Bring your choir’s music into sacred spaces where faith, tradition, and community are felt in every note. Encore designs international performance tours for Catholic schools and church choirs, with thoughtful pacing, meaningful venues, and support that keeps planning organized and travel smooth. Why Catholic choirs choose Encore When your choir travels with Encore, you’re selecting a partner with insight into the unique needs of sacred music programs. We manage the intricacies so directors can stay focused on their ensemble. Every itinerary is shaped around your musical goals, your faith tradition, and the experience you want your travelers to carry home. “Catholics are the original pilgrims; so, travel to us is second nature. Nothing is foreign to us. Everything is wonder. There is no other company that can tap into our universal culture and heritage like Encore.” – Mike R., Encore Group Leader Your Tour Experience Appropriate sacred venues Based on your choir’s size, experience, and repertoire, we hand-pick a venue with the right acoustics and setting, including churches, basilicas, and cultural venues that welcome sacred music. Publicity materials When requesting sacred performance opportunities, presentation matters. We’ll help you assemble the materials needed to communicate your choir’s story and musical goals clearly. Repertoire guidance and approval Whether singing for a Mass, prayer service, formal concert, or exchange, we’ll help you plan repertoire and coordinate approvals with the venue or local partners. Stage layouts and equipment We coordinate risers, keyboard rentals, changing space, and any venue-specific logistics so your performance day feels calm and organized. Attire expectations Robes, all black, casual, or something else. We’ll keep you informed of what’s appropriate for each sacred space and schedule changing time in advance. Pianos and keyboards If your repertoire includes accompaniment, we secure high-quality rentals and help plan practical setup needs for your accompanist. Warm-ups and rehearsal time We protect the time you need. Warm-ups, rehearsal windows, water, and pacing are planned with singers in mind. Balance and recruitment support Choir balance matters. We’ll help you track registrations and can adapt structure to support an ensemble that is still building participation. What type of choirs are traveling? Just about everyone. We’ve worked with Catholic school choirs, parish and cathedral choirs, diocesan groups, and community ensembles, traveling in groups as small as 10 singers and as large as 100+. Some groups are long-established programs, while others are bringing singers together for their first international experience. Catholic School Choirs Parish and Church Choirs Diocesan Choirs Youth Choirs Community Choirs College Choirs Handbell Choirs Mixed Ensembles This trip was a trip of a lifetime on so many levels. The venues were world class, the accommodations, meals and transportation were excellent, and our tour director was wonderful. A trip we will never forget. Michael H. Choir Director, CA From start to finish our experience with our tour manager was amazing. The concerts and the reception we received at each one was beyond my expectations. I would highly recommend Encore Tours to any group wanting to do music tours internationally. Katrina J. Choir Director, IL A global gathering of faith, culture, and community World Youth Day 2027 World Youth Day is a global gathering of young Catholics focused on prayer, worship, and community, bringing pilgrims from around the world together in one place. The next celebration will take place in Seoul, South Korea, August 3–8, 2027, offering participants the chance to experience the Church in a vibrant, international setting. For many Catholic choirs, World Youth Day also becomes an entry point into faith-centered travel, opening the door to future pilgrimage and sacred performance experiences where music plays a central role. Get the Details Vatican Tours For Catholic choirs, Rome is one of the most powerful places in the world to sing. Encore has long arranged performance opportunities in sacred spaces, including Masses, prayer services, and concerts in historic churches and basilicas. If your choir is exploring Vatican-focused travel, take a look at our Vatican performance tours and the experiences groups often build into their itineraries. Discover Your Options Top Pilgrimage Destinations Many Catholic choirs want an itinerary that blends sacred music, meaningful liturgy, and time in places that have shaped the life of the Church for centuries. Here are a few destinations directors often explore. If you have another pilgrimage site in mind, we can build around it. Read Our Blog to Learn More Sample itineraries for Catholic choirs Customization is at the heart of every Encore tour. These itineraries are starting points, shaped and refined around your ensemble, your community, and your goals, from performance opportunities and sacred spaces to pacing, travel dates, and the balance between music, faith, and cultural exploration. Band Choir Orchestra Cathedral Highlights 10 Days / 2 Toledo / 1 Granada / 2 Seville / 3 Madrid Band Choir Orchestra Sacred Steps and City Beats 10 Days / 3 Seoul / 2 Busan / 3 Seoul Band Choir Orchestra Sacred Sounds of Italy 9 Days / 3 Florence / 4 Rome Band Choir Orchestra La Música Del Perú 8 Days / 2 Lima / 4 Cuzco / 2 Puno Band Choir Orchestra Vatican Voices 10 Days / 3 Rome / 1 Palestrina / 2 Amalfi Coast / 2 Florence Band Choir Orchestra Rhythms of the Yucatan 8 Days / 3 Merida / 2 Valladolid / 2 Mayan Riviera Band Choir Orchestra The Inca Trail 8 Days / 3 Lima / 3 Cuzco / 1 Aguas Calientes Band Choir Orchestra An Austrian Welcome 6 Days / 3 Salzburg / 3 Vienna Sacred and choral venues groups love We can spotlight venues that truly fit your ensemble’s sound, setting, and liturgical goals. From grand basilicas with soaring acoustics to more intimate chapels and parish churches, each space is selected to support your repertoire, respect the sacred context, and create a listening experience that feels meaningful for both your singers and the audience. Choir Salzburg Cathedral Salzburg Between 1181 and 1600, a Romanesque cathedral was standing in the place of the present one; its foundations can be seen in the crypt of the church. Salzburg is not called the ‘Rome of the north’ in vain. The Cathedral was hit by American bombs during World War II. It took ten years of hard work to restore the considerable damage. The last part of the restoration was the reconstruction of the 4 organs. This historical venue is a must-perform! Choir St. Peter’s Basilica Rome Charged as being “the greatest of all churches of Christendom,” St. Peter’s Basilica, in Vatican City, is nearly 400 years old and possesses a wealth of history, culture, and art. Adorned with works of famous Italian Renaissance artists such as Michelangelo, St. Peter’s is a popular site not only for Christians, but for historians and tourists alike. Not only have Encore groups had the opportunity to explore such a remarkable sight, but some have also performed for the Pope himself! Choir Featured L’Église de la Madeleine Paris La Madeleine is a prestigious performance venue in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. This Roman Catholic church was built in true Neo-Classical style inspired by the Roman temple Maison Carrée with over fifty columns carrying the building. The church’s pipe organ was built in 1845, restored in 1927 and the organist position has been held by major organists/composers, Saint-Saëns and Fauré to name a few! We hope your group can be one of the select ensembles to have the opportunity to perform here! Choir San Manuel y San Benito Church Madrid The Church of San Manuel y San Benito is a Catholic church located in Madrid. The building, which was designed by Fernando Arbós y Tremanti, was built at the beginning of the twentieth century and was declared an official Cultural Monument in 1982. This church is a fantastic venue for choral concerts and Mass participations. Band Choir Orchestra St. Nicholas Church Prague This gorgeous baroque-style church right in the Old Town Square of Prague, was completed in 1735. The interior was inspired by the chapel of St. Louis-des-Invalides in Paris. Its prime location in the heart of the main square makes it a wonderful place to hold concerts and attract large audiences. Show All 14 Venues Show Less Band Choir Orchestra Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Québec City Known for performing miracles, each year disabled visitors from around the world are drawn to Sainte-Anne in the hopes that this church will heal them. Upon entering this church, you will see two pillars filled with tokens of the disabled (crutches, canes, etc.), each item having been left by someone who claims to have been healed. Though the first church was burned to the ground in 1992, its renovation is said to still maintain its miraculous healing powers. Who knows? Maybe it was the visiting performance group who truly healed these people! Choir St. Thomas Church Leipzig St. Thomas has been a place of worship for historical figures such as Martin Luther, Mozart, Mendelssohn, and of course, Bach. In fact, Bach was choirmaster at this church for 27 years. Today, this church acts as his final resting place. Although the works he created during his time in Leipzig commanded little attention in his lifetime, they are an important part of his journey to greatness. Dive into the world of Bach and have the chance to perform in a place he once considered home. Choir Chiesa di San Gaetano Florence Constructed during the 1600s, church of St. Gaetano has become the archetypical baroque church in the wealthiest part of town. The façade, with its sculptural decorations, is not typical of Florentine churches. The interior is impressive and richly decorated as is customary in Baroque churches. The venue is ideal for medium to large choirs and can accommodate audiences of up to 200 people. Choir St. Francis Basilica Assisi The Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, in the town where St. Francis was born and died, is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Franciscan Order and one of the most important places of Christian pilgrimage in Italy. The Basilica, begun in 1228, comprises two churches – the Upper Church and Lower Church – and a crypt where the remains of the saint are interred. With permission, choral groups can sing during Holy Mass. Band Choir Sant’Agnese Rome Sant’Agnese in Agone is a seventeenth Baroque church in Rome, Italy. It faces onto the Piazza Navona, one of the main urban spaces in the historic centre of the city and the site where the Early Christian Saint Agnes was martyred at the ancient Stadium of Domitian. A number of architects were involved in the construction of the church, including Girolamo Rainaldi and his son Carlo Rainaldi, and two of the foremost Baroque architects of the day; Francesco Borromini and the sculptor Gianlorenzo Bernini. The church serves as a cultural gathering point for the entire city with concerts throughout the year often featuring visiting ensembles. Band Choir Featured Orchestra Christ Church Cathedral Dublin Situated in medieval Dublin, Christ Church is not only the seat of the Roman Catholic archbishops but is also the seat of the Church of Ireland. Founded around 1028 the cathedral was rebuilt and renovated many times throughout history and is now accented by flying buttresses, high arching stone ceilings, and, most notably, the Grand Organ which appears to be floating in the air! The Cathedral is home to one of the most reputable choirs in Ireland whose origins trace back to 1493 when the choir school was founded. Choir Basilica Cathedral of Saint Denis Paris The Basilica Cathedral of Saint-Denis, located just outside Paris, is an iconic venue for choral performances, known for its rich history and breathtaking Gothic architecture. As the final resting place of French royalty, the basilica offers an atmosphere of reverence and grandeur, complemented by its remarkable acoustics that highlight the beauty of vocal ensembles. Performing in this historic landmark allows choirs to connect with centuries of musical tradition in a truly inspiring setting. Choir Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Loreto Lisbon The Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Loreto, established in 1518, is a beautiful church in the heart of Lisbon that was originally built to serve the growing Italian community in Lisbon at the time. The church was badly damaged in the 1755 earthquake and was rebuilt in 1785, thankfully with much of the original Italian marble intact. Choir Catedral Magistral de los Santos Justo y Pastor Alcalá de Henares The Catedral Magistral de los Santos Justo y Pastor in Alcalá de Henares is a remarkable venue for choral performances, steeped in history and architectural grandeur. As one of only two “Magistral” cathedrals in the world, it holds a prestigious status, dating back to the 15th century. Its Gothic interior, adorned with soaring columns, intricate stonework, and a magnificent altarpiece, provides an awe-inspiring backdrop for sacred music. Renowned for its exceptional acoustics, this cathedral offers choirs a profound and resonant space to perform in the heart of this UNESCO-listed city, rich in Spain’s religious and cultural heritage. Ready to explore options for your choir? Tell us what kind of Catholic music program you lead, what time of year you want to travel, and what experiences matter most to your community. We’ll build a proposal that helps you plan with confidence. Get a Quote
Customization is at the heart of every Encore tour. These itineraries are starting points, shaped and refined around your ensemble, your community, and your goals, from performance opportunities and sacred spaces to pacing, travel dates, and the balance between music, faith, and cultural exploration.
We can spotlight venues that truly fit your ensemble’s sound, setting, and liturgical goals. From grand basilicas with soaring acoustics to more intimate chapels and parish churches, each space is selected to support your repertoire, respect the sacred context, and create a listening experience that feels meaningful for both your singers and the audience.