Q. What were the high and low points for your group?
A: The high points of the trip were two-fold. First, the concerts and interfacing with Italian choirs along the way. Secondly, we were pleasantly surprised by how much we loved our "Tuscan lunch" on the hillside outside of San Gimignano. A low point is hard to pin-point. There was nothing that happened that was not deftly handled by either the chaperones or our tour manager.

Q. Did you fundraise for your tour and how much did you raise?
A. We raised approximately $24,000. We had a Holiday Cabaret in December that raised $6,000. The students baked a cake, served the food and performed a 30 minute show. Everything is donated and we hold an auction. Read more about Encore's Fantastic Fundraiser.

Q. What made you choose Encore again for your tours?
A. Nantucket High School Honors Chorus has traveled three times with Encore Tours (Italy 2006, Austria 2004, Italy 2002). I always felt secure with both the planning and traveling that everything was going to be of good quality. Planning from the initial to the final stages with the Boston office (Glenn, Kim and David) is collaborative and supportive. The performance venues are wonderful. The hotels and meals are of very high quality. We have had three different tour managers and each one has brought a unique and fabulous perspective.

Q. Discuss briefly the performance venues.
A. Our first performance in Genazzano, one of the castle cities outside of Rome, was perfect. Our students were impressed with the acoustics of the Palazzo and gave what may have been their best concert musically.

The most special performance venue was in Venice. The evening was beautiful and as we waited outside the church, we were on a small canal watching the gondolas go up and down and thinking how lucky we were to be there. There was a large turn-out for the performance and the acoustics were perfect.

Q. What advice would you give to other ensembles?
A. Ask yourself what it is you want your group to bring away from the trip and plan accordingly. Balance your performance program to include a selection from the culture/country you are visiting but be sure to do works that best represent the highest quality level of your group.

You should plan your possible repertoire one year ahead of time. I am already thinking about a trip in 2008 and I will start investigating the possibilities soon.

Q. Describe your performers' responses to their Italy experience.
A. For an American student, the sheer vastness of our country at times diminishes the vastness and depth of history from the European continent. They come to realize that not everything is generated in the USA. They feel humbled and also grateful for the experience.