It is Teacher Appreciation Week, and we want to take a moment to celebrate the music educators who make meaningful travel experiences possible for their students. Your work extends far beyond the classroom. You inspire, organize, rehearse, encourage, and lead, often all at once. The impact you make cannot be overstated. You give your time, energy, and heart to help students grow not just as musicians but as people. You manage countless details, guide students through unfamiliar settings, and create experiences that broaden their perspective and deepen their confidence. Because of your dedication, young performers are able to step onto international stages and return home transformed. As part of our thanks, we want to support not just the work you do but also your continued growth as an educator. Graduate-level academic credit is available to any group leader who travels on a performance tour or takes part in Prelude, our professional development weekend for ensemble directors, which takes place each year in a spectacular international destination. For those leading a tour in 2026, we will reimburse the full cost of that credit. This is a small way to recognize the time, care, and expertise you bring to your students and to the journeys you create for them. To every teacher who has partnered with us, and to those considering their first performance tour, thank you. Your passion is the reason these life-changing opportunities exist. We are honored to support the meaningful work you do through music and travel.
April 13, 2026 Encore Tours What You Gain by Planning a Tour Early (and What You Lose If You Don’t) The timing of your planning process shapes everything from pricing to performance opportunities. Here’s what changes when you start early and what you give up when you don’t. Backstage Blog
March 30, 2026 Encore Tours A New Orchestra Festival at Boston Symphony Hall There are certain stages that change how students think about performing. Boston Symphony Hall is one of them. Backstage Blog
March 18, 2026 Encore Tours 5 Performance Tour Destinations Ensembles Are Choosing for 2027 (And Why They Work) When directors begin planning a performance tour, the destination shapes everything — the venues available, the audiences you’ll reach, and the experience students carry home. Backstage Blog