NORTH CAROLINA BOYS CHOIR

AND CHAMBER CHOIR

Durham -Chapel Hill Triangle Area, NC

PERFORMANCE TOUR OF SCOTLAND, WALES AND ENGLAND with

PARTICIPATION IN THE SHREWSBURY INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL

JUNE 19 – 30, 2005

01:00 pm        Assemble at the Raleigh/Durham International Airport (RDU) and check in for your flight to Glasgow, Scotland.

03:51 pm        American Airlines flight #1759 departs for Chicago’s O’Hare Airport (ORD).

04:57 pm        Arrive Chicago and check in for American Airlines flight #52 to Glasgow, Scotland (GLA).

07:35 pm        American Airlines flight departs Chicago.

                      Dinner and overnight on board.

                     Breakfast on board the plane.

08:50 am        American Airlines flight arrives Glasgow.

                     All passengers should proceed to the baggage claim area, claim your luggage, clear customs and meet you Ambassador Tours escorts

                     and private motorcoach drivers.

10:00 am        Board your coaches and travel the short distance to Stirling Castle.

1:00 am          Visit Stirling Castle (admission included). Sitting high on a rocky crag, Stirling Castle dominates the town and the surrounding area. One of

                      the finest examples of Renaissance architecture in Scotland, the present building dates from the 15^th and 16^th centuries. The Old Town,

                      located below the castle is still protected by the original walls which were built to keep Mary, Queen of Scots, safe from Henry VIII.

                      Independent lunch in Stirling followed by time for shopping and independent sightseeing.

03:00 pm        This afternoon visit the Wallace Monument (admission included). The monument recalls Scotland’s first freedom fighter William Wallace.

                      Here you will see an audiovisual presentation and can climb the 246 steps of the spiral staircase for a spectacular view of Stirling and

                      Abbey Craig, on which the monument stands.

05:00 pm        Late afternoon, meet your homestay families and go home with them for dinner and overnight.

05:30 pm        Accompanying adults who are not chaperoning will be transferred to your hotel for check in.

07:00 pm        Accompanying adults will have dinner at your hotel and overnight.

                         Breakfast with your hosts. Your host families will provide a packed lunch for you.

07:00 am           Accompany adults will have full English breakfast at the hotel.

08:00 am           Meet your coaches and travel the short distance to Edinburgh.

09:00 am           Upon arrival, meet your professional Blue Badge city guides, Sandra Felton-Edkins and Christine Nisbet at Charlotte Square. Begin a

                        panoramic sightseeing tour of Edinburgh to include the Royal Mile, the statue of Greyfriar’s Bobby, the “old city” and the “new city”,

                        Princes Street and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

11:00 am           Your tour will end at St. Giles Cathedral where, in 1560, John Knox was appointed minister of the Church of St. Giles when the Reformed

                        religion was formally ratified by law in Scotland. Here you will see the statue of Knox near the spot where he is buried.

11:15 am           Time to prepare for your concert performance.

11:50 am           The choir must be in place for the prayer service.

12:15 pm           Perform an informal concert at St. Giles Cathedral, the “High Kirk” of Scotland, as part of their mid-day concert series (confirmed).

01:00 pm           The remainder of the afternoon is free to have your packed lunch and enjoy independent sightseeing. Accompanying adults will have

                         an independent lunch. You might choose to visit Edinburgh Castle, or the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the home of Queen Elizabeth

                         when she visits Edinburgh. Or you might choose to go shopping on the Royal Mile or on Princes Street.

04:30 pm           Late afternoon, board your coaches and return to your homestay families for dinner and overnight.

                         Accompanying adults who are not chaperoning will be transferred to your hotel and will have independent dinners this evening.

               Bid your host families goodbye after breakfast. They will provide a packed lunch for you today.

07:00 am           Full English breakfast for the accompanying adults at the hotel, and check out.

08:00 am           Meet the group and travel south, crossing the border into England.

                         A stop will be made in Durham (the sister city to Durham, NC) to visit Durham Cathedral. The city of Durham was built on a rocky

                         peninsula on the River Wear’s route to the sea. It was chosen as the last resting-place for the remains of Saint Cuthbert and the relics of

                         the Venerable Bede, making it an attraction for pilgrims. The beautiful 900-year-old Cathedral boasts unique giant lozenge, chevron,

                         trellis and dog-tooth patterns carved into the columns, piers and vaults, some of which have never before been seen in a cathedral.

11:30 am           Meet your guides for a tour of the Cathedral prior to your informal concert performance. (Included)

12:30 am           There is a prayer service at Durham Cathedral

01:00 pm           The choir should be in place for this afternoon’s performance.

01:15-2:05 pm    Perform an informal concert this afternoon at Durham Cathedral in the Crossing of the Cathedral between the transepts (confirmed).

2:30 pm             Time to enjoy your packed lunch. Accompanying adults will have an independent lunch in Durham

                         Board your coaches and continue traveling south to Harrogate.

05:00 pm           Meet your homestay families and go home with   them for dinner and overnight.

05:30 pm           Accompanying adults who are not chaperoning will be transferred to your hotel for check in and independent dinner.

06:15 pm           Choristers will be transferred to Harrogate to meet the homestay participants and transfer to Harrogate Granby High School.

07:00 pm           A combined concert has been arranged with the Tewit Youth Band, this evening, at the Harrogate Granby High School auditorium 09:00 pm           Return to your host families for overnight. Accompany adults will be transferred to Ripon for overnight at the hotel.

                        Breakfast with your host families. They will provide a packed lunch for you today.

07:30 am           Accompanying adults will have full English breakfast at the hotel.

08:30 am           This morning, meet your coaches and travel east the short distance to York.

09:15 am           Upon arrival, meet your city guides, Louise Keegan and Judy Denton at Union Terrace Coach Park for a walking tour. First established

                         by the Vikings who called it Jorvik, you will see the city’s Roman walls and gates, the Shambles (an area of cobbled streets and

                         overhanging shops) and the York Minster (admission included).

                        There will be free time this afternoon to enjoy your packed lunches and a bit of shopping in York. Accompanying adults will have an

                        independent lunch in York.

02:00 pm           Board your coach and return to Harrogate and Ripon Cathedral for rehearsal.

03:00 pm           Rehearsal time has been scheduled for you prior to this evening’s concert performance.

04:30 pm           Your rehearsal ends, board your coaches and return to Harrogate.

05:00 pm           Meet your host families.

                         There will be time to enjoy a light supper with your families prior to returning to Ripon for this evening’s concert performance.

                         Accompanying adults who are not chaperoning will be transferred to your hotel.

06:30 pm           Homestay participants should meet at a designated location, board the coach and transfer to Ripon.

07:30 pm           This evening perform a full concert at Ripon Catheral (confirmed).

08:30 pm           Following your concert accompanying adults will return to the hotel and the homestay participants will return to your host families for

                         overnight stays.

09:00 pm           A late dinner has been arranged for accompanying adults at the hotel this evening, followed by overnight at the hotel.

 

                         Say goodbye to your host families after breakfast this morning and meet your coaches. Your hosts will pack a lunch for you

08:00 am           Accompanying adults will have full English breakfast at the hotel, check out and meet the coaches.

09:00 am           Today you will travel southwest to Chester. Upon arrival, enjoy your packed lunch. Accompanying adults will have an independent lunch

                         in Chester.

01:00 pm           After lunch, meet your city guides (Names TBA) at the Tourist Information Center at the Town Hall for a walking tour of Chester. First

                         settled by the Romans in AD79, the main streets are now lined with pretty timber buildings. They are called the Chester Rows and have

                         two levels of shops and restaurants. The cathedral, located in the middle of the city, is surrounded on two sides by the city walls.

02:30 pm           At the conclusion of your tour, meet at the cathedral.

03:00 pm           Perform an informal concert at Chester Cathedral this afternoon (confirmed).

03:30 pm           Meet your coaches and continue traveling to Shrewsbury to check in to the Shrewsbury International Music Festival and to meet you

                         homestay families. Your homestay families will take you home to Wem for dinner and overnight. Accompanying adults who are not

                         chaperoning will be transferred to your Shrewsbury hotel for check in. Accompanying adults will have dinner at

                         your hotel.

                         The Mayor will host the CIVIC Welcome Reception with exchange of gifts, this evening.

                        Breakfast with your homestay families. Your families will pack a lunch for you today.

07:00 am           Accompanying adults will have full English breakfast at the hotel.

                        This morning, join the many other participants for photographs and a Festival Parade through the town of Shrewsbury.

                         Shrewsbury is almost an island, enclosed by a great loop of the River Severn. In medieval times, the town was a center for wool

                         trade and the wealthy built beautiful timber-framed buildings, many of which still stand along the high street.

                         Your Shrewsbury Festival Escort will provide an orientation tour for everyone.

                         A group photo will be taken of all the festival ensembles on the grounds of Shrewsbury Castle.

12:00 pm           Time to enjoy your packed lunch, followed by some free time for shopping and independent sightseeing in this pretty market town.

                         Accompanying adults will enjoy an independent lunch.

4:00 pm             This evening, perform for 20 minutes with the Battle Creek choirs and the Colorado Orchestra in the Shrewsbury International

                         Music Festival’s Opening Concert in the Music Hall.

5:00 pm             Dinner and overnight with your host families.

                        Accompanying adults will have independent dinners this evening and overnight at the hotel.

                         Breakfast with your homestay families.

07:00 am           Accompanying adults will have full English breakfast at the hotel.

                        This morning attend and participate in church services in a local parish church as part of the Shrewsbury International Music

                        Festival.

                        After church, an excursion has been planned to a nearby sightseeing attraction (admission included).

                        Your packed lunch will be provided by your homestay families. Accompanying adults will enjoy an independent lunch.

                        Tonight a Festival Social Workshop Evening is planned for all participants.

                        Dinner and overnight with your hosts.

                        Accompanying adults will have independent dinners this evening and overnight at the hotel.

                         Breakfast with your homestay families.

07:30 am           Accompanying adults will have full English breakfast at the hotel.

                         Please note: Today’s exact itinerary is dependent upon your final festival schedule. Your host families will pack a lunch and for yo

                         today. Accompanying adults will have an independent lunch today.

                         Your journey will take you into the mountains of Snowdonia and to the town of Llanberis.

08:30 am           Meet your coaches and travel into North Wales.

11:00 am           Check in for the Snowdon Mountain Railway

11:30 am           Board the Snowdon Mountain Railway (admission included) the only narrow gauge rack railway in Britain. It travels 8.5 miles up the side

                         of Mount Snowdon to a height at the summit of 3560 feet. On a clear day you can see the Isle of Man and Ireland.

02:00 pm           Board your coach and return to Shrewsbury.

04:30 pm           A massed rehearsal is scheduled in the Abbey.

                         Accompanying adults will have an independent dinner.

                         This evening, perform in the Shrewsbury Abbey for 20 minutes as part of the International Celebration Concert with Massed

                         Festival Choral and Orchestra Performances.

                         Return home with your host families where you will enjoy a hot snack prior to your overnight.

                         Accompany adults return to the hotel for evening.

                         Say goodbye to your host families after breakfast.

07:00 am           Accompanying adults will have full English breakfast at the hotel and then check out.

08:00 am           Meet the coaches and travel southeast to Warwick.

10:00 am           Visit the magnificent Warwick Castle (admission included). The original Normal castle was built in the 14^th century for the Earl of Warwick.

                        Climb to the top of Guy’s Tower for a splendid view of the town of Warwick and the English countryside.

                        Time to eat your packed lunch at the castle. Accompanying adults will enjoy an independent lunch.

12:00 noon        Meet your coaches and transfer to nearby Stratford-upon-Avon. This pretty town is located on the banks of the River Avon at the

                         northern edge of the scenic area of England called the Cotswolds.

01:00 pm           Upon arrival, visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace (admission included) followed by some free time to shop and explore.

05:00 pm           Late this afternoon, board your coaches and continue on to London.

07:00 pm           Check in to your centrally located London hotel.

08:00 pm           Dinner at the hotel and overnight.

08:00 am            Full English breakfast at your hotel.

09:00 am            Meet your professional “Blue Badge” guides, Susan Jackson and Mary Frost, board your coaches and begin a panoramic tour of

                          London. See Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Trafalgar Square.

                         Your tour will end at the Tower of London (admission included).

                         Independent lunch around the Tower, then transfer to Southwark Cathedral.

02:30 pm           Warm up for your mid-day concert performance.

02:50 pm           A concert has been arranged for your group at Southwark Cathedra. (confirmed).

03:30 pm           Following your concert, the remainder of this afternoon is at leisure to explore London.

07:00 pm           Dinner has been arranged for your group at Pizza Express Langham Place.

                         This evening is at leisure. Time to pack and prepare for tomorrow’s return flight home.

                          Overnight at the hotel.

08:00 am           Full English breakfast at your hotel and check out.

09:00 am           Board your coach and transfer to London’s Gatwick Airport.

10:00 am           Check in for flight #173 to Raleigh/Durham, N.C.

01:00 pm           Your flight departs London.

                         Lunch and a snack will be served on board.

04:15 pm           Arrive Raleigh/Durham International Airport.