Choral Gala in Bath, England with Jonathan Willcocks Join Encore Tours and director/composer Jonathan Willcocks in a celebration of the joy of song, culminating in an en masse concert to benefit children battling cancer. Itinerary Benefiting Charities Jonathan Willcocks Reserve your Spot Itinerary Event Inclusions: • Workshop with Jonathan Willcocks for each participating chorale • Two en masse rehearsals with Jonathan Willcocks • Individual performance in the Bath area • En masse performance at Bristol Cathedral with orchestral accompaniment • Sightseeing of Bath and surrounding area • Cultural exchange at a local high school • Sheet music • Round-trip airfare from the U.S. • Airline taxes and fuel surcharges • Four nights hotel accommodations at a 3- or 4-star hotel • Breakfast and dinner daily • Deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach and driver for all transfers and excursions • Tour Manager throughout Day 1: Monday, June 22, 2009 DEPART Depart the United States today for your overnight flight. Dinner and breakfast are served onboard. Day 2: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 LONDON/BATH Cheers!  Arrive in London this morning—your tour manager will greet you at the airport, and assist with your transfer to Bath.* Check into your comfortable hotel and enjoy dinner. This evening there is a welcome reception for participating ensembles, with special guest Jonathan Willcocks! *Groups may opt to do a guided sightseeing tour of London prior to transferring to Bath. Day 3: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 BATH Morning guided sightseeing of Bath – visit the Royal Crescent, Pulteney Bridge and the Roman Baths. Throughout the day and evening today, participating ensembles will be presenting individual performances (sample venues include Wells Cathedral, Bath Abbey, Bathampton Parish Church). Throughout the afternoon, individual workshops for each ensemble with Jonathan Willcocks will occur. Dinner and overnight in Bath. Day 4: Thursday, June 25, 2009 BATH This morning you’ll enjoy an en masse rehearsal with Jonathan Willcocks! Afterward, there is free time for lunch. This afternoon features an exchange and performance with local students at the Forum in Bath, an ancient Art Deco cinema which has been converted to a multi-purpose venue hosting numerous concerts each year. This evening you’ll enjoy a gala dinner for all participating performers. Day 5: Friday, June 26, 2009 BATH Utilize this morning to pursue the individual interests of your ensemble.  Free time is provided, or you may choose to add one of the following optional excursions: A. Visit to Stonehenge - a megalith circle whose full significance is yet to be deciphered. B. Visit to the quaint village of Lacock - a national trust village showcasing English architecture from the 13th through 18th centuries. Lacock is one of the best preserved villages in all of England with its 16th century homes, gardens, and churches. C. Excursion to Oxford and Blenheim Castle - Set out to explore Oxford, England’s oldest university dating back to the 11th century, with its magnificent spires, secluded gardens and renowned libraries. For over 800 years, Oxford has been a home to royalty and scholars. En route back to Bath, you’ll stop at Blenheim Palace, one of Britain’s most spectacular stately homes and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill; many of his paintings still hang on the walls. Blenheim Palace is set in almost 3,000 acres of spectacular parkland and was built to reward John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough and ancestor of Sir Winston, for his defeat of the French at Blenheim in 1704. D. Half-day excursion to Cheddar Gorge and Wells Cathedral - Cheddar Gorge is the largest gorge in the United Kingdom, and the site of the Cheddar Caves, where Britain’s oldest complete human skeleton was found. Enjoy exploring the caves! Next, continue on to Wells to see the cathedral there. This afternoon, participate in the en masse rehearsal with orchestra accompaniment at your venue. After dinner, you’ll present the gala concert at Bristol Cathedral! Proceeds from the gala concert benefit two local charities: CLIC Sargent and Dorothy House Hospice Care which attend to children with cancer and their families. Day 6: Saturday, June 27, 2009 RETURN After a final breakfast, it’s time for hotel checkout, a last farewell to your tour manager, and return flights to the United States from London.  You may also choose to extend your stay, and continue your travels through England or continental Europe. Benefiting Charities Proceeds from the Voices United festival will benefit two deserving charities: CLIC Sargent : Caring for Children with Cancer Every day 10 families are told their child has cancer. As the UK's leading children's cancer charity, CLIC Sargent is the only organization to offer them all round care and support. CLIC Sargent provides care for children and their families during treatment and after treatment. Dorothy House Hospice Care A charity founded on Christian principles of care, Dorothy House provides services free of charge. The aim of Dorothy house is to offer physical, psychological, social and spiritual care to patients and their families facing life threatening illness, death or bereavement. Their focus is on quality of life, respecting the uniqueness of each person and their family. Jonathan Willcocks Jonathan Willcocks was born in Worcester, England in 1953. Following early musical training as a boy chorister at King's College, Cambridge, and an Open Music Scholar at Clifton College, he took an Honours degree in Music from Cambridge University where he held a choral scholarship at Trinity College. As a conductor, Jonathan is musical director of two large adult choruses - Portsmouth Choral Union and the Chichester Singers - and of the professional chamber orchestra Southern Pro Musica. He works extensively as a guest conductor of both choral and orchestral music, a career that has taken him in recent years to France, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Australia and Singapore, in addition to engagements throughout the length and breadth of the USA and UK. As a composer, Jonathan's music is published by Oxford University Press and the Lorenz group of companies and by Prime Music. His published music includes major choral works, works for children's choir, many shorter choral pieces (including anthems and secular choral music) and instrumental works. There have also been a number of recordings of his music, with plans for further discs in the near future. Reserve Your Spot! Space is limited for this choral gala. To request pricing and reserve your spot email encoretours@acis.com or call 877-460-3801.