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Westmont College Choir Concert Tour to the UK

May 10 - 24, 2011 (15 days, 13 nights) Proposed Itinerary

Your itinerary will enable you to see many of the great cultural and historical highlights of each country, perform in concert, and meet locals throughout your journey. The centerpiece of your

tour will be the performances, arranged in sites acoustically appropriate for a choir where a concert-going public can be gathered. Service opportunities and exchanges with local groups will

be considered where possible, providing further musical and cultural enrichment.

Tuesday, May 10 Departure Arrive at Los Angeles International Airport for check-in at least 2 1/2 hours in advance of your overnight flight(s) to Glasgow, Scotland. Wednesday, May 11 Oban Afternoon arrival to Glasgow, Scotland. After claiming your luggage and clearing Customs, you’ll be met by your tour escort and load the bus for transfer to

Oban. Oban is considered the “Seafood Capital of Scotland” and is the gateway to the Isles where you can find an unparalleled range of historic sites including castles, monuments and historic houses. Oban highlights include the Waterfront Center, the Cathedral of St Columba, and the Oban Distillery. Dunollie Castle perches on a hilltop, from which you can enjoy a spectacular view of the town, harbor and, outlying isles. You’ll see McCaig's Tower, which dominates the town's skyline.

Upon arrival check in to your youth hostel with some free time on your own before group dinner. Thursday, May 12 Oban This morning, ferry transfer to the Isle of Iona, one of the oldest and most important religious centers in Western Europe. The Abbey was a focal point for the spread of Christianity throughout Scotland since its founding as a monastic community by St. Columba in the 6th century. The Abbey remains a place of Christian pilgrimage today. You will have time to explore the historic ruins. Lunchtime concert at Iona Abbey (pending confirmation). Friday, May 13 Stirling This morning you will transfer to Stirling. En route you’ll stop at the UK’s largest freshwater lake, Loch Lomond, immortalized in the ballad of the same name. The

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rugged highland peaks with hidden glens and passages are steeped in history and heritage. Full of romance and mystique, Loch Lomond has inspired poets and songwriters throughout the centuries. You may opt to have a boat ride on Loch Lomond. Continue to Stirling and check in to your hotel. Saturday, May 14 Stirling/Glasgow Today you’ll visit Stirling Castle. The city’s focal point, it is among Scotland’s

finest examples of Renaissance architecture. The magnificent views from the castle grounds include the area where the Battle of Stirling Bridge was fought between the Scottish, led by William Wallace (“Braveheart”) and the English in 1297. Nearby is Argyll’s Lodging, one of the finest preserved 17th century townhouses in Scotland, and the Church of the Holy Rude, site of the coronation of the infant James VI in 1567. Possible lunchtime recital in the Chapel Royal of Stirling Castle.

This afternoon you’ll transfer to a nearby town for rehearsal and an evening concert. Continue to Glasgow and overnight. Sunday, May 15 Glasgow Today you will Sing during Service at a Glasgow church. This afternoon you’ll have time at leisure to continue to enjoy the city. Explore the city center easily on foot, subway, or public bus. In recent years, Glasgow has enjoyed a renaissance (“coolest city in the UK”) after decades of decline. Situated on the River Clyde, Scotland’s largest city is exuberant with the arts, design, and locals (called “Glaswegians”) known for their friendliness when compared to the cooler reserve of Edinburgh residents. With no fewer than thirteen municipal museums (free admission!) Glasgow boasts one of the finest civic art collections in Europe. The Glasgow School of Art is considered to be the masterpiece of native-born Charles Rennie Mackintosh, who made his undeniable stamp on the city’s landscape in the early 20th century. See for yourself the elements comprising Mackintosh’s “Glasgow Style” (which is reminiscent of the American Frank Lloyd Wright) and be sure to visit the library (the highlight of the school’s interior). You’ll see George Square, Glasgow Cathedral (a rare example of a complete 13th century church) with the St. Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art (which features Dali’s controversial Christ of St. John of the Cross) and the 15th century Provond’s Lordship (the oldest house in the city) nearby. Further south and west, on the banks of the Clyde, is the futuristic, armadillo-shaped Glasgow Science Centre. Other options include: shopping at the Italian Centre in the trendy Merchant City, the Princes Square mall, or the pedestrian area of Sauchiehall Street; visiting fine museums such as the People’s Palace, Gallery of Modern Art (known as GOMA), or the Burrell Collection (considered one of the finest modern architectures in all of Britain). Mackintosh enthusiasts may want have a snack at the Willow Tea Room on Sauchiehall (be sure to request seating in the incredible Room de Luxe).

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Evening concert in Glasgow. Monday, May 16 Edinburgh/Glasgow

Today you’ll visit the stately city of Edinburgh. Pronounced “Ed-n-burro”, the city rests on seven hills (much like Rome) and serves as the capital of Scotland. Your panoramic orientation tour will point out some of the most beautiful sights the city has

to offer. The Royal Mile in the Old Town features such attractions as Edinburgh Castle (the “heart of Scotland”), with its breathtaking views; St. Giles’ Cathedral, mother church of the Church of Scotland, containing the extraordinary Thistle Chapel (home to Scotland’s highest chivalric order, the Order of the Thistle); and Holyroodhouse Palace, official home to Queen Elizabeth during her visits to Scotland. Highlights of the New Town (the first phase of which was built in the 18th century) include the Sir Walter Scott National Monument with its 200-foot spire, and Princes

Street, with its modern shopping area to the north and gardens to the south. Calton Hill holds the half-finished “Parthenon”. Begun in 1822 as a National Monument to those who died in the Napoleanic Wars, it was never completed. This afternoon you’ll visit Edinburgh Castle and grounds. Look inside the tiny 12th century St. Margaret’s Chapel, the oldest structure on the castle grounds. Cross the Esplanade, the huge court which is the site of the famous annual Tattoo military pageant, then visit the Great Hall, Queen Mary’s Apartments, the Scottish National Crown Room, and the Half Moon Battery where the cannon is fired daily at one pm. Or visit Holyroodhouse Palace (provided Queen Elizabeth is not in residence) and admire the Royal Apartments.

Those with a literary bent can see Lady Stair’s House, a fine Old Town mansion also known as the Writer’s Museum because of memorabilia from Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Robert Louis Stevenson. Tour Dynamic Earth, a permanent exhibition opened in 1999 which takes visitors on a journey from Earth’s beginnings to the first appearance of life on the planet.

Possible lunchtime concert at St. Gile’s Cathedral. In the evening, return to your hotel in Glasgow for group dinner and overnight. Tuesday, May 17 Leeds, England Depart by coach for England. Stop in Durham for a lunchtime concert at Durham Cathedral (pending confirmation). Continue to Leeds. A 19th century city of industry, Leeds is now known as one of the greenest cities in Europe, with acres of parkland and green routes radiating out from the bustling city center. Stroll the beautiful grounds and many gardens of Lotherton Hall, a fine example of an Edwardian country home. Or visit one of Britain’s best preserved abbeys, Kirkstall Abbey. Head to the compact, traffic-free Shopping Quarter to see why Leeds is known as the shopping mecca of northern England. Victoria Quarter houses designer boutiques in beautifully restored Victorian arcades, including the largest stained glass roof in Europe. For every kind of food imaginable (plus a huge variety of other goods) visit Kirkgate Market, with an indoor market housed in impressive Edwardian buildings as well as a huge open- air market outside. Check in and group dinner at your hotel.

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Wednesday, May 18 York/Leeds The most prosperous town in northern England during the Middle Ages, York successfully preserves the threads of its earlier Roman and Viking settlements and has been called England’s “Second City”. You’ll visit the famous York Minster, the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe and a building of sublime and awe-inspiring grandeur. Wind through the narrow alleys (called “snickleways”) to visit The Shambles, a narrow medieval street resplendent with half-timbered shops and dwellings, and Stonegate, a similar area but dressed in Tudor and 18th century styles. Walk along the city walls, which date from the 12th – 14th centuries, the most complete in Britain. Consider having lunch or tea at the world famous Betty’s in St. Helen’s Square, where you can order the Yorkshire “fat rascal” bun. Return to Leeds this afternoon for rehearsal. Evening concert, possibly shared with a University Choir in Leeds. Thursday, May 19 Stratford-upon-Avon/Warwick Check out and transfer to your next destination, Stratford-upon-Avon,

birthplace of William Shakespeare. After your guided sightseeing tour, stroll around this small, charming market town, where you can choose to visit any of the attractions associated with the “Bard of Avon”: Shakespeare’s Birthplace on Henley Street; his wife’s home, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, just outside of the town; or Mary Arden’s House. You’ll attend a matinee performance at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre (subject to schedule).

Continue to Warwick and overnight. Friday, May 20 Warwick Warwick has an unusual mix of architectural styles: Georgian red brick and Elizabethan half-timbering stand alongside less interesting postwar structures in the town center. Attractions include the Collegiate Church of St. Mary, with the ornately carved and painted tombs of the earls of Warwick in its Beauchamp Chapel; and Warwick Castle, considered the finest medieval castle in England. You’ll travel to the banks of the Avon River to visit the Castle this afternoon. Concert in Warwick or a nearby town. Saturday, May 21 London Check out and board your coach for transfer to London. After lunch on your own, you’ll have a guided sightseeing tour, during which you’ll see Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament; Westminster Abbey; Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace; and much

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more. Make a note of those places you’d like to visit at your own pace during free time. Group dinner at a London restaurant, then check in to your hotel. Evening free for your own plans: attend West End show or concert, perhaps. Check out London’s half-price ticket booth in the Clocktower Building in Leicester Square. Sunday, May 22 London Sing during Service at a London church this morning. The afternoon is free for your own sightseeing. You may want to visit the Tower of London, actually a mini-city of towers where London’s history comes vividly to life. The Crown Jewels are a truly impressive collection of royal gems. The Bloody Tower is where the “little princes” (the boy king Edward V and his brother Richard) were left by their uncle, Richard III, never to be seen again. Group dinner and overnight. Monday, May 23 London Morning transfer to St. Paul’s Cathedral. After warm up you’ll have time to look around Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece. Early afternoon Dome Dais concert (pending confirmation). Tonight you’ll have a festive farewell dinner in a fine local restaurant. After dinner, you’ll attend a West End show. Tuesday, May 24 Return to US Transfer to London Heathrow for your return flight to the U.S. Welcome home! Your tour includes: • All arrangements and publicity for 8 performances. Shared concerts and concerts

with a service component will be considered wherever possible. • Roundtrip group airfare from Los Angeles to Glasgow departing May 10 and

returning from London May 24, 2011. • Accommodations for 2 nights in Oban youth hostel, with multi-bedded rooms and

shared facilities. • Accommodations for 11 nights in 3-star level hotels based on double occupancy, all

rooms with private W/C and shower/bath. Limited number of single rooms may be available for a surcharge.

• Breakfast and one other meal daily (except arrival day). • Farewell Dinner in London. • Deluxe air-conditioned coach transportation as needed throughout the tour (under

50 pax – single decker/50 pax and over – double decker). • Tour escort throughout. • Guided tours of Edinburgh, York, Stratford-upon-Avon, London. • Group entrance fees for selected attractions in consultation with group leader. • Tickets to performances at Royal Shakespeare Theatre and West End Show. • All group hotel, meal and bus taxes. Airline taxes and fuel surcharges will be

included at the rate current at the time of quote and, per airline industry policy, are subject to change by the airline up until the date of ticketing. Increases will be passed on to the group.