YPAS asked to continue to sing after the Mass concluded in Santiago de Compostela

The YPAS Concert Choir was the featured guest choir for the Pilgrim Mass in Santiago de Compostela, Spain on March 31, 2009 as part of their Incantato Performance Tour. The singers under the direction of Dr. Timothy Glasscock were asked to continue to sing after the service. Samantha Rothbauer sings the solo in this recording of Precious Lord.

For other video recordings, please visit Incantato Tours on Youtube.com

YPAS 2009 Performance Tour Day 6 from Tour Reporter Sara Gossmann

March 31, 2009

Santiago de Compostela

Waking up around 8:00 a.m. for a change compared to our usual 7ish wake-up call was quite nice for a day. We ate a nice breakfast at the hotel and set out on our way for another tour. The tour of Santiago began in the square. We took a walking tour of the older quarters of Santiago. It was a little chilly out but the day warmed up quite nicely. During the walking tour in Santiago we saw the archbishop’s palace. We also saw the Santiago Cathedral. The cathedral was amazing. Stepping inside I automatically noticed the gorgeous stained glass windows and intricate columns. The sculptures were amazing.

For lunch we were given free time. Wandering about the streets of the old quarters we found a quaint little pizza joint. A group of about seven of us split two pizzas evenly, and we got to experience the taste of pizzas from a different country. Sadly, after lunch most of the stores were closed so we visited lots of little street vendors. I personally adore street vendors because the sell unique items that are usually one of a kind. For about an hour this was fabulous. Then we decided to get a little adventurous and visited Zara which was outside the old quarters.

The day ended on quite a different note. We sang our mass at the Santiago Cathedral. At this mass we sang to some of the pilgrims who had travelled at least the last 100 kilometers on foot. Santiago is known as the third most holy place for pilgrimages in all Christendom. One of our very own delivered part of the service and we sang all of our sacred pieces.

The night ended with quite a unique dinner. Personally, I’m not a fan of seafood but if you are, then this was the place to be. At Casa de Xantar we were served a variety of tapas. This included but did not limit octopus and squid that was baked in its own ink. Needless to say, I didn’t eat very much. It was a good day overall, and our journey to Oporto and Lisbon was something to look forward to.

YPAS Videos on YOUTUBE now

Check out www.youtube.com/incantatotours for high resolution videos of the highlight concert in Oviedo. And feel free to pass those links on to friends and family.

High Mass at the Santiago Cathedral

The YPAS Touring Choir is invited to sing High Mass at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela this evening. After a city tour and free time in the beautiful historical center, the singers and Dr. Glasscock are honored to be the featured guest choir in the well attended pilgrimage mass at 7 pm. Pictures will follow later.

Good things take a while - Tour reporters caught up

Dear Readers of our YPAS Blog, please check out what our student tour reporters have to say. You can scroll down here and see what they have to say. You may also click on the special label YPAS Student Reporters on the right hand navigation or access what Hannah, Sara, Dyland and Reece have to say via this link.

YPAS Concert Choir in Santiago de Compostela

YPAS 2009 Performance Tour Day 5 from Tour Reporter Hannah Landgrave

MARCH 30, 2009

We started the morning by waking up with a 6:30 wake up call so we could leave the hotel for our tour of Oviedo at 8:30. We loaded the buses at 8:30 with our luggage because after our tour of the city we would be traveling to Santiago De Compostela. We drove through the city with a local tour guide and once we got to the historic part of the city the buses dropped us off for us to continue our tour. The streets of the historic part of the city are so small the buses cannot fit and so we have a walking tour.

The gothic cathedral opened at 10 and we got to go inside and take a tour. During the middle of the tour, to our surprise, we were told that we were going to sing in one of the chapels of the cathedral! None of us had our music and we were all dressed in whatever clothes we wanted to but it was a great experience! After the tour, we were supposed to depart Oviedo and go to a coastal village to eat lunch and get in the Cantabric Sea, but because of the sprinkling rain and the cold weather we got 2 hours of free time to shop and eat lunch in Oviedo.

When we got on the road, we still took the coastal route and stopped at the sea. We were originally going to spend 30 minutes there, but we ended up staying for an hour. We took pictures of the sea, went onto the beach, and some of the boys got into the water. Once departing the beach, we were on our way to Santiago De Compostela, which was a total of about a 6 hour drive. We arrived at our hotel and checked in and then had a buffet at the hotel. After dinner, Stefania and Katia took anyone who wanted to go on a walking tour of the historic part of the city in a group so they could see the city at night. Our curfew was midnight, which was later than usual. Everyone enjoyed the day, especially the beach, and we are glad that we have safely arrived in Santiago De Compostela.

Trying Sea Urchins

YPAS Choir arrived in Santiago after some took a dip in the ocean

We made it, didn't loose anyone and the group is eating dinner now. More updates to follow later.

Fun Times in Santa Maria al Mare

A Song of Eternal Love - premiere of Richard Burchard's composition in Oviedo

The YPAS Touring Concert Choir premiered Richard Burchard's newest composition "A Song of Eternal Love" at the Auditorio di Oviedo, Spain on March 29, 2009 as the finale of a joined concert with the Joven Coro de la Fundacion Principe de Asturias. As it is close to 3 AM, this will be the last upload from Spain for today, but I hope you enjoyed seeing and hearing the choirs.

Don't forget to leave comments on the blog. Connor, Lili and Morgan were thrilled when we passed on the greetings for them. Am sure Sierra and Jeremy will be equally happy tomorrow.

YPAS Incantato Oviedo Concert III

YPAS Incantato Oviedo Concert Video II

Here is one more encore as I can only imagine how much you want to see and hear the YPAS Touring Concert Choir during their first highlight performance on their 2009 Incantato Performance Tour to Spain and Portugal.


P.S. The Internet connections are sloooooow, it took about 40 minutes for this clip.

Encantado con YPAS Coro - Audience in Oviedo embraces singers from Louisville - Standing ovations for Amor Eterno

It was a wonderful concert for the YPAS Concert Choir and the Joven Coro de la Fundacion Principe de Asturias at the Auditorio Principe Felipe de Asturias. The audience in the prestigeous Sala de Camara Luis G. Iberni of a few hundred locals as well as people from afar, including one couple who came all the way from Louisville (not with the group) loved the choirs' performances and honored the singers with standing ovations. The two choirs concluded the formal concert with two songs that they sang together, Come la Flor, a beloved Spanish tune and Richard Burchard's special composition for the YPAS singers: Songs of Eternal Love. "Amor Eterno" was sung both in Latin and Spanish, the composition became an instant hit with the audience and enjoyed by Americans and Spanish alike. Minute-long applause was a wonderful reward for the students and their directors, Dr. Timothy Glasscock and Maestro Jose Angel Embil.
Additional information, pictures and more videos will follow - enjoy the clip below and we will let you know when the full concert is up on Youtube too. It is way past midnight here, so we hope you don't mind the wait until tomorrow as we are all pretty exhausted.

YPAS Choir is getting ready for their first highlight concert on their 2009 Tour

Here is a clip from the YPAS rehearsal at the Sala de Camara at the Auditorio Principe Felipe in Oviedo. The choir from Louisville, KY is presenting the first formal highlight concert of their 2009 Incantato Performance Tour under the direction of Dr. Timothy Glasscock at the prestigious venue on March 29 at 8 pm. The singers, students of the Youth Performing Arts School, will be joined by the Joven Coro de la Fundacion Principe de Asturias.

YPAS Concert Choir makes the news in Oviedo - UPDATED for tonight's concert

The Louisville Youth Performing Arts School's Touring Concert Choir is making some noise in and around Oviedo - and even more so on the day of the highlight performance on March 29 at 8 pm as you can see from the updated link listing. We at Incantato Tours take great pride in professional concert management and marketing for the fine choirs that travel abroad with our organization. There are also radio announcements and flyers (like the one on the right) to be seen all over town and the nearby cities. We thought to share some of the coverage here with you and recommend you check-in frequently as we will be posting pictures and most likely some video coverage of both the rehearsal and actual concert. Here is a link to the concert announcement on the Prince of Asturias Foundation for the Performing Arts, a wonderful organization Incantato proudly partners with for this very special event tomorrow: http://www.fundacionprincipedeasturias.org/esp/01/noticia1289.html

Have a look at these concert announcements too:
ARCHIVO DE MUSICA DE ASTURIAS
ELCOMERCIO DIGITAL (this one is particularly nice!)
The AUDITORIO Palacio de Congresos Principe Felice named the concert the top event for March 29

And here is the announcement in the local events magazine (keep scrolling down til you find March 29): http://www.laguiago.com/upload/ficheros/revistas/200903/go_asturias_marzo.pdf
Did we tell you already that YPAS tour manager Katia calls Oviedo her hometown? It is just one of many reasons why we included this gem town into your tour. Stepping off the beaten tourist path when traveling abroad is something we encourage whenever possible as not only will you discover places you have not heard before, but here you will find people that are genuinely interested in getting to know you and those moments usually are the most rewarding.
Last not least, have a look at the Oviedo Youth Choir that the group will be meeting tomorrow for a joined rehearsal, the highlight concert and a cultural exchange afterwards:
http://areamusical.fundacionprincipedeasturias.org/jovencoro.html

YPAS 2009 Performance Tour Day 4 from Tour Reporter Dylan Gerlach

SEGOVIA to OVIEDO
March 29, 2008

The day opened with Segovia where we spent the night. We traveled to Leon later that day where we had an informal concert at the local cathedral. "It was incredible being able to sing in such a large and historical room," said Steven Plappert, a bass in the YPAS Youth Choir. It was a big space, and hard to sing in it, because we couldn't hear each other, but we managed to get through. The beautiful glass windows were a neat experience along with the ancient roman and gothic architectural designs. We were then fortunate enough to tour through the local streets of Leon where we could experience the true culture of Spain. The people are so nice and willing to communicate with us here and so it makes it easy to communicate with them.
Later on, we traveled to the gorgeous city of Oveido. Our tour guide Renee, taught us that Oveido is considered the cleanest city in Spain. The city was full of character and was a wonderful addition to our stay in Spain. One of the highest points of the trip was our chance to sing with the Joven Coro de la Fundacion Principe de Asturias. We sang in an auditorium that could probably seat around 400-500 people. The audience was full and was really neat to sing at. The kids of the choir were so nice and pleasant to be with. They even had a rendition of 'Mama Mia' prepared for us. It was really good. They were great to talk with and to exchange Facebook addresses. We hope to stay in touch. The only downfall of the day was hearing from people that UofL lost. All in all it was an academically enriching day that was full of fun, sight seeing and laughter. We are looking forward to the rest of the trip and will keep you update on everything that is happening.
Let's add what Logan Schulz: !I liked that we got to meet new people that we never met before and that we could perform a concert together without having much or a rehearsal. We practised the music at home, but not together and not with the conductor. We could even work around the lamnguage barrier, because during the rehearsal that was challenging as the director of the Joen Coro didn't speak any English. We did understand his direction."
And Steven Plappert adds: "I enjoyed hearing another choir from another country sing, and see which repertoire they picked. It was interesting, because the songs that they chose were different, hear them sing in English and their pronounciation. We never know how other people feel about it when we sing in their language."

YPAS on tour - A summary of Day 3

Incantato Tour Manager Katia, a native of Spain, summed up the activities from Saturday, March 28 and together with colleague Stefania the two worked some magic in getting special permits to make the group more comfortable when - now listen to this - the snow started. Spain is currently experiencing an unusual cold front. But let's allow Katia to tell the story:

"We started the morning checking out after breakfast. The group was ready so much in advance that when the buses arrived we were done in eight minutes with the luggage! So we departed to Segovia before 9.30 am. Madrid was sunny and quiet, and traffic was smooth.

But on the way to Segovia the clouds arrived, and even when it did not rain, a very cold wind was announcing a chilly day. As we had advised yesterday about the weather change, most of the group was ready for colder temperatures.

We arrived to Segovia were we left the bus in the parking lot and took a walk to the Aqueduct with some free time prior to the visit of the Alcazar. We gave everyone maps for orientation and as a souvenir.

Stefania stayed with the group the whole time, asissting the guides with counting, handling tickets for the entrance to the Alcazar, and took great care of all travelers.

I went to make photocopies on Dr. Glasscock's request, as two of the freshmen had left their music behind and he had only brought one extra copy. As the group was behind schedule, and everyone needed a little rest, we were asked to change the rehearsal time from 1pm to 6pm - it wasn't a problem.

While everyone was at lunch and exploring Segovia with their chaperones, Stefania and I pulled some strings as the weather was getting worse. After talking with the information office, and calling the local policia, we got allowance to stop near by the Aqueduct for the church concert, so that everyone's walk would be a short as possible. At this time there was a little frozen water falling from the sky. Soon, a thin snow was falling all over the city. We made our way to the meeting place 30 minutes before, as we were assuming some people would come back early due to the weather. We got the group inside the heated tourism office, snow was not big but the wind was really freezing! We talked to the Office and they called again the police, to confirm that we could pull the buses uphill nearby and avoid walking with the group in such a bad weatehr. We counted and almost everybody was there. The missing ones (six adults) agreed to make it to the hotel on their own.

We went to the hotel and checked in - with a good amount of free time for both the singers and the guests who had separate transfers to the venue. As it was Saturday afternoon and snowing, most of the shops closed, so there was not too much temptation not to rest. Snow was not big but very annoying because of the wind.

The singers arrived punctually at the church and rehearsal took place for 45 minutes. Mr. Burchard recorded the rehearsal We switched off the heating, and we stop the chairs distribution as they were also recording the rehearsal - Mr. Burchard did a recording.
The recital started on time and the choir even attracted some audience from the museum visitors as well as new friends one of the moms had made. We had 19 people in addition to the entourage, which is a good number - keeping in mind that it was an informal non advertised recital, on a snowy Saturday and the church is not in the walkin area of the city.

The Director of the Museum came along, and we talked for a while about the building and the music. The acoustic was great. San Juan de los Caballeros is frequently used for classical recordings and other concerts. He was very kind and stayed later so they choir could sing some more as the venue usually closes at earlier.

So we departed to the restaurant at 7.45 pm on foot. Dinner was really easy to access, nearby the aqueduct, and it was ready when we arrived. The guests were very happy because of the concert, and they enjoyed the welcome dinner with local specialties.
And then it was time to head back to the hotel for a good night of sleep.

Here is link to the Restaurante El Bernadino
And this was the menu for the welcome dinner:

-Entremeses variados: Ensaladilla , Jamón serrano , Jamón York , Chopper , chorizo y , Salchichón

-La Carne asada con su salsa y sus patatas

-Tarta Helada

First YPAS Concert Choir performance in Segovia a success

The YPAS Touring Concert Choir's first offical appearance on stage in Spain was already a success. Despite the informal nature of the recital at the church of San Juan de los Caballeros and hardly any advertising, the singers from Louisville, KY already attracted a small crowd in addition to their own entourage of family and friends. And they went into overtime with their recital too - the 20 minute concert turned into a good half hour. Rumors have it that Mr. Landgrave took a video and as soon as we get our hands on it and are awake, we will post it here for you all to enjoy.
Buenas noches from Spain, Sandra from Incantato Tours

Catching up with Maestro Glasscock before the recital in Segovia

Here is a quick update from Ember, Incantato's Junior Concert Manager, who checked in with the YPAS travelers on Saturday afternoon: I just got off the phone with Dr. Glasscock who sounded like he was about to fall asleep. He told me that everyone was at the hotel catching a little shut-eye before the transfer to the church of San Juan de los Caballeros. As per his request, the choir will have about an hour rehearsal in the afternoon to test out the acoustics. In the evening, the singers will get their first opportunity to perform in Spain by presenting an informal concert. This recital will take some of the pressure of and also a good sound-check for the highlight concert in Oviedo on March 29. Dr. Glasscock, although tired sounded excited and said that everything was going "swimmingly well".
San Juan de los Caballeros (pictured on the right) was once the place of burial of the leading families of Segovia. The church is now deconsecrated and occupied by the Museo Zuloaga featuring beautiful artwork.

YPAS 2009 Performance Tour Day 3 from Tour Reporter Reece Jones

March 28, 2009
Segovia
Today we left Madrid and headed for Segovia. Segovia is located about 95 kilometers north of Madrid.
We woke up around seven and left at nine in our big coach buses. The buses are really nice, and they have large windows that are perfect for taking in the landscape.
The area surrounding Madrid and Segovia is pretty flat and filled with small trees and bushes. It was pretty dull on the drive but it also only took an hour or two, so everyone seemed to make it. One of our tour guides, Stefania, talks with us on the bus about what were are going to do for the day. She also shares many cultural aspects of Spain and Europe. For instance, when greeting, two woman or a man and women who meet in Spain often kiss once on the left cheek and then on the right. In Italy, they kiss first on the right and then on the left, and in France they do left, right and then left.
Once ariving at Segovia, we took a panoramic tour of the city from the bus. I think this is a great way to get an idea of the city as a whole because you get to cover a lot of space in little time. Well, drivers in Spain are CRAZY.... Little coupes swerve between lanes, speed like no other, and fly through blind curves. The only place they drive according to the rules is crosswalks. The second that little green man illuminates the people rush across the intersection. Oh, and lord forbid if you are in the intersection when the little man turns red. You face furious honking and shaking fists. During the tour we saw the Segovia Cathedral. It was probably 40 degrees and windy. Nearly everyone was freezing but a few of us huddled for warmth. Built in the 16th century, this cathedral was the last baroque cathedral built in Spain. Next we traveled and took a tour of Alcazar. This castle was a favorite residence of the queen and king of Castile. The inside is filled with huge tapestrasies, but they hardly kept it warm. The ceilings were adorned with gold leaf and one room, the pine cone room, had a ceiling covered with golden pinecones.
From Alcazar we went to the main square of Segovia. In Segovia we saw the Roman aqueduct. Unfortunately it started to sleet a little but everyone had at least a coat to wear. It was really cool because the entire thing was held up without any mortar in between the stones. In the main square there was a very famous restaurant called Condido. There several of us enjoyed a dinner where we were served conchillos, or baby pigs. The pigs were roasted for hours and were incredibly tender. The owner of the restaurant gave us a special demonstration. After reading the story of the conchillos and the restaurant, the senor took a plate and cut the pig by bashing the brim of the plate down. The meat was so tender that you could actually cut it with a plate. finally, after the cutting, he threw the plate up in the air. It bounced on the floor once and then broke into pieces.
This meal was the end to a wonderful day. Everyone seemed to enjoy their day in Segovia even though the weather seemed against us.

YPAS Tour Day 2 - Live commentaries from the Incantato Tour busses

Maestro Dr. S. Timothy Glasscock, Director of the YPAS Touring Concert Choir, was the first to answer his new Spanish cell phone - courtesy of Incantato. "The first day was fine and as smooth as it could be", he commented. Yes, the flights were exhausting, but food and service had been nice and best of all: "The kids were very well behaved." He reported no issues at all and was very pleased with the Incantato team in Europe: "We really enjoyed the nice tour, the hotel rooms were just fine, so everything is great." On Stefania's bus, Mrs. Landgrave had only positive things to say: "Everybody is good, they are having fun, but we are still a bit tired." She too was happy with the arrangements so far.
The group left Madrid after breakfast and is heading North to Segovia. Dr. Glasscock and the singers are looking forward to their first singing abroad opportunity later today. Prior to the recital at the Church of San Juan de los Cabelleros in Segovia, the choir will be rehearsing in the venue in the early afternoon. "An informal concert is the perfect first performance", the director said: "Less pressure on the kids, but a great opportunity to sing in a beautiful historical venue." And there may well be an audience beyond the entourage although we refrained from advertising the recital as per Dr. Glasscock's request. We will keep you all updated.

Madrid Sightseeing galore - YPAS group takes in most sights and even adds the Real Madrid stadium

The singers, family and friends of the YPAS Touring Concert Choir are sure keeping busy on their 2009 Incantato Performance Tour. And the summary of activities below from tour managers Katia and Stefania only refers to the very first day abroad. We all hope you enjoy those updates and pictures will follow latest on Sunday.
Let's start with some great news: Not only did one group arrive earlier than expected (despite the troubles in Atlanta), but also all the luggage made it. After being greated by our Incantato Team abroad, the groups went on orientation drives ending at the hotel. Sadly the rooms were not ready for an early check-in as promised at 1 pm, but the tour managers made sure there was plenty to do in the meantime. Here are some of the activities the travelers from Louisville, KY did: Katia took 44 of her 48 for a walk across to the Jardín del Moro, the Royal Palace gardens, and they spent some 20 minutes taking pictures and walking around. From there they went to the Royal Palace Square, then drove to Plaza Mayor for lunch. Stefania's group too took a lunch break and both groups went ontheir panoramic sightseeing tours with the local guides Raquel and Mercedes. We included a stop at the Real Madrid Soccer Stadium as an extra - several in the groups had asked to see it. Both groups returned to the hotel around 5 pm to freshen up for dinner.

Last challenge for Katia and Stefania was to figure out how the basketball fans keep in touch from afar via the computer and internet. And as I will be the one heading to Oviedo today already, part of my job will be scoop out a venue should the team continue to the next round.

Hope this sums up the first day for you all and please do make good use of this blog by posting comments, sent greetings to the singers and travelers which our team will be glad to pass on.
With warm regards, Sandra from Incantato Tours - I am leaving for Spain in a few hours from my current location in Germany

"We made it" - YPAS travelers enjoyed their flights and love Madrid

From Sara Gossman: "Hello everyone. We have successfully landed in Madrid and it’s gorgeous here. I’m happy to say that both flights weren’t as bad as I’d originally thought they would be. We took a bus from Louisville to Cincinnati where Group A boarded at 2:20 as scheduled. However, Group B’s flight was delayed nearly and hour and a half. As we finally boarded our plane we started to discover these quaint little t.v. monitors in the back of each seat. These mini t.v.’s offered newly released movies, music, t.v. shows, and games, all complimentary to the passengers. I personally enjoyed watching Slumdog Millionaire. We landed in New York around 8:00 p.m. and had yet another delay to look forward to. Thank goodness it wasn’t that long of a wait, as the passengers got to enjoy just a little bit of time to roam around the terminal at JFK. We boarded our completely full flight around 9:45 p.m. and took off around 11:00 due to runway traffic. We expected a 10:55 a.m. arrival time, which excited most of us! The lovely flight attendants served us a complimentary dinner and breakfast. I’d have to say that the breakfast was my favorite meal. Trying to sleep on a plane is nearly impossible, and most of us will be suffering from jetlag, but it is worth it! Overall the flight went well and I’m excited to say that we are finally in Spain!"

Test your Spanish skills: Press release for the upcoming YPAS Incantato highlight concert in Oviedo

LA ESCUELA INTERNACIONAL DE MÚSICA DE LA FUNDACIÓN PRÍNCIPE DE ASTURIAS presenta:

EL YOUTH PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL (YPAS)

CHOIR DE KENTUCKY OFRECERÁ UN CONCIERTO JUNTO AL JOVEN CORO, INVITADO POR LA ESCUELA INTERNACIONAL DE MÚSICA DE LA FUNDACIÓN PRÍNCIPE DE ASTURIAS

El próximo domingo, 29 de marzo, en la Sala de Cámara del Auditorio Príncipe Felipe, a las 20,00 horas

El Youth Performing Arts School Choir (Coro de la Escuela Juvenil de Artes Escénicas) de Louisville, Kentucky, ofrecerá un concierto junto al Joven Coro de la Fundación Príncipe de Asturias el próximo domingo, 29 de marzo, a las 20,00 horas, en la Sala de Cámara del Auditorio Príncipe Felipe de Oviedo. El Coro estadounidense actuará dentro del programa de actividades que la Escuela Internacional de Música de la Fundación realiza a largo del año.

La primera parte del concierto, a cargo del Joven Coro, incluirá obras del Cancionero de Upsala, así como títulos de Guerrero, Pachelbel y Vila, además de clásicos del pop del siglo XX. A continuación, el YPAS Choir interpretará espirituales y canciones gospel, de autores como Jack Halloran, Sheldon Curry o John Bennett, entre otros.

Este concierto es de entrada libre.

El Coro de la Escuela Juvenil de Artes Escénicas (YPAS, en sus siglas en inglés) abarca una amplia variedad de obras musicales, desde motetes renacentistas, cantatas barrocas, misas clásicas a obras maestras corales y orquestales del siglo XX. Incantato Tours de Charlotte, North Carolina (USA) presenta la tournee 2009.

Ha actuado además de en inauguraciones presidenciales, anuncios de televisión y acompañando a artistas de fama mundial en la catedral de Nôtre Dame de París, en St. James Episcopal de Londres, la Catedral de Rochester, la de San Marcos de Venecia, las iglesias de Santa María la Mayor, Santa Susana y Americana de Roma, la Haydnsaal en Esterase y otros prestigiosos escenarios de Europa. Cada primavera, trabaja con The Louisville Chorus interpretando piezas como los réquiems de Duruflé, Mozart y Brahms, Dona Nobis Pacem y Serenade to Music de Vaughan Williams.

La mayoría de los estudiantes de la Escuela Juvenil de Artes Escénicas continúan su formación en los principales centros musicales del país, con becas de rendimiento académico completas o parciales. Los conjuntos musicales de la Escuela han recibido numerosas críticas favorables y pueden verse en concierto durante todo el año en diferentes escenarios de Louisville.

S. Timothy Glasscock es director de Estudios Vocales y profesor de Desarrollo Vocal, Repertorio Coral, Coro de DuPont Manual, Coro de Concierto y Coro de Cámara de la Escuela Juvenil de Artes Escénicas (YPAS). También es director de Producciones Musicales y conocido en el mundo de las artes en Estados Unidos por su labor como director artístico de Louisville Chorus, la agencia artística más próspera del sureste de los Estados Unidos. Su experiencia es muy amplia y variada. Licenciado en Música por la Universidad de Louisville, es además doctor en Artes Musicales por la Universidad de Kentucky. Es miembro del “Conductor's Guiad” (Asociación Profesional de Directores de Orquesta), de la Asociación Americana de Directores Corales (ACDA), del Kentucky Music Educator’s National Conference, del Chorus America, del College Music Society y de la Asociación Nacional de Músicos Pastorales (NPM), entre otras organizaciones.

El Joven Coro de la Fundación Príncipe de Asturias, fundado en 1988 y en la actualidad formado por jóvenes de entre 15 y 21 años de edad, es una de las tres formaciones –Adultos, Joven e Infantil– que integran el Área Musical de la Fundación Príncipe de Asturias. Dirigido por José Ángel Émbil, el Joven Coro ha actuado en Asturias en numerosas ocasiones. En 1990 realizó una exitosa gira por Alemania y en 1993 participó en Clermont-Ferrand (Francia) en el Festival Internacional de Coros Juveniles. Ese mismo año el Joven Coro ofreció un concierto en el XI Ciclo de Música Coral celebrado en la ciudad de Logroño. En el año 2000 actuó en Yunquera de Henares y en la Universidad de Alcalá, así como en el Auditorio de Caja Álava, en Vitoria. En 2001 logró el II Premio en el Festival Infantil y Juvenil de Habaneras celebrado en Torrevieja. En 2005 ofreció un concierto en el Palacio Real de El Pardo que fue presidido por SS.AA.RR. los Príncipes de Asturias, coincidiendo con la reunión anual del Patronato de esta Fundación. En diciembre de ese mismo año el Joven Coro actuó en la capilla del Palacio Real de Madrid en el tradicional concierto de Navidad que Patrimonio Nacional ofrece a su personal y que estuvo presidido por S.A.R. el Príncipe de Asturias.

Ha colaborado con algunas jóvenes orquestas como las de los conservatorios de Oviedo y Avilés y la orquesta de cámara “Arché”, así como con el quinteto de viento-madera “Alte Musik”. Ha estrenado obras especialmente compuestas para él por compositores como Alfonso Sánchez o Luis Vázquez del Fresno. Como escuela de formación de nuevas voces para la música coral, es una auténtica “cantera” para el Coro de Adultos, que ya ha alcanzado un indudable prestigio nacional e internacional. El Joven Coro cuenta con un amplio repertorio, que abarca desde la música antigua a la contemporánea y desde la religiosa a la popular. Sus jóvenes integrantes ensayan durante más de cinco horas semanales y, además, reciben clases de lenguaje musical y técnica vocal impartidas por los profesores de los coros de la Fundación.

La Escuela Internacional de Música de la Fundación Príncipe de Asturias es la consolidación de un ambicioso proyecto iniciado en 1990. El traslado a Oviedo de la prestigiosa Orquesta de Cámara Los Virtuosos de Moscú y de seis destacados profesores permitió el desarrollo de una idea que habría de cambiar sustancialmente la vida artístico-musical de la región y que sentaría las bases de una enseñanza de calidad no sólo para los jóvenes asturianos con talento musical, sino también para aquellos llegados de cualquier punto de España y de otros países.

Desde entonces, el respaldo de la Fundación Príncipe de Asturias a la actividad musical docente y orquestal del Principado se intensifica con el apoyo a numerosas iniciativas pedagógicas, algunas de ellas gestadas directamente por miembros del equipo de profesores de Los Virtuosos.

Tras años de colaboración y auspicio, en 2005, con motivo de la celebración del XXV Aniversario de los Premios Príncipe de Asturias, la Fundación asumió íntegra y definitivamente la gestión y coordinación de la Escuela Internacional de Música, bajo la dirección artística del maestro Yuri Nasushkin.

Las clases son impartidas por un prestigioso profesorado internacional y la Escuela cuenta con la participación, como profesores invitados, de algunos de los más destacados músicos del mundo, entre los que se encuentran figuras galardonadas de los galardonados con los Premios Príncipe de Asturias, lo que la convierte en una Escuela diferente al resto de las existentes en España.

A través de cursos de verano, clases magistrales, así como ciclos de conferencias y seminarios, la Escuela apuesta por convertir al Principado en un referente nacional e internacional en la enseñanza musical, acercando a Asturias a jóvenes talentos y a los mejores especialistas músico-instrumentales.

YPAS Group A & B arrived safely in Spain

Great news. After a smooth bus ride to Cincinnati and a quite bumpy connection via Atlanta (compliments of Delta airlines), the first flight group with Dr. Glasscock, mostly seniors and their families arrived in Madrid and was already on the bus with head tour manager Katia when I checked in with them just minutes ago. An orientation tour is next on their itinerary, followed by check-in to the hotel. Group B had a longer than expected delay in JFK (weather-issues), but they too made in almost in time and got out of baggage claim and customs in a record 30 minutes. The YPAS 2009 Performance Tour to Spain & Portugal is off to a good start. "They are all here, a little tired, but happy", Katia said on her cell phone. And Stefania who takes care of the second bus is already in love with the travelers from Louisville, KY: "Everyone is soooo nice, oh I look forward to this journey with YPAS."

Safe travels and welcome to Spain on Friday

Dear Members of the YPAS Touring Concert Choir Tour, we wish you safe travels and your tour managers Katia and Stefania look forward to meeting you in Madrid on Friday morning.
Happy flying!

Looking mighty good: The YPAS Touring Concert Choir

These singers from the Youth Performing Arts School in Louisville, KY are touring Spain and Portugal on their 2009 Performance Tour with Incantato from March 26 until April 4, 2009. The YPAS Touring Concert Choir is directed by Dr. S. Timothy Glasscock.

Your departure is almost here!

Hello Travelers!

You're leaving in almost exactly 48 hours! I looked up how the weather is going to treat you, and it looks like it's going to be around the lower 70's and upper 50's!! It ranges so much because you will be all over the country. So, go ahead and bring a variety of clothes that will work in all weather conditions. Don't forget your 3 essentials; jacket, your camera and don't forget your PASSPORT! =)

Have a blast and I look forward to hearing about your adventures!
--Ember

Lots to see and do in Madrid

Why don't you click on the official website for Madrid here and check out what's is happening while you are in town.

Are you ready for Spain and Portugal?

Dear Singers, Friend and Family of the YPAS Concert Touring Choir, your departure date is approaching fast and our team in Spain is surely looking forward to meeting you.
Below are a few pictures of your tour managers and as you can tell, they are not the classic resume shots, but photos taking on the journey, e.g Stefania dancing with Dr. McCarthy or Katia announcing the Canticum Novum Concert. Remember to tell all your friends at home about the blog too as the tour reporters Sara, Hannah and Reece will be posting pictures, videos and stories while you are abroad and it is a fun way to stay in touch.
Personally, I look very much forward to seeing those of you who I had the pleasure of meeting during my visit to Louisville again and meet all fo you that I have not yet had a chance to say hello to. Muchas gracias from all of us at Incantato Tours, with warm regards, Sandra

Say Hola to Katia

as she introduces Canticum Novum at their finale concert in Sevilla

Meet Stefania

as she dances the night away with Dr. McCarthy on the CSULB Italy Tour

We have a new tour reporter on board!

Please welcome Dylan Gerlach to the reporter team and read what he has to say about the upcoming YPAS Performance Tour!

As the one month meeting arrived, I was still dreading the wait that was before me. As it is now only one mere week to liftoff, my feelings have become ecstatic. With all of the pressure of school, Spain and Portugal will be an incredible time to get out of our comfort zones and to "let off steam." Being a senior, this is my final spring break in high school and I could not think of a better way to spend it. As I tell people of my spring break plans, I hear about how lucky I am to experience such beautiful countries. As it is in the Lenten season, these two countries will be preparing for Holy Week and we will be allowed to experience something truly spectacular. This trip will for sure be something I will remember the rest of my life and will be able to be tell stories to everyone I know, including sharing with my Spanish class about all the things I will soon discover.

YPAS Concert Tour reporters tell why they are excited about the tour

Hello from Ember at Incantato Tours! I bet you all are starting to feel excited about your upcoming performance tour. It's amazing how you can do all this planning for so long and then all of the sudden...IT'S HERE! As you know, we awarded a scholarship for tour reporters and three of your fellow singers applied for it. On this blog, they will summarize highlights of the tour, and share the reality of the travel experiences and YPAS Touring Concert Choir performances.
The first assignment was to describe why they look forward the trip. They did such a wonderful job, I hope that after you read these that they will get your engines even more revved up about getting ready to get on that plane!

Let's start with Reece Johns: Spring break is approaching fast and every day I find myself thinking about Spain and Portugal. My mind keeps wandering to images of narrow cobblestone streets, small street-side cafés, and beautiful architecture looming over me. The trip is now only a month away and I want it to start tomorrow. I can imagine myself in Lisbon, leaning against a rail that overlooks the sapphire Atlantic Ocean. I am excited to meet the people and to see how their culture relates to ours. I want to see the similarities and differences between us all and possibly borrow a few of their unique customs. A fellow singer said, “I just can’t wait until we get to sing. We have been working so hard and I want to hear how we sound.” This trip may be the only chance I ever have to go to Europe and I want to be able to see everything, taste everything, and experience all the surroundings and cultures these people have to offer.

Next comes: My name is Hannah Landgrave and I am writing to let you know why I am looking forward to traveling with YPAS to Spain and Portugal. As a freshman vocal major this is a once in a life time experience for me. Traveling with YPAS and singing for the audiences and congregations in the beautiful cathedrals throughout Spain and Portugal will be unforgettable. I am looking forward to singing with the youth choir from Spain and meeting the teenagers in the choir. Learning about their culture and the differences between living in America and Spain will be very interesting. I was talking to Victoria Bickett a senior vocal major about our trip and she told me. "This is a great way to bond with the choir members at YPAS". I know this will be a great trip.

Last not least, let's hear from Sara Gossman: To travel overseas is the opportunity of a lifetime, especially with a choir I have been singing with since freshman year. I've never been to a foreign country, and to do it with one of my favorite teachers and lots of classmates will make this trip even more worthwhile. Jackie Wagner, another girl going on the trip said, “I'm excited because it will be an amazing experience for many people (myself included) who might not get to travel out of the country otherwise. Also, many of the kids have been studying Spanish for multiple years and the ability to utilize this knowledge will just be amazing.” It is going to be a life changing experience, like traveling through uncharted waters. This opportunity will be fascinating and invigorating. I'm looking forward to all the beautiful sights, and I know I will cherish the memories from this journey for a lifetime.

The YPAS Incantato Tour Concert Postcard

Thanks again for participating in the poll about the colors we should use for the YPAS Concert Choir Tour Poster. The majority opted for various shades of Ocean Blues and here is what our wonderful designer created just for your choir inspired by the concert theme Amor Eterno - an original piece of art. ENJOY - and please feel free to comment on the blog about this and other posts.

Professional concert organisation and marketing are essential to the success of a performance tour. The Incantato Concert Management Team takes great pride in introducing your choir in the right light to potential audiences in Spain and Portugal. The above featured image is the front of the Performance Tour Card which is very similar to the posters and other marketing materials with design in the US and print locally as well as abroad. The cards and posters will be distributed by our overseas' staff and souvenir cards are in the mail to you at home.

Beautiful Cathedrals, churches and a special Chamber Music Hall - The YPAS Concert Venues

YPAS singers get ready for your concerts in Spain and Portugal. You will be presenting two very special formal concerts, sing in three masses at stunningly beautiful and last but not least famous cathedrals, and you will also have some informal singing opportunities.
The "informal singing opportunities" means that you have been given the option to go and see the cathedral and we got permission for YPAS to sing a few pieces from your repertoire. While it would be nice just to walk into those amazing venues and just sing, the reality is that even for an informal concert, permission has to be asked and granted, but with your reputation and repertoire, our concert manager's job was quite easy. And don't worry, your tour manager will keep you informed as to when you need to have your gear and music with you. This may sound like a lot of work on your trip, but as a singer let me tell you that each event will bring you closer and will truly open your heart to the music and history! Each time you sing your repertoire it will change and tell you something new, especially dependent on your new environment and acoustics! Get ready for the exciting news!

Your very first performance will be a recital in Segovia at San Juan de los Caballeros Church at 7 pm. on Saturday, March 28, 2009 followed by a welcome dinner. The next day, the YPAS Touring Concert Choir will present another recital at the beautiful León Cathedral at 12:30 pm.

Sunday, March 29, will also be the day for your very first of two highlight concerts - in the Chamber Music Hall of the Oficina Municipal de Congresos of Oviedo. The YPAS Choir will be joined with singers from the Youth Choir of the Prince of Asturias Foundation. You can check out the group here And maybe you will even be singing a song or two together, wouldn't that be fun? Here is a first PR release for the performance too.

Tuesday, March 31st: Evening Mass in the Santiago Cathedral.
This was the place, Dr. Glasscock really wanted you to sing in, and we are thrilled to let you know that YPAS is going to be the featured guest choir for the evening High Mass on March 31, 2009. Now a little something about this amazing venue: The Santiago Cathedral in located in Galicia, Spain. This cathedral is reported to be the burial site of Saint James, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ. During 1070 while Alfonso VI of Castile was in power this great cathedral sprang into life. Due to the lapses in construction the cathedral wasn’t completed until 1122. Although during the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries many expansions and embellishments were made.

Thursday, April 2nd: Morning Mass in the Lisbon Cathedral. The Lisbon Cathedral is the oldest church in the city. Contruction begain in 1147 and hosted as a Mosque. When the city was captured early in the 12th century by Christian crusaders (led by Portugal's first kind, Afonso Henriques), the structer was rebuit and it became the first church in Lisbon. It has suffered through several earthquakes and has gone through renovations, so now it displays many different architectural styles within its walls. Click here for more information and pictures.

April 2nd: Finale Concert in Basilica of Estrela. Click here for Wikipedia's entry on that beautiful church.

And last not least, on April 3 at 6 pm, YPAS will be the featured guest choir for a very special High Mass at the Catedral La Almudena in Madrid

The Almudena Cathedral serves as one of Madrid’s fabulous and affordable tourist sites. Saint Maria de la Almudena was the one of Madrid patron saints and the source of the cathedral’s name. The cathedral has a strong and passionate history, starting around the late 18^th century. Although the cathedral had an early beginning it wasn’t completed until 1993. Unlike many other cathedrals in Madrid or Toledo (Spain’s former capital) the Almudena Cathedral is famous for its modern beauty and grand size. The Cathedral is 104m long and 76m wide (113 yards long and 83 yards wide)!