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We're on the plane - check United for updated arrival times!

We're on our way....

We don't want to jinx our luck, but after a short afternoon in the airport and only one gate change, we're 15 minutes away from boarding our direct flight home.

We passed Dramamine hors d' oeuvres all around, and Mrs. Sullivan has acquainted the entire choir with her love of Aunt Annie's pretzels.

Spirits are good, but we're all looking forward to sleeping in our own beds tonight, as well as being reunited with our families to tell them all about the incredible week we've had.

Families, remember, we'll see you UPSTAIRS at "Departing Flights", and NOT downstairs at "Arriving Flights, Baggage Claim."

The sign says boarding begins in 9 minutes, so we hope to see you soon at 10:45 p.m.

Travel Update

We've had a WONDERFUL day so far here at the O'Hare Radisson.

After a yummy breakfast at the neighboring I-Hop, the kids came back and enjoyed the pool all morning while Mrs. Sullivan did some emergency laundry for those who needed it.

We've all just had a great lunch at Steak & Shake, and were thrilled to find a Milk Shake happy hour - half price shakes!

Right now, Mr. Moss is interviewing the kids on which music they want to keep in repertoire this coming year, and in a little while we'll head over the airport to get on our scheduled flight, United #7334 at 7:45 p.m. Look for us in Savannah at 10:46 p.m.

Most of us (not all, because Mr. Moss didn't listen!) have only carry-on luggage, so as soon as we're off the plane, we'll be ready to go. NOTE: Please look for your child on the UPPER DEPARTURE DECK. We'll meet there instead of in the lower baggage claim area to avoid congestion with other travelers.

It's been pretty challenging calling and texting parents individually, so please check back on this blog for updates, and know that no news is good news from this point forward.

Your kids are safe, happy, and having a fun time together.

We (hope) to see you tonight!

Don't count your eggs before you speak too soon...

First of all, the children are all very safe and happy.

Secondly, it brings tears to my eyes when I think about how proud I am of each and every one of them.

We arrived at O'Hare around noon today, went through a long line to get through security, only to discover that our original flight had been canceled. United rebooked us on an evening flight, and I only discovered THAT had been canceled when parents started noticing it on the United website and texting me to let me know.

I spent three hours in line/at the counter with the wonderful Patricia Kucera of United customer service.

In addition to arranging hotel rooms at the O'Hare Radisson and meal vouchers (which they ordinarily ONLY due in case of mechanical problems or crew issues, NOT weather), she has us on standby and with a confirmed booking for tomorrow.

Please know that she checked EVERY airline at EVERY time, and this is the ONLY way back home.

And thanks for the suggestions of impromptu concerts - we sang to Patricia to thank her, and it brightened the entire F and E concourse. Singing kids are a great ace in the hole in just about any situation!

Thus, we're all happily tucked in tonight, and will enjoy a leisurely morning swim tomorrow before heading back to spend another day in the airport.

Flight 7124 leaves at 2:20 p.m and arrives Savannah at 5:25 p.m. It is a fully booked flight, but at present, there is not a standby list, so a few might get home. We have enough directors/chaperones on either end to make this work, so please don't worry. If it works, it works, and we'll let you know.

Flight 7334 leaves at 7:45 p.m., and arrives Savannah at 10:46. This is the one we're all confirmed to be on.

The weather has been beautiful here, but I understand that you're getting the tail end of one of the year's first hurricanes there, which is probably why our flights were canceled.

Most of our children are running low on funds at present, but please know that while United (mostly) treated us to dinner tonight, the SCC take care of breakfast tomorrow, and will help kids who have run short with lunch and dinner.

Again, please know the kids are safe, happy, and the most gracious and seasoned travelers I've ever seen in my YEARS of flying. I'd take the entire SCC over any two adults trying to get to Fargo, anyday!

Guest posts from SCC members

Our flight out has been canceled by weather. Our beautiful-weathered trip has been book-ended by horrible wind and thunderstorms, so we're on a later flight, scheduled for when the weather will be (supposedly) better.

So now, at the end of our trip, you'll hear from members of the SCC looking back on their experience of the Windy City Youth Choral Festival.

"My favorite part was":

• Meeting new people
• The cruise on the Spirit of Chicago looking at the Chicago skyline from Lake Michigan
• Singing "Sing for Peace"
• Closing down the party in the Red Lacquer room after the concert
  
• Rehearsals with Francisco Nunez
• The concert at Orchestra Hall
• Mike Stillerman, our fantastic local Chicago guide
  
• Navy Pier
  
• Lincoln Park Zoo
• The Sears Tower observation deck
• The fancy Palmer House Hilton

Pretty much, the entire trip has been a hit.

We're here until about 7:30, and will be home in Savannah at about 10:45, after a (hopefully) peaceful flight.

SCC makes Savannah proud!

In addition to singing beautiful music with an enormous choir made up of 6 individual choirs, there are also some solo opportunities for individual members. Each choir got to recommend 4 members for consideration.

Initially, two were chosen to sing various solo parts in Misa Pequenos, composed by the festival artistic director, Francisco Nunez.

Ethan will sing in the 4th movement with two other boys in a solo group.

Giuliana will sing the soprano solo in the second movement, the Gloria.

Initially, Jazmine auditioned for the solo for Can You Hear Me, a song also composed by Nunez and Jim Papoulis, who will be one of our featured Summer Choral Camp instructors, but was not chosen. During dress rehearsal, the conductor, after hearing the soloist he had initially chosen, decided to replace the soloist with Jazmine.

In addition, there are six others members participating in the small solo groups; Joye, Cameron, Jazmine, Emma, Rachel and Abigail.

Mr. Moss will be busting the buttons on his fashionable tuxedo this evening, and we're also thrilled to have several proud parents in the audience ready to enjoy tonight's fantastic performance.

The poise, flexibility, maturity and ability to follow musical instruction our kids have shown this week has resulted in some real and viable rewards for their efforts. We couldn't be more proud of each and every one of them!

Zoo Animals on Parade

We had a fantastic rehearsal today, and the hard work and preparation our kids invested has really paid off - they really know their music, and are off-book in a number of pieces.

After our morning rehearsal we headed over to Lincoln Park Zoo. The beautiful grounds, along the shore of Lake Michigan, were amazing. The zoo is a free service provided by the City, and we saw many groups and families out enjoying the beautiful weather and the interesting animals.

Mr. Moss wasn't as thrilled, as many of his favorite animals are nocturnal, but a few yawned and stretched for him, so he was content.

After the zoo, we headed to Ed Debeviks for dinner. This fun diner's "schtick" is the rude waiters, who were actually hilarious. The kids were howling with laughter while dishing it right back.

Tonight, we went to the Merit School and enjoyed a concert with the other choirs participating in the festival. Each one gave an individual performance for the rest of us to enjoy.

The Alaska choir opened with a native song accompanied by a drum, and the children came in dancing as different animals. The Minnesota choir performed a beautiful piece about the prairies based on a poem written by the Nebraska poet laureate. The Winston-Salem choir performed the Pink Panther, and it was hard for our kids not to jump in and sing along, as that was one of our sumer camp songs from last year.

Our kids were amazing. Only after we got off stage did we realize we sang NOTHING in English! They did Jubilate Deo in 6 parts, Bist Du Bei Mir, and Eliyahu Hanavi, which made our wonderful tour guide, Mike Stillerman, cry.

It is interesting that we went from bring the "little kids" last year in Somerset to being some of the "big kids" this year - what a difference a year makes!

Our chaperones, Rhoda, Vanessa and Michael, are troopers, and doing a great job making sure the kids are safe, secure and having a great time.

Tomorrow is a day full of rehearsals, and then our big performance at Orchestra Hall. If you're in the area, the concert is free and open to the public, and begins at 7:30 - we hope to see you there!

A day of possibilities...

We're enjoying a delicious breakfast at the Corner Bakery, looking out on a sunny, clear Chicago morning. Did it rain yesterday?

Seriously, we're hoping all our parents and family made it in - Mike our wonderfully knowledgeable and friendly tour guide just told us that they had canceled 500 flights out of Chicago airports yesterday!

The kids are out window shopping on Michigan Avenue before our private choral session with festival artistic director Francisco Nunez, who is the director of the Young People's Chorus of New York City.

Later, we'll take a lunch cruise and meet the other choirs - Lincoln (NE) Boys Choir, Minneapolis (MN) Children's Choir, Alaska Youth Choir, Winston-Salem Children's Choir, and Kettering Youth.

We'll end our evening with group rehearsals with our new friends.

What is it with travel and the SCC?

How hard could it be? Get on a plane in Savannah, and off in Chicago, right?

Rainy weather in Chicago caused our plane to have to circle until we were running low on gas. We had just been rerouted to land in South Bend, IN when the pilot got word there was an opening at O'Hare. Once we were heading (back) in the right direction, we hit an air pocket and some pretty impressive turbulence. Reactions were mixed, some enjoyed the roller coaster, others absolutely did not.

But all's well that ends well. We're now at the Field Museum, which will be followed by a bus tour of the city.

Spirits are good even in the rain, and it looks like the sky might be clearing. We made it!

Leaving on a jet plane

No one is happier than Mrs. Sullivan that we've got a direct flight from Savannah to Chicago. After last year's travel challenges, all we need to worry about is getting everyone to the airport on time.

We'll hit the ground running, as after we land, our local tour guide Mike will take us to the Lincoln Park Zoo where we'll spend time before checking into our hotel and heading out for Chicago-style pizza Thursday night.

We're all looking forward to cooler weather, and meeting choir members from across the nation.

Check back with us to hear about our travels!

What to pack, what to pack?

Our tour fee does NOT cover checked baggage, which is $25 - EACH DIRECTION! Thus, we're encouraging all our travelers to pack light.

You may have two carry-ons on the plane - a duffel or small rolling suitcase, and a purse, briefcase or backpack. They all have to fit in the overhead bins, or on the floor under the seat in front of you.

Once again, here's our packing list:

YOUR MUSIC FOLDER
YOUR CONCERT CLOTHES AND SHOES
Savannah shirt (to be worn on Wednesday)
Chicago shirt (to be worn on Thursday)
Blue camp shirt (to be worn on Friday)
Whatever you want to wear on Saturday
White polo or white camp shirt (to be worn home on Sunday)
Pajamas
Jeans or shorts (pack one, the other should be on your body Wednesday)
SCC sweatshirt or other sweatshirt
Underwear
ONE piece bathing suit (hotel has towels, don't pack any)
Toiletries that are LESS THAN 3 oz. each, and put in a ziplock quart bag (this is a sandwich size)
Minimal hair electric equipment (the hotel provides blowdryers)

Remember, leave home all jewelry except your post earrings, and be sure to leave your I-pods or other electronics, and your cell phones. These are not allowed, and they WILL be confiscated.

Also, if you're bringing a gift card instead of cash, go ahead and write your name on it in Sharpie so there's no confusion.

See everyone at the airport on Wednesday morning NO LATER THAN 5:30 A.M.!

Counting down to Windy City

We're counting down the days before the SCC's Senior Choir leaves for Chicago, the Windy City.

17 members, three chaperones, two directors and our wonderful accompanist are trying to pack lightly to avoid the checked baggage fee.

Unlike our trip last year to England, this year's trip involved a simple DIRECT flight from Savannah right to Chicago.

Managing Director Cuffy Sullivan is currently at the Chorus American conference in Atlanta, and just met Windy City Choral Festival artistic director Francisco Nunez. He is also director of the Young People's Chorus of NYC, and this morning received an award from ASCAP for his creative programming.

We'll include our packing list, and some Chicago weather information on the blog for our kids and families, and this is also where you can check in to see how the trip is going!