The Festival

Songs of Life International Choral Festival

Songs of Life is a 12-day choral-orchestral festival in Bulgaria & Israel held
December 27, 2010 - January 7, 2011. The Bulgaria portion is December 27, 2010 –
January 2, 2011 and the Israel Portion is January 2 – 7, 2011.

Registration Form & Releases
Itinerary - Bulgaria
Itinerary - Israel 

Festival Cost:
Children and Youth
Adults

Itinerary:
Download a PDF version

Monday, Dec 27
Participants depart for Sofia, Bulgaria.
Orchestral rehearsal – conductors only

Tuesday, Dec 28
Morning Orchestral rehearsal – conductors only
Participants arrive in Sofia around noon.
Welcome at the airport by SOL Festival representative and transfer to the hotel.
Check in our centrally located hotel in Sofia.
Settle in and Free time
19:00 - Welcome Dinner.

Wednesday, Dec 29
Breakfast.
9:00 – 12:00 - Morning guided tour of Sofia.
Lunch (not included).

Afternoon choral clinics with the festival conductors:
14:00-16:00 – Children Choirs rehearse their program with Prof. Henry Leck
16:00-17:00 – All choirs rehearse the Songs of Life World Premier oratorio
18:00 – Dinner for children choirs
17:00-19:00 – Adult choirs rehearse their program with Dr. Joshua Jacobson
19:30 – Dinner for adult choirs

Thursday, Dec 30
Breakfast.
9:00-12:30 – Choral rehearsal: choirs rehearse the World Premiere oratorio.
Lunch (not included).
14:00 – 18:00 - Choral–Orchestral rehearsal.
Dinner

Friday, Dec 31
Breakfast.
9:00-13:00 - Choral–Orchestral rehearsal.
Lunch (not included).
17:30 - Shabbat service at the Sofia synagogue (optional)
19:00 - Dinner.
21:00 - New Year’s Eve celebration including a presentation of Bulgarian folk dance and a late night dinner, featuring authentic Bulgarian cuisine (optional). Cost: $50 per person.

Saturday, Jan 1
Breakfast.
Free morning and afternoon. Tour director will be available to assist participants and provide information regarding places of interest and shopping areas.
Lunch (not included).
17:30 - Dress rehearsal and sound check.
19:00 – Songs of Life Concert: World Premiere of an oratorio which tells the inspiring story of the Rescue of the Jews of Bulgaria during WWII.
Dinner

Sunday, Jan 2
Breakfast.
10:00 – 12:00 - Act of service (optional): opportunity to reach out to local Bulgarians. The outreach will culminate in a matinee charity and goodwill outreach concert with individual presentations by the participating choirs. The suggested concert theme is: Songs of Hope to the Nations.
12:00 – Check out of the hotel and store your luggage at a designated hotel room.
12:30 - Lunch (not included).
Afternoon - Free time for shopping and personal walking tours of Sofia.
19:00 - Transfer to the Sofia International Airport for our flight to Israel.
00:30 - Arrival in Israel and transfer to our hotel.

Participants who register for the Bulgaria portion only will fly back from Sofia to the USA today.

Monday, Jan 3
Breakfast.
Orchestral rehearsal – conductors only
Sightseeing day tour of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem
Lunch (not included).
Visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.
Dinner

Tuesday, Jan 4
Breakfast.
10:00 – 12:00 – Choral rehearsals with the festival conductors: children choirs and adult choirs in separate rooms and / or together.
12:00 - 13:00 - Lunch (not included).
14:00 – 17:30 - Choral Orchestral rehearsal.
18:00 – 19:00 - Dinner
20:00 – Songs of Life concert: Israel Premiere of the Songs of Life Oratorio. The concert will be held at the Petah Tikva Performing Arts Center, Petah Tikva, Israel. Petah Tikva is a satellite city of Tel Aviv.

Wednesday, Jan 5
Breakfast.
Sightseeing day tour to the Dead Sea and Masada.
Lunch (not included).
Dinner

Thursday, Jan 6
Breakfast.
Act of service in Jerusalem (optional): opportunity to reach out to the local population in Jerusalem. The outreach will culminate in a matinee charity and goodwill outreach concert with individual presentations by the participating choirs. The suggested theme is: Songs of Hope to the Nations.
Free day to rest, pack and enjoy personal walking tours of Jerusalem.
Farewell Dinner

Friday, Jan 7
Packed breakfast.
Early morning check out and transfer to Ben Gurion International Airport to our return flight to the USA. Participants can expect to arrive in the USA early afternoon.
A trip extension can be arranged with an optional return Saturday night or Sunday.

Forms:

Download the Registration form:
PDF format (requires Adobe Acrobat)
Word document

Download the Waiver and Release form:
PDF format (requires Adobe Acrobat)
Word document

Download the Parental Release form:
PDF format (requires Adobe Acrobat)
Word document

To join the tour, or for more information, contact:
    Songs of Life
    113  Dupre Mill Court
    Lexington, SC 29072

    803-358-2382 or 803-520-3626