I am writing a quick update here from Riga as the boys are performing at the Champions Concert now at 16:00, and then we have to dash off to the Closing Concert at 19:00 which is quite a drive away from the city centre.
The boys had an early start today - they had to have breakfast between 06:30 and 07:30 am. We left the hotel at 07:45 to go to Arena Riga for the second Awards ceremony which started at 09:00 am. The boys' spirits were still a bit low after yesterday evening's Folklore results, but they were getting more and more excited for the announcement of the Scenic Pop results.
The Arena Riga was once again packed with choirs from all over the world and their was an electric vibe of anticipation in the air. The Scenic Pop category was announced near the end of the ceremony. As hoped, our name was not read out until the instrumental fanfare sounded which indicated that the name of the next announcement is the champion of the category. Our boys won with an astounding 96%, a whopping 7% more than the choir who came second. This is a record mark for Kearsney!
As soon as our name was read out, the boys shot up from their seats, loud cheers of overwhelming joy and relief filling the arena. They ran out into the isles and burst onto the stage with Chef right behind them. It was a very special moment to see the boys on that stage, proudly singing our national anthem as our country's flag was raised. Words cannot accurately describe the feelings of utter joy and amazement one experiences at a moment like this. I am sure that the boys will never forget this moment and feel sincerely blessed for being part of this truly wondrous experience.
After the ceremony, the boys all gathered outside the arena, where they sang songs, cheered, hugged and high-fived one another and just reveled in the magic of this moment towards which they have worked so hard. Chef also spoke to them and told them how extremely proud he is of them and how blessed and lucky he feels to work with such a dedicated, tenacious and passionate group of young men.
The boys went directly to the catering center for lunch after this. This was our last meal here, and the boys were served a meal of rice, potatoes, barbeque chicken breast and a carrot salad. They all seemed to enjoy the meal - either that or they were just so overcome with joy that they did not really pay attention to what they were eating. :)
We left the catering center at about 12:45 am and arrived back at our hotel at 13:15. All choirs who are champions in a category take part in the Champions Concert, which started at 15:00. So the boys were then given some free time and to do some final shopping. They had to be ready and dressed in their Scenic Pop uniform at 14:30 to got to the Riga Congress Centre for the Champions Concert.
It is now almost 16:00 and I am typing this while waiting for our boys to perform - no doubt they are last on the programme to conclude the concert with a bang!
After the concert, the boys will go to the hotel to quickly change into their Folklore uniform because they are one of only a handful of chosen choirs to perform at tonight's Closing Concert at Mezaparks. We must be at Mezaparks at 19:00 for a sound check.
Mezaparks is a giant open-air stadium and our choir is performing Shosholoza at the request of the World Choir Games committee. They are the only South-African choir performing. This concert starts at 21:00, and the boys will only have time to have dinner afterwards. It is going to be long night for them and they are bound to be blissfully exhausted as their heads hit their pillows tonight!
Tonight is our last night in Riga - we leave the hotel at 06:00 tomorrow morning for our connecting flight to Amsterdam at 09:00.
Will send another update soonest.
