ONCE IN A LIFETIME

ONCE IN A LIFETIME
Prague Choral Festival
The Czech Republic
July 10-18, 2011
…with The Hartwick College Alumni Choir,
Dr. Jirka Kratochvíl, Director, and two living legends…
Dr. André Thomas
W. A. Mozart:
Requiem
Dr. Anton Armstrong
Leonard Bernstein:
Chichester Psalms
Est. Cost of $2,280 (plus airfare) includes: A week of rehearsals, clinics,
workshops, performance with the Czech National Symphony
in the famed Smetana Hall – one of European most celebrated concert halls,
accommodation in a 4-star hotel, ground transportation, two meals a day,
cultural and educational activities, entrance fees to selected sites,
complimentary concert tickets for family members and more…
August 19, 2010
Dear Hartwick Graduate!
I am writing to invite you (and your spouse) to a very special Hartwick College Choral Reunion and festival,
which will take place in Prague, the Czech Republic on July 10-18, 2011. This festival, featuring
the Hartwick College Alumni Choir, current Hartwick students, and several choruses from the U.S. and Europe,
will give us an exceptional chance to reunite with many Music Majors, members of SAI and Phi Mu Alpha,
as well as other graduates who participated in choral activities at Hartwick College. During the week in Prague
we will have a fantastic opportunity to perform in the famed Smetana Hall with one of the top European
professional symphony orchestras—The Czech National Symphony. In addition, America’s most beloved choral
directors Dr. Anton Armstrong and Dr. André Thomas will join us to conduct some of the most beloved choral
works ever written: Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Requiem.
Smetana Hall is one of Europe’s most celebrated concert venues. It is a part of Prague’s Municipal House
roots of which date back to the gothic period and King Wenceslas. As I had the honor to conduct there before, I
can attest to its stunning architecture and acoustics. For the final gala concert, we will join forces with the largescale annual Prague Proms International Festival. The concert will be promoted across Prague, and it will most
certainly attract many enthusiastic listeners.
As you might expect, in addition to this performance opportunity, workshops, and clinics, there will be other
musical and cultural activities planned during your stay, as well as events planned specifically for Hartwick
alumni. Besides the festival activities, I am sure you will be drawn to Prague’s unique culture, history,
and architecture. If you have not yet traveled to Prague (my hometown) before, you will discover why it
has become one of the most visited European cities.
I have attached a festival flier, sample schedule, financial information, and an application form. I would
appreciate hearing from you as soon as possible with a firm commitment no later than by November 15, 2010.
The more time we have for planning the better. To musically prepare for the festival, we will send you all
music sheets well ahead of time as well as rehearsal tapes with all voice parts. We will, of course, also rehearse
during the week in Prague!
I very much look forward to both reconnecting with all the graduates I have met during my years at Hartwick,
as well as to meeting those who had graduated before I joined the faculty here. This festival is a natural
extension of the Hartwick College Festivals I had previously organized in Prague, and I believe this upcoming
festival promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for all involved. I would love to have you with us!
Warm regards,
Dr. Jirka Kratochvil, D.A.
Hartwick College Music Department, Chair
Prague Choral Festival, Director
Director of Choral Music
Oneonta, NY 13820
Phone: 607.431.4803
kratochvilj@hartwick.edu
Hartwick College / One Hartwick Drive, Oneonta, New York 13820 · U.S.A. · 607-431-4000 · www.hartwick.edu
Prague Choral Festival
________________________________________________________
Prague, the Czech Republic, July 10-18, 2011
Preliminary/Sample Schedule
Monday, July 11
Morning: arrival at Prague International Airport
Transfer to our hotel (four stars) and accommodation
Noon: Light refreshment and Orientation
Afternoon: , Sleep, Rest and/or Recreation
Evening: Festive Welcome Dinner at the famed Vikárka
medieval restaurant with Live Performance
A night walk at Prague Castle
Transfer to hotel/rest
Tuesday, July 12
Morning: breakfast at hotel
Meet the Festival Choirs, First Rehearsal
with Dr. Armstrong and Dr. Thomas
Lunch at hotel
Afternoon: Guided Tour from Strahov Monastery
to Charles Bridge
Evening TBA
Wednesday, July 13
Morning: breakfast at hotel
Rehearsals/Clinics
Lunch at hotel
Trip outside Prague to Terezín - a World War II
Concentration Camp
Evening: Return to Prague dinner at Cafe Slavia
Thursday, July 14
Morning: breakfast at hotel
Rehearsals/Clinics
Group lunch downtown
Guided Tour – the Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square
Dinner downtown and return to the hotel
Rehearsals as needed: Individual and Combined Choirs
(First rehearsal with orchestra)
Friday, July 15
Morning: breakfast at hotel
Choral/Orchestra Rehearsal
Afternoon: A Special Concert for the festival participants
by a local choir
Free Evening or return to the hotel for rehearsal as needed
Saturday, July 16
Morning: breakfast at hotel
Information session
Rest and recreation
Dress rehearsal and Concert in Smetana Hall
A night boat trip on Vltava River
Sunday, July 17
Morning: Breakfast at hotel
Free day
Late afternoon: trip outside Prague to Dĕtenice
for a special Farewell Dinner with a medieval Showperformance
Monday, July 18
Departure
PRAGUE
CHORAL FESTIVAL
COST AND PAYMENT INFORMATION
Estimated Cost: $2,280* (singer/spouse/family member).
Cost includes:
 Accommodation in centrally located three-star hotel (double occupancy); it includes all service charges
and taxes.
 Transportation: modern air-conditioned buses.
 Meals: breakfast served daily in the hotel restaurant; festive welcome dinner; festive farewell dinner; at
least two meals a day including packed lunches depending on the schedule.
 Czech native English-speaking tour guides.
 Free tickets for the gala concert for all accompanying family members.
 Complimentary handbook for each participant including hourly itinerary, information about current
cultural events in Prague, travel tips and security information.
Cost does not include:
 Airfare: Although the flights are not included in the festival package, Prague Gospel Festival will be
pleased to arrange flights for you with the most competitive fares. Please note
that a deposit per person (approximately $100) is usually required to hold any reservation.
 Travel insurance: recommended to cover illness abroad, cancelation dues to illness, lost luggage.
Payment Schedule:
- November 15, 2010:
- January 1, 2011
- April 1, 2011
$700
$800
$780 (or remaining balance)
Cancelation Policy:



The initial deposit of $700 is nonrefundable.
All other deposits are refundable for up to 60 days after the receipt of the deposit.
However, no deposits are refundable after May 1, 2011.
All cancelations should be made in writing, dated and signed.
*Please note that while the cost takes inflation into account, the state of the US economy does not allow confirming the price at
this time. The cost might have to be adjusted depending on the value of the US dollar against Czech Crown and Euro prior the
festival.
Prague CHORAL FESTIVAL
Hartwick Alumni APPLICATION
First name: ____________Last name: _____ _____________Year of Graduation____
Home address: ______________________________ City/State: __________________
Zip Code: ____________D.O.B._____/____/______
Home Phone: (_____) _________________________
Work Phone: ______________________________Cell Phone ___________________
E-mail: _______________________________________________________________
Voice part (circle): S A T B
Will there be a family member/spouse participant accompanying you? Yes
If yes, will he/she be participating as a singer? Yes
If yes, what voice part? S A T B
No
No
Signature _________________________Date ________________________________
Please mail this form along with $700 deposit to by November 15, 2010 the address
below. Please make checks payable to Hartwick College
Dr. Jirka Kratochvíl, Chair
Hartwick College Music Department
Prague Choral Festival, Director
Associate Professor of Choral Music
One Hartwick Dr., Oneonta, NY 13820
www.PragueChoralFestival.org
Prague CHORAL FESTIVAL
SPOUSE APPLICATION
First name: __________________Last name: ________________________________
Home address: ______________________________ City/State: __________________
Zip Code: ____________D.O.B._____/____/______
Home Phone: (_____) _________________________
Work Phone: ______________________________Cell Phone ___________________
E-mail: _______________________________________________________________
Voice part (circle): S A T B (for singers only)
To whom are you related in the chorus: _____________________________________
Signature _________________________Date ________________________________
Please mail this form along with $700 deposit by November 15, 2010 to the address
below. Please make checks payable to Hartwick College
Dr. Jirka Kratochvíl, Chair
Hartwick College Music Department
Prague Choral Festival, Director
Associate Professor of Choral Music
One Hartwick Dr., Oneonta, NY 13820
www.PragueChoralFestival.org