Campion Celebrity 2012

Saturday the choir gave a concert at Casa del Lago (Lakehouse) in Chapultepec Park. The hall we performed in was pretty -- though a bit small (and hot!) for the turnout. 

It was a cool moment singing Mi Ciudad (My City), a song written about Mexico City. There's a line that says "....es un bosque de espejos que cuida un castillo" ("It's a forest of mirrors that guards a castle"), referring to Chapultepec Park and the Chapultepec Castle. The song has been a staple in the choir's repertoire (at least since I've joined) -- but it was a first for me to sing it while in Chapultepec Park, within view of the castle! 

Last Sunday I participated with the choir in a "marathon" concert to raise money for Japan. The event, held at the Nacional Center of the Arts, offered music from 11:00am-8:00pm, presented by a variety of groups and soloists, such as the flautists Horacio Franco, marimbist Javier Nandayapa, singer Patricia Santos, Tambuco Percussion Ensemble, Melos Gloriae choir and the Carlos Chávez Youth Symphonic Orchestra.  I was grateful to have some friends come out and support me (and Japan of course!) 

I joined the UNAM student choir Staccato (Staccato Coro Universitario Estudiantil) in mid-February. (Check out Staccato CUE's web site: http://www.cue.org.mx). I was fortunate enough to be able to participate in a trip to Oaxaca with them two weeks ago to help celebrate the one-year anniversary of Axis Mundi, the Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de Oaxaca choir. 

We left early Thursday morning and made the bus trip (about 6 hours) to Oaxaca, the capital of the state with the same name. 

That evening we attended a concert by our hosts, Axis Mundi of Universidad Autónoma Benito Juarez de Oaxaca. 

That evening my roommate (also new to the choir) and I decided to practice a bit. While it started with just the two of us, we soon became the practice room as 8 more people joined us! 

Friday morning I explored downtown Oaxaca a bit more before practice. 

We went to rehearse -- both with Axis Mundi (we sang three songs together) and together as Staccato CUE. 

After rehearsal we had a bit more free time in the city. 

That afternoon we had a quick photo shoot as a choir in front of Templo Santo Domingo before our joint concert with Axis Mundi in Parque Pañuelito -- my first choir with Staccato! 

After the concert we went out with Axis Mundi to celebrate! 

Saturday morning we visited Monte Albán, the most important archeological site in Oaxaca and one of the earliest cities of Mesoamerica. Once again, we had a photo shoot with the choir and then had a guided tour. We even sang on top of one of the pyramids and in the plaza! 

Saturday evening we had our second concert, this time at the Cultural Center attached to Templo Santo Domingo. 

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Staccato and Axis Mundi out to celebrate 3 successful concerts! 

Sunday morning, the Director of Axis Mundi was generous enough to give 7 of us a tour of some sites outside of the capital.  Our first destination was Tule. We stopped for breakfast. I had hot chocolate (chocolate is a Oaxacan specialty) and a pastry, followed by barbecue tacos. Barbacoa is another Oaxacan specialty, but is very different than US barbecue. It's usually beef or goat meet and is traditionally cooked in a clay, in-ground oven. 

We visited the Tule tree, which is more than 2,000 years old!! 

Our next stop was Lambityeco, another archeological site. 

Our final stop was Tlacolula.

We had a slight complication heading back to Oaxaca when one of the cars' alarm started going off and wouldn't turn off. The seven choir members ended up piling into one car and finding out way back to Oaxaca so that we'd be back in time for the bus, while the Axis Mundi director stayed with the other car. Nothing like a good adventure!  

Overall, it was a great trip! I enjoyed the chance to make friends and bond with the other choir members, sing, meet Axis Mundi and get to know a bit of Oaxaca!