On Sunday, the Orchestra said a fond farewell to London and traveled to Edinburgh for the Edinburgh International Festival. Touring involves a myriad of detail – all ably managed by tour staff lead by Operations Manager Beth Kellar-Long. Orchestra members are divided up into color-coded groups, given coordinating luggage tags, and a schedule of staggered leave times from hotels in order to minimize the gridlock that can ensue when over 100 people arrive at once to check in at the airport. Tour staff position themselves at various points along the way in airports to act as a human way-finding system to keep everything running quickly and smoothly. Upon arrival at each hotel, musicians are met by staff who have traveled ahead to work with the hotel to have room keys laid out in alphabetical order when everyone arrives.
For this trip from London to Edinburgh, the Orchestra was split into two flights which doubled the logistics, but even with very tight turnarounds, everyone made it to the 6:15pm touch up rehearsal at Usher Hall.
After several days in London, the less than 20 hours in Edinburgh feels even shorter. But, it will have been well-spent. A rehearsal, a concert, a meal, and a glimpse of the massive Edinburgh Castle and the Orchestra will be off to Amsterdam!