July 10: Mindfulness and a Sacred Concert

After we got a good night's rest, we woke up to a delicious breakfast provided by the hostel in Metkovic we were staying at, and headed off to start our busy day with full stomachs and warmed up voices.

Our first stop was the Natural History Museum - where we learned about different types of birds and insects native to central Europe. We also ended up having a really productive rehearsal in a conference room inside the museum.

Matthew leading rehearsal in the museum

When we got out, it started drizzling and I started having flashbacks of the previous day being soaked in rain. Let me just say it was a scary moment. But it passed quickly and we stayed dry.

Our original plans were to meet the mayor of Metkovic, aka Mr. Mayor - but that was cancelled so we went to a cute restaurant instead. And let me just say that was a great decision- after being deprived for weeks of chicken and fries we were gracefully provided with.. you guessed it, chicken and fries!! We also tried the world famous Metkovic olive oil with their fresh bread which was great. After being BLESSED with such a lunch we chilled for a while then headed off to the Franciscan Monastery for our sacred concert. We had a tour of the gorgeous building with jaw-dropping architecture. We toured the art museum and appreciated the old Croatian fashion style. We then visited the sacred library full of ancient texts and dusty bookshelves. Some of these books are more than 500 years old!

A small, but amazing library full of rare books.

Simone and Sadie in the monastery courtyard

After a short rehearsal in the concert space we followed with a dinner in the gorgeous outdoor corridors of the Monastery. We sat eating in complete silence in an exercise to practice mindful eating as a funeral was being held in the Monastery. We had chicken the SECOND time in a day which was a miracle.

Little local girls peering into our rehearsal.

Our mindful dinner.

The setting sun striking off the walls of the chapel

Following the delicious dinner we finally, after a long day of rehearsing and touring, had our sacred concert; professionally performing songs like Sicut Cervus and Indodana for the first time. It was our beloved pianist Tal's last time performing with us and we had a bittersweet goodbye, performing El Haderech as an encore for him. Let's just say many tears were shed that night.

The small women's choir, Klapa Viola, that performed before us in the concert

Performing in the chapel

"Ain't No Grave"

On the bus ride back to the hostel the choir began singing many throwback songs such as songs picked up on the last tour to South Africa, or even back to Training Chorus/Cantare days. It was the perfect, nostalgic way to end such an eventful day.

-Jinho

Singer of the Day: Helena, for observing the silent and mindful dinner with respect and maturity, as well as putting in a lot of hard work with the soprano 1s in preparation for this concert.