Henry Leck.
The girls sang beautifully, with poise and focus.
Everyone listens intently as Mr. Leck comments on their singing of Ave Maria.




The girls have made lots of friends from the other PICCFest participating choirs.

Everybody loves to play Pony,
the circle dance game created by the Heart of the Valley choir.



Between rehearsals...

there's just SO much to talk about.

Saturday evening, the Pennsylvania Girlchoir is first on the program
for Sharing Our Songs II.
The audience (of their fellow choristers and their music directors)
was spellbound by their performance of Mi'k Maq.




A little of the Pony dance to celebrate after the concert.

Day 5: Sunday, July 2

Participation in the morning service at St. Mary's Episcopal Church.
Again, the girls sang beautifully.

Free time in the afternoon!
A trip to explore Eugene's Fifth Street Market included...
just a little bit of shopping.
The vintage clothing stores and thrift shops were the best.

Day 6: Monday, July 3

Exciting results of a little more adventurous Oregonian shopping...




And the evening brings the Gala concert performance!!

All dressed up and ready to sing...

Rehearsing on-stage with Henry Leck and percussionists.

The concert performance was glorious.
Afterwards everybody celebrated with pizza and hugs
(and of course a giant Pony dance!)

Visit Day 7 and beyond here