It’s been a lovely fall. It hasn’t rained here in about 6 weeks, which has been terrible for the grass and plants, but with low humidity and the perfect temperature, it’s been amazing to just be outside.
Dave and I competed in the Waterman’s Olympic Distance triathlon in Rock Hall at the end of September. I was still in great condition from training for Nationals and ended up taking 2nd overall in the Masters Category (anyone 45+). I was a little offended to be considered a Master, but what can you do? It was my fasted Olympic Distance so this Master killed it.
Lauren ran on the cross country team again this year and did really well. She ended up in the Top 5 of her team of about 30 5-8th graders. She really enjoys it and is also very much looking forward to joining the track team when she’s in 7th grade (track is only 7th and 8th).
And Sophia had a cool experience with the Philadelphia Girls Choir. She was one of just a few singers invited to sing with The Philadelphia Orchestra in their performance of G. Mahler Symphony No. 3. They performed twice at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia and once at Carnegie Hall in NY! The most exciting part of the NY performance for her was running into Alec Baldwin in the hallway, who then took her phone to take a group selfie (“he touched my phone!!”).
For the first ten days in July, Sophie traveled with the Philadelphia Girls Choir for a tour of Budapest and Hungary. Each year the choir picks an international location and plans for a series of concerts and workshops as well as sightseeing and other tourist activities. This is the first year that Sophie went.
Parents got daily email updates from the tour leaders, which was great, because we got much more sporadic updates from Sophie. Rather than recap what I think happened, here are some pics that we got and the daily updates we received.
While she was a little homesick, I know she had fun and she certainly had experiences to remember forever.
Updates from the choir tour leaders from July 1-10:
Today was an awesome day with our choir! We started the day with a delicious breakfast in our hotel and quickly departed Kecskemet for a workshop at the Kodaly Institute. Our local tour guide showed us Catholic and Calvinist churches, as well as the town’s beautiful gardens and Baroque architecture. We then visited the University where the girls sang in their concert hall and had an incredible workshop with a Kodaly expert. The choir polished their Hungarian pronunciation in preparation for our performance tomorrow and eventual competition.
We returned to Budapest to take a river cruise on the Danube, where the singers serenaded all of Budapest with selections from their repertoire. We finished the day with dinner at Frida, a Mediterranean restaurant where we had gnocchi and apple strudel. Tomorrow will be a big day of touring, and a joint concert with a local choir. It has been so pleasant getting to know your children. They are all having a great time and bonding with each other more and more each day!
What a day we had today! We started with a tour of Budapest with our guide Levi. He showed us the castle district and Mattias Church, where the girls got to test the acoustics with a song. Tourists gathered all around! We then tasted some Hungarian specialties and got to shop at the market.
Later, we met with our hosts, the Rutafa Choir, to rehearse for our joint concert. It was a stunning performance filled with beautiful music! The girls got a chance to get to know their Hungarian hosts, make new friends, and even go to one of the oldest cafes in Budapest for dinner together. The atmosphere was filled with joy and new-found friendship, all made possible by the universal language of music. The Rutafa Choir surprised us with a performance of Hungarian songs, which our girls loved! We felt so welcomed and special.
It was a truly beautiful moment. We leave for Vienna in the morning to start the Summa Cum Laude Festival!
We left Budapest today for Vienna. On our way there we stopped in a charming Hungarian town called Gyor. The girls got to explore with their chaperones and spend some time in some local cafes. We finished our trip and arrived in Vienna and were wowed by the beautiful buildings and gardens! Today was the opening ceremony of the Summa Cum Laude Music Festival and the girls were treated to performances by “coro siamo” and heard the Summa Cum Laude Anthem for the first time. We are all checked into our hotel, despite some hiccups during the check-in process! This hotel is brand new and has very high-tech elevators. We have all now learned how to work some fancy new tech! Tomorrow is the competition and we are excited!
We are so excited to announce that PGC placed second in our category with “excellent success” at the Summa Cum Laude Youth Music Festival. The festival has 38 participating groups from 13 countries including choirs, orchestras, and bands. We are so proud of how well the girls performed and how beautifully they have bonded as a group. Today they performed at the Welt Museum, which is in part of the Hofberg Palace, spent some time getting to know each other better in a royal park for lunch and ice cream, and had a great time in the interactive Haus der Musik. I am writing this to you from our second workshop with experts from the festival. It is such a special thing to be surrounded by their beautiful voices and see them communicate through music. The girls are making memories that will last forever. Now they can all say they have sung on the same stage where the Vienna Philharmonic plays!
As we are winding down our tour, the girls are filled with joy for the awesome experiences they have had, as well as some sadness that it is soon coming to an end. Today was our last concert as a tour group, but there is still one more day of the festival. Tomorrow we will participate in a yodeling workshop and see the closing gala concert. We are so honored that one of our girls were chosen to perform the first solo Summa Cum Laude Anthem at the end of the Gala Concert!
Today we had an extensive tour of the city and had Viennese specialties for lunch at the Schönbrunn Palace. We saw the old city, the Hundertwasser Haus, and the stunning gardens of the palace, among many other stunning sites in the city. Tomorrow we will celebrate the end of the festival with a special party on the Rathaus Terrace (City Hall). It is an absolutely stunning site! We will be heading home early the next morning.
I am sure by now, you are brimming with excitement to see your children again! Today we ended the Summa Cum Laude music festival with a yodeling workshop and big party with dancing, food, and even a marimba band. The girls all had an amazing time and made new friends.
Tomorrow is a day full of travel as we make our way back home to the US. Nathan will be in touch as we make our way back to the states with arrival updates as he gets them. We will arrive in Newark at 7:30pm on British Airways #189. Some of the girls are being picked up at Newark International Airport, and others will be brought back to the choir building. Please make sure to check email and texts for updates as we make our way back home. Thank you so much for trusting us with your incredible children. Tour is a truly magical time where our kids learn and grow, both musically and personally. We hope that you will hear all about the exciting times they had and about the world they have seen.
It’s been a packed spring with races, performances and various end of year activities.
Lauren and I did a 5K race for Gift of Life, called the Donor Dash. And Lauren killed it. She came in 3rd in her age group of 15 and under. We’ve got a star runner in the making!
The next weekend Dave and I, along with Justin, Don, and Rebecca did the Broad St. Run. The weather wasn’t great, but it wasn’t the worst we’ve run in either. First weekend in May, you never know.
I also did a sprint distance triathlon in Rock Hall. Dave unfortunately couldn’t come down to do it because of a crazy schedule, but Don joined me. This year I’ve moved up in age groups to 45-49 (ugh). But it went well and I ended up taking first in the group – first our of 18 in the age group and 61 out of 380 overall!
There were also spring concerts – Lauren’s 5th grade band concert and Sophie’s Philadelphia Girls Choir concert. Both were excellent and both girls did a great job.
Lauren had her 5th grade dance, which she went to with her “crew” of friends.
After two years Sophie finally got her braces off! We finally get to see the full smile again – teeth and all!
And finally, in exciting family news, Shannon Boyle is getting married! Lauren and Kathy represented the Sharp contingent at her shower. We’re looking forward to the wedding in September!
This December was full of holiday festivities, including the Philadelphia Girls Choir holiday concerts and this year also three performances in the Nutcracker with Philadelphia Ballet. Mom, Becky and Ari came up to celebrate an early Christmas and watch one of Sophie’s concerts.
Phila Girls Choir Holiday ConcertSinging in the NutcrackerSoph after a Nutcracker performance Early Christmas!
The concerts were excellent and always get us in the holiday spirit. The girls are really good. This is Sophie’s last year with Cantata before she moves up to Concerto, which is the oldest group.
December has been filled with recitals and holiday celebrating. I decided that this year instead of taking the kids to see the Nutcracker again, we’d try the Philly Pops Holiday Spectacular at the Kimmel Center. It did not disappoint. The music and singing were great and it was a very entertaining show. Beforehand we did the holiday brunch at the Union League which was very festive.
Sophie had her winter band concert mid-December, which ends up being her last one because she decided she doesn’t want to be in band anymore. They were impressive for a 7th grade band, and Soph was smack center playing base drum.
The following weekend were two holiday concerts for the Philadelphia Girls Choir – one in a performing arts center in New Jersey and the other at Temple Performing Arts Center. As always, the girls were amazingly impressive. I’m continually blow away by how professional this choir sounds.
And finally we got together with the college friends at a Christmas party at Justin and Steve’s house. It was great to connect with everyone again. I hadn’t seen Erin in over a year, and Vahid even longer.
Holiday brunch at the Union League Sophie’s 7th grade band concertReunited with the college gang at Justin and Steve’s holiday party Philly Girls ChoirPhilly Girls Choir
I love December and everything leading up to Christmas. This year did not disappoint and we’re all in the holiday spirit.
Amazingly, another school year has come to an end! The girls wrapped with some final activities before the summer break.
Sophie had her Philadelphia Girls Choir spring concert at Temple Performing Arts Center in June. It was their first concert without masks. It was great to see their smiling faces and really hear their singing voices again!
The full choirOur beautiful singerSophie with her friends Jojo and Ella
Sophie also went to her first school dance!! I can’t believe it either. She had a good time, but we heard about some girls drama too – I guess it wouldn’t be a middle school dance without it.
Sophie with her friends Jojo, Camille and Rachel.
Sophie also did band again this year, continuing with percussion. This was the first in-person concert we got to see since they were either recorded and shared with families, or submitted via zoom over the last two years.
Lauren did Girls on the Run again this spring and their 5K was held at Montgomery County Community College. There were a ton of schools participating this time and many runners. We’re not sure how many, but one of the coaches told us it was over 1,000 girls. Dave was her running buddy again and they killed it. Lauren came in 10th out of the girls running! She loves it and we’re so happy about it.
Lauren and Dave before the runLauren with her teampost very hot runLauren with her coach and teacher Ms. D’Orazio
We also attended our first Bat Mitzvah for Sophie’s preschool friend Rachel. The party was held at Germantown Cricket Club and there was a special candle lighting ceremony for all of her preschool friends, which was really sweet.
Candle lighting with preschool friendsMe and my girls
Dave and I got away one night for a night out with the college crew, most of whom we haven’t seen in a long time. It was a really great night!
The college crew!
And finally, at the end of June, Dave, Don and I did the Rock Hall sprint triathlon – my first since my leg injury. I hadn’t planned on doing it, but decided to just give it a go – I’ve been feeling good – and ended up taking 2nd in my age group! Booyah! Actually, I was totally suprised and super excited about it. I’ve spend the last 11 months doing so much PT, strength training and mobility – I felt like it really paid off. I’m really looking to training throughout the summer to compete in an Olympic Distance in the fall.
2nd place, baby! Oliver, Sophie, Lauren & Liam
The girls both had a great year, we all had a great spring, and we’re looking forward to this summer!
The day after Christmas Sophie got to do something very cool. She, along with the Philadelphia Girls Choir, sang the National Anthem and the halftime show at the Eagles game against the NY Giants.
The girls were originally invited to sing just the National Anthem, but a few days before the game the halftime show cancelled, so they jumped in and did halftime as well! They sang Deck and Halls and Jingle Bells for that one.
We got tickets for Dave’s parents and my family to all go. We got great seats behind one of the field goals. The game was good, but of course the best part was the choir!
Lauren and I before the National Anthem
There was a lot going on down on the field when the girls sang the National Anthem. As the girls stood down on the field waiting to sing, all of the players ran on to the field through smoke and fireworks. Then the Eagles drum line played and everyone sang the fight song. It was a lot. Finally the girls sang and they were excellent! The stadium was quiet and erupted when they finished.
The choir singing the National Anthem
At half time the girls came back out on to the field and sang two Christmas carols. It was a little tougher because the stands were loud and their voices are so delicate. But they were all featured on the jumbotron and saw a few good closeups of Sophie because she was in the front row.
The choir singing at halftime
Despite winter hats in these pictures, the weather was unseasonably warm, no jackets necessary. We were incredibly lucky because the day after was 40 and raining. It was such a cool experience and everyone had a great time, most of all Sophie!
In December, both of the girls had their respective end of year performances/races.
Lauren did Girls in the Run this fall for the first time. She was extremely reluctant to try it (as she is with all new activities), but ended up loving it. She’s also a very strong runner, no surprises there. She had practice twice a week for about 2 months and then a celebratory 5K run. Each girl runs with a buddy so Dave was her running buddy. The day was beautiful and she did really well. Out of 600 girls she came in 10th!
Lauren’s Girls on the Run teamLauren and Dave (her running buddy) after the race
Later in December the Philadelphia Girls Choir had their holiday concerts. They did two this year – maybe to make up for not having any last year. The first was in a church in New Jersey and the second was at Temple Performing Arts Center. Both were amazing. Even though they had to sing with masks on, they still sounded amazing. This is also the first year that Sophie is performing with Cantata, the next group level up.
The first performance at a church in New JerseyThe second performance at Temple Performing Arts Center Sophie with her friends Ella and Jojo
Now we’re enjoying a few activity free weeks before everything starts up again in January
December kept us busy this year, including three performances. The first was different for us this year. Sophie got asked to as part of a small group from the Philadelphia Girls Choir to sing with a Canadian group called the Tenors who were touring the US with a Christmas show. The performance was at the Keswick theater in Glenside, PA and it was really great. The girls sang four songs with the Tenors, and they were amazing. It was a sold out show, which was also pretty neat.
Unfortunately she was standing in the middle of the girls behind a tall girl, so we could only see the side of her fact for most of the performance. The girls got a picture with the Tenors after the show. Sophie is front row, fourth from left.
The weekend after this concert Sophie had her regular Philadelphia Girls Choir holiday concert at the Temple Performing Arts Center.
After the concert, Sophie with her friend Sophia Nagel, who she knows from Green Towne Montessori
And the final performance of the holiday season was Lauren’s ballet show, which was Hansel and Gretel this year. The performed at the Suzanne Roberts Theater on Broad Street. There were two performances in one day – one at 2pm and one at 7pm. I watched the 2pm show and then was a backstage parent for the 7pm show, which was a little insane. It was a long day for the little kids, and by the second show exhaustion was definitely setting in.
The full cast for the final blow. Lauren was a butterfly and is sitting front row, third from the right.
On June 15 were both Sophie’s choir concert and Lauren’s ballet recital. And they were of course at the same time! We split up with Mom, Kathy, and me heading to Lauren’s show and Dad and the Daves heading to Sophie’s show. But it ended up working out well – for the moms at least, because Lauren was the 4th group to dance, so we snatched her up right afterward, jumped in an Uber, and headed up Broad Street to Temple Performing Arts Center, where Sophie’s group was just starting. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect!
Striking a post before leaving the their respective theaters
