Les Etoiles, the high school girl's choir that Chloe sings in, was fortunate enough to win 2nd place in both the historical and folk categories at the Golden Gate International Choral Festival this week. Although only 1st place winners usually sing at the final concert, Les Etoiles were asked to perform in special consideration of their lovely rendition of Lead Belly's "Bring Me Little Water, Sylvie". The picture's not great, but the performance was worth all the hard work they've been putting into it for the last several months. Well done, Les Etoiles!

When Angels Sing

When I consider the time and effort it's taken to get Les Etoiles to the World Choir Games, it breaks my heart that they don't qualify for the final round of competition. The other choirs in their category are vast and varied, the winning group featuring more than seventy girls and an extremely experimental repertoire.

But nothing can change the exhiliration we in the audience felt when they sang. The dresses were beautiful, the pitch, perfect, and the voices, heavenly (see video). I'm pretty sure most of the moms were teary-eyed; I was. And although they won't be going home with medals, the girls of Les Etoiles will have something better: memories of an experience they'll always remember.

Let the Games Begin

The sound of Les Etoiles echoed through the atrium of the hotel as they practiced this morning, in preparation for the first day of the World Choir Games here in Graz. There are so many countries represented; I don't think any of the girls (or their parents) realized the magnitude of this event.

You can see them walking by in the Opening Day parade...

after they chatted up the guys in a choir from South Africa...

...and before they all fell asleep at the table!