It has been an eventful spring and summer, beginning with our Springfest on May 7th. The concert was very successful and was a great tune up for our trip to Switzerland.

On June 17th we flew to Zurich and began our fifth tour of home away from Canada. The first few days were filled with four concerts; Andelfingen, Wallisellen, Sachseln and Langenthal. Andelfingen and Wallisellen were with old friends from previous visits. Andelfingen was also an introduction to the Schweizer Jugendchor and they were very impressive. This audition choir from across Switzerland is a credit to the nation and competent across many genres.

In Sachseln we combined with Heinz de la Torre, the great horn player in a rendition of Chuehreiheli, a piece written for us by Swiss Composer Hans Kennel in 1985. Our hosts were the Maennerchor Sachseln/Giswil.

In the days following we visited old friends and family. For all of us, including our non-Swiss members it was a chance to enjoy exceptional hospitality. Our tour of the Bundeshaus in Bern was, for me, very instructive. The system is one I would like to study more closely as I find much to recommend it.

This was the first time to spend time in hostels. They ranged from hotel-like in Locarno to rustic in Gruyere. We sang with Le Choeur des Armaillis de la Gruyere, whom we have long admired and with the delightful Coro Castelgrande (Bellinzona) where at the "Afterglow" we engaged in a lively "Call and Response" sing-a-long.

On Canada's National Day, we visited and sang with our long time friends from the Maennerchor Engelburg. As always their hospitality was most generous and gracious.

We ascended ski hills and mountains where the views were spectacular. Our meals at the chalets fulfilled the promise of Switzerland. We even had the pleasure of singing at the wedding of the son of Karl Strickler (a choir member) and Marianne Binder (the daughter of Max Binder, a parliamentarian).

Our tour ended with a barbeque hosted by Mannerchor Huetten, after which members went on their way, either back to Canada or to continue visiting other places in Switzerland or Europe. Will there be another tour? I certainly hope so.

Once again, for the 5th time, our charming and most talented bus driver & friend Xaver showed us many new and different areas of Switzerland. To top it off, Xaver treated us at his neighbor's place to a most enjoyable lunch. Thank you very kindly.

Dave Leigh