Bringing a bit of Oxford to the east coast of the USA

Map of tour places

So our crowdfunding campaign was a success! This July, we all bundled ourselves onto a plane, armed with folders of music and wide-eyed excitement. I'm so grateful to everyone that donated and spread the word about our campaign.

We started out in Washington, with concerts in the city church and in the cathedral. Washington Cathedral, it turns out, has a gargoyle on the outside shaped like Darth Vader, and a stained glass window with an honest-to-goodness moon rock in it. The White House, the senate, the Lincoln memorial, the Smithsonian and the National Academy of Sciences were all super close to each other, so we managed to do some sight-seeing despite the sweltering weather.

To science, pilot of industry, conqueror of disease, multiplier of the harvest, explorer of the universe, revealer of nature's laws, eternal guide to truth.

The ceiling at the National Academy of Sciences. It reads: "To science, pilot of industry, conqueror of disease, multiplier of the harvest, explorer of the universe, revealer of nature's laws, eternal guide to truth."

In Wilmington, after we were fed enormous amounts of food by the audience, we were kindly welcomed into the home of the Saads, whose daughter Alexa is a super-awesome singer, and whose son is distressingly good at board games. Then in Northampton our new host families threw a fourth of July party for us, and with the help of two small girls we dressed up the bass section in sparkly ball gowns.

The next day we sang in the church next to Smith College, and by a truly amazing stroke of luck, a few of us were shown around the university bell tower, and even got to ring the bells!

All in all, I had a wonderful time, met amazing people, sang beautiful music and saw utterly unique sights. Again, you guys, I am so grateful.

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