Our Staff

Julie Fratarcangeli, Director

"Students and performers are awestruck as they spend their days visiting the highlights of their destination. By night, they are able to interact with the locals as they perform on magnificent stages. There's no better way to travel and discover the world than to provide the locals with the opportunity to see, hear and enjoy the performances of Encore travelers. My favorite so far was listening to a choir perform at Santa Maria in Trastevere in Rome."

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Julie believes that growing up in an Italian-American household has made her the person she is today and her upbringing has greatly contributed to her passion for Italy. She has always been curious about her family roots and that curiosity and desire to learn about the past was only enhanced after her first trip to Italy when she was just eight years old. Since that first family vacation to the country of her heritage—visiting historic sites, churches and numerous relatives— Julie has made about 20 or so return trips to Italy.

After spending time in Italy studying subjects such as Italian opera and perfecting her language skills, Julie hopes to someday return to live under the Tuscan sun. For now, she finds pleasure in her frequent trips to her ancestors' homeland.

James Knapp, Artistic Director

"Music is one of the great ambassadors of history and the arts, building international tolerance and understanding. I will always cherish the memory when one of my choirs sang, 'Hands United in Peace' in Moscow; hundreds of people grasping hands in solidarity for the hope of a better, more unified world. What other combination of travel and music has such power to transform people's hearts?"

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James began working with Encore Tours in early 2010. Originally from Rochester, New York, he holds a bachelor's degree in Music Education from Fredonia State University, a diploma in oratorio and song literature from the Mozarteum in Salzburg, and a master's degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Texas at Austin.

As a solo vocal artist, James has performed throughout the United States and Europe, appearing in Germany, France, Italy, and Austria. As a choral singer, James has performed with the Vienna State Opera Chorus, Lyric Opera Chorus of Chicago, and the Chicago Symphony Chorus. As a performance adjudicator, clinician and international conductor, James has presided over choral workshops and festivals throughout the US, in Canada, Britain, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Thailand, and Singapore.

James arrived at Encore with more than six years experience planning international performance tours to Britain, Europe, Russia, North America, Latin America, Asia and Australia. He has worked and travelled with bands, choirs and orchestras as well as dance and theater troupes. In addition, James brings more than 20 years of choral and instrumental conducting experience in church music, academia and community musical organizations.

Sabrina Denault, Performance Tours Consultant

"After earning my master’s degree in French at a school in Paris, I was ready to come back home and encourage others to get a taste for travel. I am lucky enough to do this on a daily basis working at Encore Tours. I know that everyone who will travel with Encore will have an experience of a lifetime."

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Sabrina was classically trained on the piano when she started taking lessons at the age of 8. She pursued her musical talent further and performed in college. Sabrina still considers playing the piano one of her greatest passions, although she’ll admit it's more of a hobby at the moment. In addition to the piano, Sabrina started singing at a young age and she was a member of the Chorale during her university years. With her college choir, she proudly performed in Italy.

Sabrina embraces many varieties of music, from opera to jazz to samba. She also received a Fulbright teaching scholarship following her undergraduate studies and was placed in Metz, France, where she taught English to high school students.

Rebecca Ray, Performance Tours Consultant

"Performance tours are absolutely amazing and life changing. We will guarantee you the best trip!"

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Rebecca Ray joined the Encore team in March 2007.

Rebecca has been singing in choirs since she was 3 years old and started singing with professional choirs when in high school. She began training in opera singing during college; she enjoys opera, but has a passion for singing jazz even more! However, her favorite performance ever was The Barber of Seville at the Sydney Opera House.

James Smith, Performance Tours Consultant

“Travel is the most fun and continuous education! Learning in social and cultural capacities in an international environment enables us to better understand ourselves as well as others; it is extremely rewarding to be part of those life-changing experiences for people of all ages and backgrounds. My constant highlight to see young musicians embark on a first tour with friends and how they develop en route, notably after receiving a standing ovation from a foreign audience with whom they cannot communicate, except through their music.”

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James joined Encore in 2008 with 10 years experience planning international performance travel and five years in logistics. Since relocating from Britain, he has worked with choirs, orchestras and bands touring throughout Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia and Australia. His personal travels have included most continents in a variety of capacities; from backpacking through India and the Malaysian Jungle to accompanying children’s choir and youth orchestras through Poland. James attended university in Liverpool and prior to that, studied art for which he still has a passion. On a musical note, he has played guitar for many years and has been known to pluck on a mandolin and plink on a banjo or two, depending on company!

Alison Bulger, Director of Overseas Operations

"Recently I got to see one of our groups perform their concert finale in London and to see how happy and proud the students were of their performance was amazing.  I know they will never forget it!"

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Alison started with Encore Tours in January of 2007. She brings with her 15 years of experience in the travel industry. Her favorite part of working with Encore is the opportunity to work for such resourceful and talented people in all corners of the world while planning each unique performance tour.

Alison traveled overseas in high school with her art class and still remembers almost every minute of it. Travel is truly life changing!

Cindy Esquibel, Overseas Operations

"I love the variety that comes with planning performance tours. Each day is something new and different. I’ve always had a deep fascination with places, languages and cultures so it’s exciting for me to devote my career to studying those things."

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Cindy has been interested in both music and travel for most of her life. She feels lucky to have grown up in a family that values music and artistic expression. She began playing an instrument at the age of 10, playing oboe throughout her high school years. Cindy was also highly involved in singing and theater, participating in several choirs and acting in plays and musicals. After playing Maria von Trapp in the Sound of Music her senior year, she went to college with the expectation of joining the drama program. Ultimately after studying abroad for a summer, she decided she liked traveling even more and graduated with a degree in Travel and Tourism and French.

Cindy has been lucky enough to work in the realm of planning performance tours ever since. She believes it fits the two sides of her personality quite well–creativity and an attention to organization and detail. Her advice to prospective travelers is to plan early and plan often! She asks people not to underestimate the profound power that travel and sharing music internationally has on young people. “It truly changes their lives," she says, “and provides introspective insight at the same time. You’re not only creating memories, but you’re creating globally aware, confident and culturally empathetic individuals. Yes, it’s true that planning a performance tour is a financial commitment and takes a lot of hard work, but it’s absolutely worth the effort!"