Last Tuesday, we released the debut episode of our new podcast series, Encast. Through this podcast, we hope to share the story behind some of the world’s most successful music ensembles, and help directors on their own personal journeys. In this week’s episode, Sean Boulware, a highly sought after conductor, composer, and director, and Suzanne Woodruff, Director of Choral Music and Performing Arts Department Chair at Woodward Academy, discuss the importance of repertoire. Later in the episode, we continue our conversation with Diane Linn, President and Executive Director of the Community Chorus of Detroit (CCD). She talks about building her ensemble’s repertoire, developing community partnerships, and much more. Listen to the full episode here: The Encast is also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, SoundCloud, and Spotify, so please subscribe today! Classrooms and performance halls across the US have been disrupted, and musicians have been forced to transition into online environments. It may not be possible to travel or perform with your ensemble now, but with our new Encore Live series, you can still stay connected. Visit our Encore Live page to learn more about this new series, view upcoming live events, and watch all of our past recordings.
February 12, 2026 Encore Tours Why International Travel Can Transform a Church Choir A church choir can rehearse together for years. They can sing beautifully, serve liturgy faithfully, and become an essential part of parish life. Backstage Blog
February 12, 2026 Encore Tours Announcing Encore’s Best Promotion for Early Planners If you’re starting to think about an international performance tour in 2027 or 2028, this is an especially good moment to begin the conversation. Backstage Blog Planning Your Tour
February 4, 2026 David Solar ETIAS Explained: What U.S. Travelers Need to Know for Europe in 2026 If you’re planning a performance tour to Europe in 2026 or beyond, you may start hearing more about ETIAS. ETIAS for U.S. Backstage Blog Get Ready To Travel