October: Poughkeepsie, New York

A beautiful day to drive from Corning, NY to Fishkill, NY for the last performance of this tour - in Poughkeepsie. How lucky we were to be able to see the leaves at almost the right moment. They'll be perfect in a week or so.

Our concert in the Skinner Hall of Music at Vassar College was one of the Barbara Woods Morgan Memorial Concerts - an endowment which enables the college to present the concerts free, first come first served. There was a line 90 minutes before the concert, 490 people got seats (including Vassar's President Hill who heard the buzz and slipped in), and about 10 were turned away. It's a hall we like to sing in (we were here a few years ago) and we were glad to come back to this very enthusiastic audience. Matt had given a masterclass for student choral singers earlier in the day, many of whom came to the concert.

Eric will always be happy to show pictures of his daughter Mia Isabel- now one month old. Eric's fans all over the country are keeping up with her.

The Reinhardt family turned out in force. Alan's parents pop up all over the place, and we're always glad to see them.

Home tomorrow for rehearsal (Christmas is coming!) and our Middle School Youth Choral Festival on October 23 when we'll spend a day with middle school choruses from around the Bay Area.

October: Houghton, New York

Rolling east from Ohio to New York State Jace, Michael and Ben took a small side tour to the "Grand Canyon of the East" Letchworth State Park, which, as you can see, was worth the detour -even in the rain. We were on our way to a concert at the Wesley Chapel at Houghton College. The last time Chanticleer was there was before Eric! Folks came from Buffalo and Niagara Falls in the pouring rain.

October: Granville, Ohio

Yesterday we drove from Valparaiso, Indiana to Chicago's O'Hare, took a plane to Columbus and drove to Granville, Ohio home of Denison University - enjoying autumn in the mid-west as seen in front of our hotel.

We started the day with a very enjoyable masterclass with the Denison University Chamber Choir under the direction of Dr. Wei Cheng. Tonight we'll sing "In time of..." (our new program) in the Swasey Chapel.

October: Valparaiso, Indiana

The beautiful Valparaiso University Chapel, where lots of friends and family turned out (because its the heartland!)

The Hostetters.

The Hinmans.

Matt with old friend Martin Poock who sings with the Chicago Lyric Chorus. 21 years ago they were the First and Second Spirits together in The Magic Flute.

October: Rockford, Illinois

Here we return to the Court Street United Methodist Church in Rockford, Illinois, presented by the Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center to open their 125th season. We also worked with the boys chorus Kantorei and the Rock Valley Children's Choir, and did a new thing we're offering which is fun - leading 200 adult choristers in an evening sing-a-long.