2001 Choral Odyssey
Photo: Jim Karolyi
Vanguard Voices served as ambassadors of the United States
in the International
Musical Eisteddfod in Llangollen, North Wales, in July 2001. One
of the premier choral festivals and competitions in the world, the Llangollen
Eisteddfod welcomed Vanguard Voices in singular fashion – extending an
invitation to the group to officially open the choral festivities by leading
the Welsh audience in its stirring national anthem – in Welsh!
Over the next two days Vanguard Voices competed in three categories:
Mixed Choir, Female Choir and Folk Song Choir.
In its first competition ever, Vanguard Voices placed second
among Mixed Choirs and was further honored with an invitation
to perform in the festival's evening concert.
Highlights of the tour included performing an inspiring lunchtime concert under Sir Christopher Wren's magnificent dome of St. Paul's Cathedral in London as well as singing an uplifting Sunday service at another Wren-designed church, St. James's Piccadilly. The group also performed an open door concert at Great St. Mary's, the University Church, Cambridge, and sang a farewell Fourth of July concert to gracious homestay hosts in Barton-Under-Needwood, Staffordshire.