AmeriCymru spoke to Gina Lupini Pascolini, Choral Director for the Valley View High School about their forthcoming concert tour in Wales. Scroll down for a full listing of their itinerary. To donate please go here

Diolch yn fawr to Jerry Williams for the above presentation.

AmeriCymru:  Hi Gina and many thanks for agreeing to this interview. Can you tell us a little about your musical background?

​Gina: I'd rather the article be about the students, their journey and talents. I've been teaching 20 plus years and each day I strive to improve as a musician and teacher as well as human being.

AmeriCymru:When was the Voices Of The Valley choir founded?

​​Gina: Voices was founded last January. In October 2015, the Valley View High School Choir was invited to join Cor Dathlu Cumtawe in concert during their visit to the Lackawanna Valley. The quoted text was written by Jerry Williams for our press release and his words are much better than mine:

"When Gina Lupini Pascolini, Choral Director for the Valley View High School, was asked if she and her students would perform with a visiting Welsh Male Choir, she had no idea that her acceptance would result in an international odyssey of friendship and song.

In October of 2015, Côr Dathlu Cwmtawe, (The Swansea Valley Celebration Choir), came to the Lackawanna Valley, a place of historical significance to Wales and America, to sing and honor those who had come before in the 1830’s. Gina’s talented youngsters had earned a reputation of excellence and professionalism. Gina, was known to the choir for her Vivace​! ​choir performance for The Saint Francis Assisi Kitchen. This was an unforgettable event featuring The Catholic Choral Society, The Burlington Welsh Male Choir, and Gina’s Vivace​!​. Their performance with the 60 voice Swansea choir directed by one of Wales’ most renowned conductors exceeded everyone’s expectations. ​"​

AmeriCymru: Can you tell us something about its history?​

​​Gina: The choir is made up of 30 auditioned students in grades 9-12 who are currently members of the high school choir.​

AmeriCymru: How did you come to receive an invitation for the choir to perform in Wales?

​​Gina: In 2008, the Valley View Select Treble Choir, Vivace!, was invited to join the Burlington Welsh Male Choir on their USA tour. Fast forward to 2015 and I was asked to have the same choir perform. Unfortunately, the Vivace! choir was put on hold while my duties at Valley View shifted to high school. The invitation was accepted and the Valley View High School Choir (75 members strong) . Members of this choir take the class as an elective.

AmeriCymru: What will be the Choir's itinerary?

​Gina:

6/18 SUN – LEAVE NYC AIRPORT IN THE PM

6/19 MON – ARRIVE LONDON AIRPORT (HEATHROW),
TAKE SIDE TRIP TO STONEHENGE, SPEND ABOUT 1 ½ HRS,

6/20 TUES –
T0 ST. PAULS CATHEDRAL (VISIT 1 1/2HRS),
10:15AM LEAVE FOR CHANGING OF THE GUARD BUCKINGHAM PALACE,
12:00pm LEAVE FOR BOOKED TIME
(12:45) RIDE ON LONDON EYE,
1:45PM LEAVE FOR TOWER OF LONDON VISIT.
5:30PM LEAVE FOR HOTEL

6/21 WED. PICK UP AT HOTEL AT 9AM FOR TRIP TO WALES WITH
STOP at Tintern Abbey on the way.(1 HR SING SONG).

6/22 THURS –RHOSSILY GOWER (2 HR VISIT).
LEAVE FOR 1/2HR RIDE TO Lunch at Oxwich BaYHotel (2 HRS).
3PM BOARD BUS ,BACK TO BLANCO HOTEL.

6/23 FRI TODAN yr OGOF CAVES (SING IN CAVES)(2HR VISIT),
1/4HR RIDE TO CRAIG Y NOS Castle (SING ONE SONG),
1/2HR RIDE TO 3PM BUFFET in Ystradgynlais RFC,
7PM CONCERT IN St Cynogs Church.
Afterglow Ystradgynlais RFC LEAVE AT 11PM(1HR RIDE ) BACK TO BLANCO HOTEL.

6/24 SAT –NATIONAL BOTANICAL GARDENS (3HR VISIT SING)
.3/4HR RIDE On To DYLAN THOMAS BOAT HOUSE Laugharne(1HR VISIT)
.3/4 HR RIDE On to Tenby for afternoon/evening,
LEAVE AT 6PM FOR 1 1/2HR RIDE TO BLANCO HOTEL.

6/25 SUN TO Pembroke Castle(1 1/2HR VISIT).
1 ½ HR RIDE to ST. DAVID’S Cathedral (Lunch in Refectory)(3HR VISIT).
Back to BLANCO HOTEL, Port Talbot for evening.

6/26 MON –BUS TO CONCERT DAY IN LLANDEILO LEAVE AT 9:30PM

6/27 TUES –TO ST. FAGAN(Welsh Museum of Life)
THEN ½ HR RIDE TO CARDIFF BAY(Welsh Senedd and Millenium Theater)

Good area for Lunch. Cardiff Castle/ City Centre

6/28 WED – CONCERT AT BLANCO HOTEL AT 7PM

6/29 Thurs - Free Time Suggest Public Transport to SWANSEA. (Waterfront Museum Transport Museum Dylan Thomas Theater etc ) .

6/30 Fri - BUS TO CONCERT MORRISTON.

7/1 Sat - BUS TO CONCERT PONTARDDULAIS

7/2 Sun - TO BIG PIT(1 ½ HR VISIT)
then RIDE ON TO ABERGAVENNY FOR STOP(2HR VISIT).
THEN 1/2HR RIDE TO RAGLAN CASTLE(1HR VISIT) 4:30PM BUS BACK TO BLANCO HOTEL.
7/3 Mon - LEAVE HOTEL 6AM BUS GO TO CARDIFF FOR FLIGHT HOME​

AmeriCymru: Where and with whom will they be performing?​

​Gina:

6/23 - Cor Dathilu cwmtawe at St. Cynog;s Church, Ystradgynlais
6/26 - At St. Teilo's Church, LLandeilo with Ysgol Gyfun Bro Dinfwr Choir
6/27 - Port Talbot at either Blanco Hotel or New school in town - guest choir still working on
6/30 - Morristown RFC male choir, still waiting for definite site in Morristown
7/1 - Cor meibon Pontarddulais still waiting for definite site​

AmeriCymru: How often do you rehearse? Could you describe a typical rehearsal session for our readers?

​Gina: ​The choir rehearses every Monday and Wednesday for two hours. Of course, there are some exceptions.​ At present, the choir is preparing for the upcoming Christmas concerts and winter holiday performances. They have a total of five between December 2 and December 14.

AmeriCymru: The logistics and expense of a trip like this must be somewhat daunting. How can our readers help out with fund raising?

​​Gina: By visiting our website: gvgb.co/voicesofthevalley​

AmeriCymru: Any final message for the members and readers of AmeriCymru?

​​Gina: We are honored, thrilled and most excited to travel to Wales. We are thankful and full of gratitude for all the work that has been done thus far and yet to be done to make this trip happen. We are looking forward, with much anticipation, to sharing our love of music and the gift of song with our friends in Wales!​