Our winning performance at the Royal Academy of Music

We're back and have more to share

What a spectacular trip! We won the Grand Championship of the Royal Heritage Festival, and have memories to last a lifetime.


More photos in random order:


Collapsing in the hotel after the overnight flight


Our guides, Jessica, Stephanie, and Carolyn


Oprah interviews Kiarra.


The Beatles + 2


Happy CHSO seniors with trophies


The British version of Mary Kate


Shankar with one of four trophies we won


Rachel, Clare, Rosie, and Hallie at Covent Garden


Eric at Covent Garden


Ms. Thomas and daughter at the Royal Academy


The Beatles—CHSO style


Simon with CHSO friends


CHSO friends in "Eye Pod"


Flora, Bergen, and Kiley at Covent Garden


CHSO friends at Covent Garden carousel


CHSO smiles at Covent Garden


Chaperones at Covent Garden


Cellists warm up at St. Sepulchre (not sure where the date stamp came from)


Rita and Tamara are all smiles at airport


Natalie and Harding at dinner


CHSO members at Westminster area


CHSO tours the Globe Theater


Ms. Thomas in the London Eye


Jessica in Covent Garden

Competition Day

Today we played in the Heritage Music Competition at the Royal Academy of Music and crushed. We went to a sweet museum of wax people. There was a Chamber of Horror but I didn't get to see it!! There were lots of interesting shops with many gifts. Some of the stores were a bit repetitive though. There was also some really good ice cream, it was two scoops per cone, at least. I do feel that the museum could have been a little more impressive but that could be because I missed the Chamber of Horrors though. --sam, eric and erik

St Sepulchre

Fun N' Games in Covent Garden


Cellists Former and Current


They really are everywhere!

The London Eye

We started the day nice and early at 6:30 IN THE MORNING (1:30 A.M. Charlottesville time)









What a happy and handsome gang on the steps of St. Paul's Cathedral : )










Rosie's purple hair blends in easily with London culture.










The London Eye was spectacular! What amazing views of this great city. It takes 30 minutes to "fly" the entire rotation on this giant ferris wheel.









A view of Rory way up high in the London Eye! (Don't worry, it's entirely enclosed!)










Monica, Emily, and Luke in one of the Eye "Pods".











Rachel in a "pod" with a spectacular background.











Patrick with his friend Big Ben.










Patrick I-C getting his exercise.













Natalie and Juliana with their shades at the Tower of London.













More shades from Anna and Natalie.










Fitz on the motorcoach.

Frankie at Buckingham Palace. The Queen did not ask her in.










Juliana at the Tower Bridge.

Westminster to Wicked

We started today touring Westminster Abbey.








Waiting at Covent Garden. It is a lot like the downtown mall, but we didn't see a garden anywhere. Several good street performers, though!






Waiting sometimes causes us to climb the walls...








... but there were sweet rewards for waiting!








We finished off the day at a fantastic performance of "Wicked".

We're in London!

Sightseeing in London - weather is perfect!








At the London Tower Bridge








Talking with a tour guide about "guts and gore" at the Tower of London







Recognize these guys? They made it - thanks to you!