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.
August 12, 2026 Encore Tours What Happens Before Your Ensemble Takes the Stage? A performance may last an hour, but the work that makes it possible often begins months earlier. Backstage Blog Planning Your Tour
July 23, 2026 David Solar 2026–2027 Musical Celebrations Calendar A new school year brings concerts, rehearsals, auditions, deadlines and plenty of dates to keep organized. Backstage Blog
July 21, 2026 David Solar Beethoven at 200: Why His Music Still Resonates On March 26, 2027, musicians and audiences around the world will mark the 200th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s death. Backstage Blog