Monday May 15, 2006
Departure from the USA via scheduled air service, including full meal, beverage service and in-flight entertainment. The destination is York, England, via the London airport.

Tuesday May 16, 2006 York
Groups arrive in York and check into hotels. Chorus members and non-singing participants gather for the Welcome Dinner with introductions, a brief orientation and local folk entertainment.

York - in AD 71, the Roman Ninth Legion built a fortress, Eboracum, later capital of the northern province. Here, in AD 306, Constantine the Great was proclaimed Emperor. In AD 866, the Vikings captured the city which became Jorvik. Scandinavian influence, custom and street names continued long after the Norman conquest. Medieval York, its prosperity based on wool, was a city of 10,000 people and forty churches, the richest city in the country after London.

Wednesday May 17, 2006 York
Morning guided city tour including entrance to both the York Minster and the Jorvik Viking Center, a walk along the walls which embrace the whole of medieval York, a visit to the Shambles (the most visited among many streets with overhanging timber-framed houses), the ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey (founded in 1086), and many other attractions. Rehearsals with Bob Chilcott, Bill Carroll and Welborn Young begin after lunch in the York Minster Chapter House. Non.singing participants may enjoy additional sight.seeing opportunities. Individual group dinners are followed by evening rehearsals.

Thursday May 18, 2006 York
Morning rehearsals. Afternoon tour options include excursions either to Selby Abbey or the Harrogate Pump Room Museum. Individual group dinners are followed by evening rehearsals.

Friday May 19, 2006 York
Dress Rehearsal in the York Minster with chorus and soloists in the morning. Afternoon free for seeing more of York, shopping, and preparing for the concert. Dinner on own this evening. Festival Finale Performance at the York Minster.

Saturday May 20, 2006 Stratford-upon-Avon
Transfer to Stratford-upon-Avon. Afternoon at leisure.

Stratford-upon-Avon, one of the most famous towns in England, is situated on the west bank of the River Avon, in the heart of the Midlands. It dates back to at least Roman times, but its appearance today is that of a small Tudor market town, with mellow, half-timbered architecture and tranquil walks beside the tree-fringed Avon. This image belies its popularity as the most visited tourist attraction outside London, with eager hordes flocking to see buildings connected to William Shakespeare or his descendants.

Sunday May 21, 2006 Stratford-upon-Avon
Morning tour of the Shakespeare properties. Start with the half-timbered house that is Shakespeare’s Birthplace. The house itself is part museum and part shrine and is of course, the house where the bard was born in 1564. Then visit Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, which is situated around 1 mile outside Stratford. In truth, the cottage is more a farmhouse than a cottage. We will see the Hathaway bed in addition to the beautiful gardens, orchard and Shakespeare tree garden. Also tour Holy Trinity Church, which occupies a truly magical setting amongst some trees next to the river. The church itself is typically English, demonstrated by the tower, transepts and the perpendicular nave and aisle. It is on the north side of the chancel that Shakespeare is buried. Possible afternoon/evening concert in Holy Trinity Church as part of the 2005 American Celebration of Music in Britain.

Monday May 22, 2006 London
Morning transfer to London. Stop en route in Oxford for a panoramic city tour, including a visit to ChristChurch College. See why many authors have been inspired by Oxford, including Oscar Wilde, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkein. Find your own inspiration as we see the Bodleian Library, Ashmolean Museum, Radcliffe Camera and the various university colleges of this ‘sweet city with her dreaming spires’. Continue on to London.

London is a cozy city, encompassing some 620 square miles and 7,000,000 hospitable people. Established 1,250 years ago by King Aethelbald, London became an important Roman city. It was resettled by the Saxons in the fifth century, after the end of the Roman occupation. London has been scourged by the plague (1665) and was almost entirely destroyed by the Great Fire (1666). World War II's "Blitzkrieg" tore up the city considerably. She stands today as a monument to perseverance, culture, excitement, history, and greatness.

Tuesday May 23, 2006 London
A 6-hour tour of London includes the residential and shopping districts of Kensington and Knightsbridge. A visit is made to Whitehall and Trafalgar Square with Nelson's Column, past Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament to Buckingham Palace, where we see the Changing of the Guard. Continue along Fleet Street to St. Paul's Cathedral, and then to the 900-year-old Tower of London, whose construction was initiated by William the Conqueror. Here we also view the Crown Jewels. Midday recital/concert in one of London’s many cathedrals or churches as part of the 2006 American Celebration of Music in Britain. Evening farewell dinner.

Wednesday May 24, 2006 Depart for home
Transfer to a London airport for the return flight to the USA. Return home in the evening of the same day.