Thursday, May 29, 2014

Official Libera Blog & Pictures from USA Spring 2014

Hey guys!!! Look who’s back from uni for the summer! :) I’ve missed you all! So, there’s a new Libera blog from their USA tour! Yay! You can read it here. And tons of new pictures! You can see them all here.

It's sad how shy and serious they all are. lol


OK, starting from the top. Calling the previous members “our Libera ancestors” may be my favorite thing about this post. Can we adopt that? Please? 

They stayed at a place in New Jersey called America's Keswick. It's a Christian conference center where they stayed back in 2008 when they sang for the Pope at Yankee Stadium. It looks really nice with a big lake and indoor swimming pool.

America's Keswick

Cool pic of where they stayed


I heard the food was great there, and, yes! Lucky Charms are still my favorite, too, Mr. Writer. (Parents always say you’ll grow out of it, but I’m 20 and no luck yet.) lol. I’m glad that they stayed somewhere they could do outdoor things. It was probably nice not to be cooped up in a city hotel like they often are on tour. It was great weather, too! Perfect for a holiday!

Bike riding (or cycling as they call it)

Ben out in front!

This was one of my favorite rides as a kid! We called it the Frog Hopper!

Lucas on the bumper cars


And they got to go to the beach too! But, aww, Mr. Writer. Keeping the arcade toys for himself. Lol. 

Is this Mr. Writer holding his "cuddly toy?" lol


Next up was their first venture into Manhattan. Haha! How can anyone go to NYC without seeing the Hulk smashing the buildings, Captain America and Black Widow fighting aliens, Thor and Iron Man flying around, and Hawkeye up on one of the buildings shooting arrows? Too bad there’s no real Stark Tower. (I like you even more for that reference, Mr. Writer.) ;)

Outside the giant Macy's department store!


I’m so glad the concerts went well! The first one was in a church with a nice echo. There were so many new songs. Apparently the audience's noisy enjoyment is a good thing! That’s good for this noisy person! :)


The fresh air will do this to you

Nice picture at Keswick before a concert

They can only stand still for so long...

Concert at Church of the Incarnation in NYC

This was a concert by candlelight


The next day was the Morristown, New Jersey concert in a theatre. I heard that it was really great also with many happy fans!

Backwards coats keep the white robes clean

Alex Gula outside the Mayo Theatre

On stage at the Mayo Performing Arts Center


There was a day of trains and subways and sightseeing. PIZZA BURGER sounds terribly American and wonderfully good. lol. I’m glad they had some time to tour the city!

Eoghan and Ben

With Uncle Sam :D


Next was another full day of sighseeing in NYC. I’m glad we got the explanation for King Kong climbing the Empire State Building! It was just a misunderstanding! He didn’t fit in the lift (elevator)! :)

View of lower Manhattan from the Empire State Building

Atop the Empire State Building - it's windy up there!

Newbie Camden Stewart


I remember going to the huge TOYS R US in NYC on a high school trip. It was pretty incredible, even for us 18 year olds! “Flopping into bed like dead fish” is my new favorite simile.

Cassius & a NYC mounted police officer in Times Square (near Dave & Buster's)


Last but not least was the ferry ride to the Statue of Liberty! I've been to it twice, but never thought it "wasn't very liberty because it had a fence all round the bottom." That's hilarious but true! I remember police chasing a guy who jumped that fence. lol. Your pictures with Lady Liberty are awesome! 

I love these pictures with the Statue of Liberty!

Looking tough!

Don't let that fence keep you out! lol


I’m happy they made it out before it snowed! That's crazy weather! It’s been a cold Spring, but they got to be here for a very nice part! So glad they enjoyed their time! And so sorry I missed seeing you all there! Uni really does get in the way sometimes, but unfortunately it is quite necessary. Hope you come back soon! :)

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Arundel Concert 2014


UPDATED - soooo many times...

Arundel Cathedral ~ photo by Patrick



What an exciting concert! So much new information! Keep reading to find out more below!

Libera posted 2 photos on Twitter before the concert! "Lovely evening for our concert in Arundel." :D

Rainbow in Arundel - that's a good sign! ~ photo by Libera

Choir rehearsing before Arundel concert ~ photo by Libera


The excited fans lined up early to get a good seat!
Fans lined up. Sunny but cold. ~ Photo by Paul

About 50 people in line ~ photo by Paul


Inside Arundel with concert poster ~ photo by Patrick

Inside Arundel looking back at rose window & organ ~ photo by Patrick

Some tickets still available! ~ photo by Yumiko


6 musicians on the left ~ photo by Paul

4 musicians on the right ~ photo by Paul

Just as in New Jersey, the boys came out for a photo! ~ photo by Patrick

It was a sunny but windy day! ~ photo by Patrick



And Patrick took a short video of the boys outside before the concert! Thank you! It's going to be a great concert!




The audience 10 minutes before the concert started ~ photo by Yumiko
It actually filled up to the very last row by the time the concert started.



There were 25 boys singing tonight - 

1.   Marc Alvares
2.   Shay Balsekar
3.   Ciaran Bradbury-Hickey
4.   Gabriel Collins
5.   Timothy Lee
6.   Thomas Delgado-Little
7.   Ben Fairman
8.   Alex Gula
9.   Matthew Jansen
10. Isaac London
11. Matthew Madine
12. Eoghan McCarthy
13. Alessandro MacKinnon-Botti
14. James Menezes
15. Michael Menezes
16. Alex Montoro
17. Jakub Niedermaier-Reed
18. Rocco Tesei
19. Cassius O'Connell-White
20. Matthew Rangel-Alvares
21. Bertramo Smart
22. Camden Stewart
23. Mark Ustynovych-Repa
24. Sam Wiggin
25. Lucas Wood


We know this little boy is Camden Stewart! :D

Missing boys who had been on the US Tour are Henry Barrington and Dylan Duffy (hope they come back soon), but added are James Menezes, Rocco Tesei, and Mark Ustynovych-Repa who all performed at the Guildford concert 1 year ago. :)

This photo from St. George's in Nov 2013 shows Mark U-R 
(blonde boy in the center) and Rocco Tesei (on the right).
  

Sitting on the front row were 4 mini-mini newbies not listed on the program! They did not sing on stage but just watched the concert. One of them is Lucas Wood's 7-year-old brother. Another one is an 8-year-old Japanese boy who speaks English and Japanese. He was a big hit with the Japanese fans! :D The other two mini-mini boys are 7 years old also. While the choir demonstrated their silly warm-up songs, the four sat on the front row and silently mouthed along with the words. Soooo cute!

The staff list was a little different. Look at the exciting changes! -

Musical Director - Robert Prizeman
Asst. Musical Directors - Sam Coates, Steven Geraghty
Keyboards - Joshua Madine (by himself this time!)
Strings - The Silken String Quintet
Clarinet - Jessie Grimes
Flute/Recorder - Candice Hamel
French Horn - Raoul Neumann (former Libera member!!)
Percussion - Olly Blackman
Lighting - Luke Avery
Sound Mixing & Production - Sam Coates
Stage Management - Jonathan Barrington, Kavana Crossley (yay!!)
Event Co-ordination and Chaperones - Barbara Geraghty, Eleanor Lewis
Concert Management - Steven Philipp, David Stephens
Production Co-ordinator - Andrew Winter


The song list was the same as the US Tour. All incredible songs! The audience was blown away! And they got to hear "What a Wonderful World" as the encore also! :D All the soloists were the same as on the US Tour except for "Sanctus." Dylan wasn't there so Bertie sang the "ah's" in the middle and the last "Sanctus" was actually "Sanctus, Sanctus." Wish I could've hear that!

1.   Joyful, Joyful
2.   Sanctus - last "Sanctus" by Bertie
3.   Song of Life - solo by Isaac
4.   Voca Me - last "Voca Me" by Ciaran & Matthew J.
5.   Amazing Grace - solo by Ciaran
6.   Ave Maria - solo by Tom
7.   Salva Me - high "Salva's" by Alex M.
8.   How Can I Keep From Singing
9.   Hymn to Mary - solo by Isaac
10. How Shall I Sing That Majesty - solo by Lucas & Alessandro

- Interval -

11. Dies Irae - solo by Ciaran
12. Gloria in Excelsis
13. Orinoco Flow
14. Dreaming of Home
15. How Great Thou Art - solo by Sam
16. Stay With Me - solo by Alessandro, Lucas, Cassius
17. Wayfaring Stranger - solo by Sam
18. Glory to Thee - solo by Tom
19. Exultate - solo by Tom
Encore: What a Wonderful World - solo by Isaac


Concert program ~ photo by Patrick

Concert program song list ~ photo by Patrick


Arundel Cathedral with beautiful lights ~ photo by Patrick


Boys during standing ovation ~ photo by Jimmy from Japan


The boys waving good-bye. It looks like the little mini-mini boys are sitting in front.

 

The descriptions of the concert were "wonderful, stunning, perfect, great, gorgeous!" Congratulations, Libera, on another fantastic concert! Your fans are very happy! :D