An Overture Abroad: OSYO in Europe

France / Netherlands
Contact Us

Join fellow patrons of the Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra for an unforgettable journey across the Netherlands and France, following OSYO as our talented young musicians take the stage in three of Europe’s most storied settings. From a windmill-lined canal town outside Amsterdam to the Renaissance chateaux of the Loire Valley to a farewell concert at the magnificent Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte outside Paris, this tour celebrates the next generation of musicians and the cultural exchange that shapes them.

Beyond the concerts, you’ll explore world-class museums, UNESCO heritage sites, and the storybook French countryside, all while sharing the experience with fellow music lovers who believe in the power of youth orchestra travel.

Reserve your place today and be part of OSYO’s European debut.

Experience France

With Dr. Mieko Hatano

Dates

July 6 - 15, 2027

Price

Land and Air: $7,079

Register Now
View Itinerary

Featured Experiences

OSYO’s European Debut

Musical
Netherlands

Cheer on Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra as they take the stage in Amsterdam for their premiere European performance, capping off days of exploring the city’s canals, museums, and historic architecture.

Chateaux of the Loire

Cultural
France

France Tour the storybook Château de Chenonceau, then settle into the town of Blois for OSYO’s concert performance amid the region’s Renaissance splendor.

A Parisian Finale

Musical
France

Close out the tour with OSYO’s farewell concert at the magnificent Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, followed by a front-row seat to Paris’s Bastille Day celebrations.

What's Included

  • Round-trip airfare on a commercial airline
  • 4-star hotels throughout
  • Private, deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach
  • Professional Encore Tour Manager throughout
  • Daily breakfast, plus dinners as the itinerary indicates
  • Basic gratuities for Tour Manager and bus driver
  • Liability coverage in excess of $50,000,000
  • Direct billing to participants
  • OSYO’s premiere concert in Amsterdam
  • OSYO’s concert performance in Blois, in the heart of the Loire Valley
  • OSYO’s farewell concert at Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte
  • Guided visit to Zaanse Schans, the historic windmill village
  • Guided tour of Amsterdam, including the Royal Palace and Canal District
  • Visit to the Anne Frank House
  • Rijksmuseum, home to masterworks by Rembrandt, Hals, and Vermeer
  • Château de Chenonceau
  • Guided panoramic tour of Paris, including the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and Champs-Élysées
  • Notre Dame de Paris
  • Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Élysées
Spotlight

Bastille Day in Paris

Cap the tour with a front-row seat to France’s most significant national holiday. Bastille Day commemorates the July 14, 1789 storming of the Bastille prison, the flashpoint that ignited the French Revolution and the fight for liberty, equality, and fraternity that still defines the nation’s identity today. Watch the military parade, the oldest and largest regular military parade in Europe, march down the Champs-Élysées, a display of pride and unity attended by the French President and international dignitaries. Timed perfectly with the final days of this tour, it’s a chance to experience Paris not just as a destination, but at the height of its national celebration.

Itinerary

10 Days

Day 1 Overnight Flight

Depart today from the San Francisco airport, destination Amsterdam!

Day 2 Amsterdam

Welcome to Amsterdam! Upon arrival, meet your Encore Tour Manager, who will remain with you throughout the tour. Board your private coach and transfer to Zaanse Schans, a picturesque open-air museum along the River Zaan featuring traditional green wooden houses, gardens, bridges, windmills, and specialty shops. Continue to your hotel in central Amsterdam for check-in. Tonight, enjoy a special welcome dinner together as a group. (D)

Day 3 Amsterdam

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, then a guided tour of Amsterdam with a local guide, taking in Dam Square, the Royal Palace, and the UNESCO-listed 17th century Canal District. Today also includes a visit to the Anne Frank House (final time and date pending confirmation). Dinner is on your own this evening. Optional: a cooking lesson to prepare and enjoy local Dutch cuisine, $125 per person. (B)

Day 4 Amsterdam

This morning, visit the Rijksmuseum, the most-visited museum in the Netherlands, home to 8,000 objects of art including masterpieces by Rembrandt, Frans Hals, and Johannes Vermeer. Optional: a canal lunch cruise through the "Venice of the North," $60 per person. After free time, enjoy an early dinner before transferring to a local venue to hear OSYO's premiere concert! (B,D)

Day 5 Loire Valley

After breakfast and check-out, transfer to the station to board the Eurostar to Paris. Upon arrival, board your motorcoaches for the drive to the Loire Valley, home for the next two nights. Enjoy a stroll and orientation tour with your Tour Manager after check-in, followed by dinner together at a local restaurant. (B,D)

Day 6 Loire Valley

After a buffet breakfast, discover the Loire Valley's spectacular chateaux and landscapes, including a visit to the Château de Chenonceau, a Renaissance castle spanning the Cher River. Optional: a local winery visit and tasting, $125 per person. This evening, dinner at a local restaurant precedes the highlight of the day: OSYO's concert performance in Blois. (B,D)

Day 7 Paris

After breakfast, depart the Loire Valley for Paris. En route, choose between two optional visits: Chartres Cathedral, a masterpiece of French Gothic architecture, or Versailles, including select access to the Chapelle Royale and a private organ performance by the Chateau's head of Music, $300 per person. After free time for lunch, continue into Paris. Enjoy dinner together this evening, followed by a scenic boat ride on the River Seine. (B,D)

Day 8 Paris

Enjoy a guided panoramic tour of the city, with stops for the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Champs-Élysées, plus a walk through the Latin Quarter to Notre Dame de Paris. Free time for lunch and rest follows, or join an optional private cooking lesson and lunch at L'Atelier des Chefs, $205 per person. This evening, transfer just outside the city to the elegant Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte for OSYO's farewell concert, with dinner together before returning to Paris. (B,D)

Day 9 Paris

Celebrate Bastille Day in Paris! Take in the military parade on the Champs-Élysées, France's grand annual event showcasing national pride and unity. Reflect on a wonderful concert tour at tonight's farewell dinner. (B,D)

Day 10 Departure

After breakfast and check-out, transfer to Charles de Gaulle Airport for the return flight to the US. (B)

city center

Dear Friends,

It is my great pleasure to invite you to join us for An Overture Abroad, a journey to support and celebrate the Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra as our musicians take the stage across the Netherlands and France for the very first time. This tour marks a milestone for OSYO: three performances in three unforgettable settings, each one a chance for our young artists to grow as musicians and as ambassadors of Oakland’s musical community.

Our journey begins in Amsterdam, where OSYO will give its premiere European performance after days spent exploring the city’s canals, museums, and history. From there, we travel to the Loire Valley, where our musicians will perform in the historic town of Blois, surrounded by Renaissance chateaux and storybook countryside. Our tour closes in Paris with a farewell concert at the breathtaking Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, timed perfectly with the celebration of Bastille Day.

Traveling as patrons alongside these young musicians is one of the great joys of this work. Your presence on this trip is more than a vacation. It is a vote of confidence in the next generation of performers and in the belief that music education opens doors that last a lifetime. Along the way, we’ll connect with fellow patrons who share that same commitment to OSYO’s future.

I hope you will join us for this special journey, where every stop has been thoughtfully designed to celebrate our young musicians and the cultural exchange that will stay with them for years to come. I look forward to sharing this unforgettable occasion with you.

With warm regards,
Dr. Mieko Hatano
Chief Executive Officer, Oakland Symphony

Amsterdam Blois Paris

Ready to Go?

Dates

July 6 - 15, 2027

Price

Land and Air: $7,079

Register Now

Protection Plans

Enjoy total peace of mind on your Encore Experience with our Basic Protection Plan, included for every traveler. You’ll have coverage for trip cancellation, interruption, delays, medical assistance, and baggage protection from the moment you book. For even greater flexibility and benefits, more than half of our travelers choose to upgrade to one of our paid plans, Ultimate ($400) or Ultimate Plus ($550), which provide enhanced cancellation options, higher coverage limits, and expanded on-tour support so you can travel with complete confidence.

Learn More