New England Conservatory and Encore Tours Staff Making Music!

Encore Tours is committed to supporting the local ensembles that travel with us on international music tours with our presence and participation. The Encore Staff has attended several orchestra concerts of the New England Conservatory Youth Symphony (2011 tour to Hungary, Austria, and Slovakia) and the New England Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (2011 tour with performances in Vienna [Musikverein], Prague [Rudolfinum], Bratislava [Slovak National Radio Hall], and at the International Mahler Music Festival and Smetana’s Litomysl Festival).

Encore Tour consultant Sabrina Denault has deepened our relationship with the New England Conservatory by participating as a piano student in their Continuing Education department. She performed in late April in a class recital, playing Chopin’s Nocturne in B major on a lovely Steinway. We were very proud of her!

Marilyn Roth, director of the New England Conservatory Prep School Piano Department, is particularly happy with Sabrina studying at the conservatory and working with her on the NEC Prep School Piano Department’s customized tour, “The Journey of Chopin.” Students will be performing and visiting Chopin “music sites” in Paris and the Loire Valley.

In addition to performing, students will see the composer’s Paris apartment, have a master class at the Polish Library of Paris, visit La Madeleine Church where Chopin’s funeral took place, and visit the famous Pere Lachaise Cemetery where they will see his final resting place. Chopin is buried along with several other distinguished composers, including Georges Bizet, Vincenzo Bellini, and Paul Dukas. It is certainly a wonderful opportunity for a once-in-a-lifetime musical tour for these young musicians!