Singing Joyfully in London and Canterbury

The choir trip to England was so much fun, and I learned a lot, too! I love singing at St. Philip’s, but the cathedrals in England made our voices sound even more full. We learned to adapt the movements of our mouths while we sang to match the grand arches and columns of each space. Each of the different choir directors brought a unique perspective that really helped all the choristers. For me and the other guys, having a male choir director, Mr. Pedde from the Indianapolis Children’s Choir, was helpful because he knew how to correct us when we were singing too deep or slightly off pitch. I definitely think that this trip helped improve our confidence, and as we sang our new songs, I felt God’s presence, especially during the harmonies of Festival Jubilate when Mr. Pedde was singing with us. The concerts all went very well, and I hope they were a blessing to all who listened. 

In our free time in London, my dad and I got to explore the Tower of London, the British Museum, Kew Gardens, Windsor Castle, and Buckingham Palace––we were there for the changing of the guard! We also rode the hop-on/hop-off double decker bus, and from the top of the London Eye, which is like a huge ferris wheel with glass pods you stand up in, we saw Big Ben and Parliament. I enjoyed trying different foods, like meat pie and caramel ice cream with a macaroon on top, and experiencing a traditional London tea time at a restaurant in the Tower Hotel right by the Tower of London.

After London, we traveled to Canterbury. It was great meeting the kids from other choirs and making more friends. We bonded over fish and chips on the beach and the songs that we had been practicing. The British choristers call Sprite “lemonade”! Some of us exchanged numbers, and I do hope we keep in touch. I also became much closer with others in the St. Philip’s Choir, and our singing chemistry improved.

With the freedom of being in a smaller city, the older St. Philippian boys and I got to explore Canterbury on our own. We came across an escape room and decided to try it, but they told us we needed someone 18 or older to do it with us, so we found two ladies who said they’d be willing! It was an Indian-themed game, and it even had a tiny car inside the rooms––and we made it out before our hour was up! My dad and I also went punting on the River Stour and learned the history of the town through a performance of the Canterbury Tales. I am glad my dad and I went to England and met so many great people. I am so thankful for this experience and the donors who helped make it possible, I can’t wait to bring my new singing skills back to St. Philip’s Church!