Day Two--Even Better!

Long day, made longer by fantastic conversation into the wee hours of the morning with some of the young women on the trip.  Accompanied by gelato!

St. Thomas Episcopal Church for the 11:00 a.m. service.  Incredible music (I'll add the composers later) and the church itself is a work of art.  Stone arches, intricate stonework, and stained glass transported me to another place and time.

http://www.saintthomaschurch.org/music/choir

Afterwards lunch with our whole group and my IU friend and colleague John Howell, and then an hour question and answer session with John in the parish hall.

He was charming and down to earth and his words really reached everyone.  He really stressed finding your own path which really resonated with everyone.  On to the Met finals--on the way there, we ran into Bryn Terfel!  He recognized us from yesterday and stopped to talk to us.  We were all completely charmed by his humor and good nature.  It was an example to the students that you can have that level of success and  remain a normal person.

The Met Finals were wonderful- the audience is so supportive of the young singers, and I was just over the moon for all of them.  5 lovely winners, great music, fantastic orchestra, and the Family Circle!  Can't beat it.

A little bit of a lecture afterwards about good karma and never, never, never talking negatively about other singers in public.  Then the group split up and went our own separate ways.  I took Leisa, Jenn, Emily, Abby, and Jordyn to The Strand bookstore.  We all had a wonderful time--we spent several hours there and didn't rush each other.  I bought way too many books and will have to mail them back because they definitely won't fit in my luggage.  Dinner then at a wonderful little Vietnamese restaurant--I had spicy soup and chicken curry.  DELICIOUS!!!!  We had a fabulous time.

Ein, zwei, drei

I think everyone enjoyed their food!  (Jenn above, Emily below)

 Some trouble again on the subway (heading in the wrong direction for instance) so we got back to the hotel later.  Group meeting, where everyone shared something they had learned- exciting!  Then talking half the night.  Yawn!!!!!

Can not wait for Day Three.  I love NYC!

 At the Met Finals, Family Circle

Mitra