Destinations

Argentina is a land of extremes, but its people possess a common curiosity, passion and fervor for life. Tango, fine wine, soccer, and the traditions of the estancia (ranch) all mark Argentinean culture.

Australia has beautiful cosmopolitan cities and beaches that rival any in the world, and getting off the beaten track offers a taste of the unique nature of rural life in this vast country.

Austria is, quite simply, the land of music – Bruckner, Mozart and Schubert were all native Austrians, and their musical heritage pervades the cultural life of the country. Austria is also famous for its spectacular scenery, from the mountains of Tyrol to the lakes of the Salzkammergut. We have particularly good connections with the Stephansdom in Vienna and the Salzburger Dom for service participations and concerts.

The former Yugoslav republics of Serbia, Bosnia and Montenegro offer a wondrous variety of cultures and landscapes as well as unique concert tour possibilities. 

Music, and particularly choral music, has played a central part in the history of all three Baltic countries: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. It became an expression of defiance against Soviet domination in the 1980’s, when any nationalist tendencies were regarded as subversive, and music helped to unite the population. This cultural importance continues to this day, and visiting groups are very well received by appreciative audiences.

What’s not to like when touring Belgium? Antwerp, Ghent, Brussels and Bruges all have beautiful gothic churches and market squares surrounded by very tall houses. You can also enjoy famous Belgium beers and delicious food, which tastes especially good after a concert in one of those stunning cathedrals!

Between the indigenous areas of La Paz, the silver mines in colonial Potosi, the Amazonian jungle, the beautiful Lake Titicaca (which also borders Peru) and the rugged Andes, Bolivia is a study in extreme nature and lively culture

Brazil is South America’s largest country and one of the most intriguing due to its ethnically and culturally diverse population. The distinctive Brazilian identity sets itself apart with its unique musical style, culture and language.

Famous for its deep tradition of choral music, Bulgaria’s rich cultural heritage also has roots in traditional dance and crafts like pottery, textiles and painting.

Cultured and quirky, Chile is equal parts laid-back locale and emerging tourist hot spot, with the vastness of the ocean horizon and the backdrop of mountains always nearby.

China is an incredible destination packed with iconic sightseeing such as the Great Wall and the terra cotta warriors of Xi’an. The country has a rich musical history – starting with being the source of the earliest scale in recorded human history. China also provides numerous opportunities for joint concerts and exchanges with local choirs and orchestras. Western music is very popular and concerts are well attended. No matter what region you visit, appreciative and enthusiastic audiences await.

Any group that’s up for a slight logistical challenge will find Colombia to be well-worth the effort.  Bogota, Medellin and Cartagena, are all musts, but require internal flights between them.  Colombia’s classical musical scene, especially as it pertains to young people, is exploding, with many initiatives based on neighboring Venezuela’s El Sistema program. 

Costa Rica is often considered one of the most accessible of the Latin American countries, when it comes to infrastructure, familiarity, friendliness, and ease of travel. Perfect for youth ensembles not quite ready for Argentina and Brazil, Costa Rica provides lots of opportunities for joint concerts, service and outreach — as well as ecological exploration. It’s a great destination for groups wanting to combine music and nature.

Croatia offers a wide range of performance possibilities, with well-attended summer festivals and spectacular churches. Free time can be spent discovering ancient Roman ruins or simply soaking up the sun on the scenic Adriatic coast.

The Czech Republic has always been one of our most popular tour destinations. The elegant concert halls of marvelous Prague, laid-back spa towns, and beautiful countryside are all draws to this musically and culturally rich nation.

Ecuador takes great pride in its indigenous and European heritage, from the Andes to the Galapagos. Performing in exquisite colonial churches immerses you in the mestizo legacy of this unique place.

France offers beautiful and varied scenery, world-class art, fabulous cuisine and wine — and historically important concert venues in cities both large and small. Gothic Cathedrals abound, it’s a fantastic destination for any choir or orchestra, especially if there is a need for excellent organs.

Germany is a land of culture, castles, cathedrals and composers. With a long-established office in Berlin, we have made something of a specialty of eastern Germany, which has never lost its old-style respect for culture and music, and has benefited from a huge improvement in its infrastructure since reunification. Concerts in churches and halls are well attended with discerning audiences, and the once-neglected historic buildings and monuments have mostly been restored to their former glory. We have also planned tours to western Germany for a very long time, with excellent musical contacts in the Rhine Valley, Romantic Road and Bavaria.

For a group looking for something a little different, Greece makes an interesting destination. During the summer months, because of the heat, most concerts take place outdoors. However, the Greeks invented the science of acoustics, and many of the amphitheaters where performances take place have miraculous sound quality. And then, of course, there is the Apollon Theatre on the island of Syros, which is a perfect replica in miniature of La Scala Milan. Visiting the north for mountainous coastlines is another idea or, for a smaller ensemble, hop through the islands and add on a bit of Turkey!

Hong Kong is a melting pot of world cultures and performance opportunities range from modern, world-class concert halls to more intimate venues at universities and churches.

Hungarians take music very seriously. The pedagogical methods of Kodaly alone are the basis for music education all over the world, and those fundamentals are evident in the high quality of music making today. The heritage of Liszt and Bartók is plain to see in the range and quality of concert venues and the audience’s sophistication. Fun fact: the Hungarian language is not Slavic, nor Romance, and in fact, it’s only relative is Finnish!  Egészségére!

India is very keen to welcome visiting ensembles, and offers an exhilarating array of diversity, color, energy, scenery, temples, millennia-old history, and a vast range of cultural opportunities. 

Looking for a relaxed pace and a lot of fun? Ireland is for you. Never too hot, sometimes a little damp, but always warm in spirit, this is a destination that always feels like the scene of a great novel. Don’t be surprised if the entire village shows up to your concert in a quaint country church — or if you end the night in the local pub listening to the traditional music of fiddles and drums.

Apart from the obvious reasons to visit Italy, such as the architecture, museums, landscape, food and climate, Italy offers fantastic opportunities for performing groups of all kinds.

Visiting choirs are welcomed in many of the finest churches and cathedrals, both for concerts and mass participation opportunities. There is also a wide selection of summer festivals and concert series, from small villages to major international arts festivals such as Spoleto and Ravenna.

The Catholic churches are generally strict about the choice of repertoire, so it is advisable to bring a sacred a cappella repertoire, as very few churches have pianos, and organs can be of variable quality. Orchestral and band concerts during the summer tend to be outdoors, but usually with specially constructed and well-equipped open-air stages.

With its deep cultural respect for music, Japan provides a unique opportunity for ensembles to connect with passionate listeners and engage in meaningful cultural exchanges.

The Canadian Maritime provinces are unlike anywhere else.  Largely untouched by commercialism and chains, the Maritimes seem somehow pure and unspoiled.  With their very strong ties to the British Isles, the musical tradition here runs deep, with an emphasis on folk music and storytelling. Locals speak with a lilt and a warmth that instantly enhances the experience.

Mexico is a fascinating country with colorful traditions, natural splendor and welcoming people. Visit colonial silver towns such as Guanajuato, admire majestic pyramids, and taste local delicacies crafted with pre-Colombian ingredients.

Part of the Maghreb-Arab region of North Africa, with a significant Berber identity and ties to France and Spain, Morocco’s language, music, cuisine and architecture are further influenced by Ottoman, Jewish, and other ethnicities from neighboring regions.

Friendly people, lovely countryside and the wide use of English as a second language make and the Netherlands an attractive destination, particularly for first-time tour goers. Our exclusive representative for this area has unrivaled access to a wealth of significant venues, including the major cathedrals.

Formed by intense volcanic action, New Zealand’s landscape is nothing short of breathtaking. Begin your tour in Auckland and perform your way south through the geothermal region of Rotorua, the limestone caves of Waitomo, Karanhahake Gorge and the wine region of Hawke’s Bay. Hop across to the South Island and explore the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers, Fiordland National Park, the stunning World Heritage Site of Milford Sound and the beautiful cities of Christchurch, Queenstown and Dunedin, while performing for amazingly friendly New Zealanders along the way.

With locations that integrate traditional Incan cosmovision, hybrid pre- and post-colonial architecture, and stunning natural beauty, Peru offers many worlds in one.

Once devastated by war, Poland’s cities have been painstakingly reconstructed, and their central squares are among the finest in Europe. Exchange opportunities are plentiful thanks to numerous choral and instrumental ensembles. Care needs to be taken choosing repertoire for performances in churches as there are rigid guidelines, which can restrict programs to sacred music. There are also excellent opportunities for youth orchestras to perform in Poland’s major concert halls.

With a wealth of performance opportunities and a number of summer music festivals, Portugal delights both musically and culturally, with Roman ruins, seaside villages, and the exquisite architecture of Lisbon.

The province of Québec embraces its French, English and Cree identity with pride in its customs, its land, and its legacy of preserved antiquity: Québec City is the only walled city north of Mexico.

For the group that wants a new and different experience, Romania is hard to beat. Not only is it stunningly beautiful, but the welcome that is given to visiting choirs and orchestras is truly remarkable. Picturesque Transylvania holds special cultural interest, as home of the legend of Dracula – as well as a jazz concert series. Our exclusive representative in Bucharest has opened doors for us all over the country, from Cluj in the west to Sibiu, Brasov and Bucharest itself. 

Scandinavia’s major churches have excellent organs, pianos and sound equipment, and they are very flexible about repertoire. Many concert halls, even in the major cities, are open to presenting amateur ensembles. 

Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm boast countless sights and attractions, but, as so often is the case, the most memorable concert opportunities can be found in the smaller towns and cities, such as Århus, Bergen, Karlstad, Örebro and Nora, and even further off the beaten track, in the Dalarna cities of Mora, Leksand and Rättvik, where we have collaborated with the Midsummer Festival many times over the years.

Slovakia is a modern European nation with a rich folk tradition, and is a microcosm of Bohemian and Roman sophisticated living. Thanks to its position at the heart of Central Europe, Slovakia can be easily combined with its neighboring countries on a tour.

Slovenia’s alpine terrain provides for a unique climate, and Lake Bled, home of the Bled International Music Festival, is a prime concert tourist destination.

In South Africa, they sing when they are happy.  They sing when they are hurting.  They sing to reach the innermost parts of the human heart.  No concert in South Africa can finish without the entire audience joining in, usually in perfect multi-part harmony – its electric!

Classical music ensembles can find South Korea to be a vibrant hub for cultural exchange. With a growing appreciation for Western classical music and a dynamic arts scene, performing in South Korea provides ensembles an opportunity to connect with enthusiastic audiences and engage in cross-cultural collaborations.

World-class art museums, delightful gastronomy, diverse landscapes: Spain has it all in spades. It also has sophisticated audiences who pack into stunning venues, which make it an incredibly popular choice for concert tours, especially for choirs with sacred programs or orchestras looking for wonderful halls. Visit one of the major cities, or one of the lesser-known areas: Wander around the Alhambra’s shady courtyards in the South, perhaps, or walk a short segment of the verdant Camino de Santiago in the North.

Switzerland is a paradise for lovers of skiing, hiking and chocolate, but it also has its own unique musical culture in the famous festivals of Lucerne, Verbier, and Montreux Jazz.

Quite literally bridging the gap between Europe and Asia, Turkey has been home to some of the world’s greatest civilizations. Music has always played an important role in its culture, and performance opportunities abound.

While Uruguay probably isn’t on the tip of everyone’s tongue when thinking about a tour destination, perhaps it should be!  Argentina claims tango as its own, but the art form is just as much Uruguayan.  If you’d like to compare the two, why not visit both?  A quick ferry from Buenos Aires will drop you off in the quaint town of Colonia, on route to the cosmopolitan city of Montevideo.

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are home to a multilingual, cosmopolitan population with well-established and emergent musical institutions and contacts. A plethora of music festivals and venues welcome ensembles.