Prelude – a beautiful introduction to the main event.
Prelude is Encore Tours' professional development weekend for ensemble directors, which takes place each year in a musically significant destination. Now in its eighth year, Prelude is a unique event that 100% of over 200+ attending directors have rated as 'excellent' and beyond. The weekend is centered around exploration of personal and professional development, offering unlimited opportunities for networking, cultural experiences and artistic development. Ensemble leaders will experience the local culture and arts through various sightseeing excursions, culinary delights, and professional performances.
In addition, directors will participate in a workshop with travel experts and fellow directors where they will discuss ways to enhance their programs through their upcoming performance tour. Past Prelude attendees have consistently identified the workshop as one of the most valuable aspects of Prelude – not only will you get to meet fellow touring music directors, but you will also learn tips and best practices about traveling with your musical ensemble, which will greatly benefit your musicians on your upcoming tour.
This past January, a group of music directors and their guests joined the Encore staff for Prelude 2023 in Budapest, Hungary for a wonderful weekend filled with learning opportunities, delicious gastronomical delights, engaging cultural experiences, incredible musical highlights, and many other fun surprises!
Learn More About Prelude 2023
“Prelude is a marvelous opportunity to workshop with other music directors. The demands of planning an international trip are so specific. Working with other directors who are planning similar projects is so incredibly helpful.”
“There is nothing quite like being in a roomful of folks who know what it's like to take a bunch of musicians on tour. Who else really understands that? It was great to hear all the stories and to get the benefit of all that experience.”
“Doing Prelude makes me feel that I’m valued and that the work I do is valuable work. The places we go and what we experience, it’s just first class and I feel first class. And that’s a wonderful feeling.”
“What can I say? I am a huge fan of Prelude… I have to say that there is nothing like being together with the awesome Encore team and the always incredible group of fellow musicians that make up the Prelude "family"--and I really mean "family", which it has come to be over the years. We learn, we share, we experience, and we take this back to our respective groups.”
“Gaining insights from the collective wisdom of fellow directors is invaluable. I was able to address two topics that have been problematic from my previous tours. Site inspections are also extremely helpful. A big bonus is that I made new friendships that will continue well beyond Prelude.”
"This is my first Prelude and I've really enjoyed meeting other band directors who are also taking their ensembles overseas."
“Your thoroughly planned weekend made [us] feel like very special guests. You also reminded us how important it is to make sure that music educators must continue to seek out musical experiences and musical moments to enrich our lives. It is through these renewing experiences that will help us continue to motivate and enrich our students’ lives.”
| Register By: | July 1, 2023 | October 15, 2023 |
| Number of paying passengers: | 20 | 25 |
Once your group is registered to travel in 2024, fill out a Prelude Registration Form for you and our Companion Registration Form for your traveling companion, then submit to your Encore Tour Consultant. We'll take it from there!
All registration forms must be submitted no later than October 1, 2023.
Prelude is designed by musicians for musicians and we know you will love it! A maximum of two spots per organization is allowed on our Prelude event. If unable to attend, you may choose a cash option of $1,000 or a travel scholarship of $2,000. Encore Tours will inform you of any additional costs. Prelude is free for ensemble leaders (and one guest) who meet the minimum number of international passengers traveling with Encore Tours needed to qualify.
The following list of gateway cities can be booked for no additional fees. Note: Encore cannot guarantee requests for specific airports where multiple options exist, such as New York City's JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark Airports.
Contact us to find out more or to register!
Choir Trips
Orchestra Trips
Band Trips
Festivals
Other Performance Trips
Music & Theatre Appreciation Trips