Member Reflections

Russia-Estonia 2004

We’ve just left Zelenograd. Sue Cook Thanas, Martha Vedrine, Isabelle Plaster, and I all shared a wonderful moment - singing “Chattanooga Choo Choo” with Elena, a sixty-seven year old with the most beautiful, sweet, very high soprano voice. She told us that after a lifetime of learning and loving the English language, tonight was the first opportunity she has had to speak English with people whose native language is English.

After the concert with Andrei Tchnetsov’s choir when we sang for each other and then together, joyfully, we were invited to partake of a beautiful buffet dinner – strangely, the two choirs separated as they served themselves, SANS on one end, the Zelenograds on the other – bashfulness? Pretty soon a few people dared to start conversation, and then someone began a song with a couple of friends. By the end of the evening the room was ringing with the sound of happy voices, shouts of laughter, tramping of dancing feet, the “running river” – nobody wanted to go home! We felt so welcomed, as we renewed our 1990’s friendships! A true SANS event…

Last evening we shared food and music and laughter with a group of people studying voice with an obviously adored voice teacher who was also with us. We talked about our lives – about being an artist – about world affairs. At the end of the evening, Staz – aged 16 – said to me, “I always thought that Americans were not good – not good people to meet…How this has all changed. I learn that all of you are intelligent and easy to talk with – open and funny – and love humor!” And I thought – yeah – Mission Accomplished!

We arrived in Tallinn this morning – light rain. Beautiful old town, high above the harbor. We strolled across the top, took in the view and then walked down to the Old Town Square. Lovely introduction to Estonia at the train station, watching the Estonian flag being raised on the Old Town with the Estonian National Anthem being piped all over town. They are so proud of their country, so friendly and welcoming. Bisty has a very enthusiastic adopted family here, and they greeted her in tears and took her away for two days…