Band, Orchestra and Jazz Tours

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Bands, Orchestras and Jazz Ensembles

Your ensemble. The world’s great stages.

For nearly 30 years, Encore has planned performance tours for bands, orchestras and jazz ensembles. We match your group to venues that suit its size and repertoire, move and store your instruments, and handle the rentals, rehearsal time and stage details, so you can focus on the music.

Explore by Ensemble

Every kind of instrumental group.

From middle school bands to community orchestras and college jazz combos, every tour is planned around how your ensemble rehearses, travels and performs.

UMass Amherst Wind Ensemble performing on stage in Ibarra, Ecuador

Band Tours

Concert, marching, wind and community bands

From the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin to the bandstand in Bath and the American Cemetery in Normandy, Europe gives bands stages they can't find at home.

  • High school marching and concert bands
  • College wind ensembles and marching bands
  • Middle school and community bands

Orchestra Tours

School, youth, college and community orchestras

Perform in historic halls like the Musikverein in Vienna and the Rudolfinum in Prague, with venues chosen for acoustics, stage size and your repertoire.

  • High school and youth orchestras
  • College and university orchestras
  • Community and semi-professional orchestras

Jazz Tours

Big bands, combos and vocal jazz

Play legendary jazz clubs and festival stages, and add workshops and improvisation clinics with working jazz musicians.

  • High school and college jazz ensembles
  • Big bands and swing orchestras
  • Combos, small groups and vocal jazz
Flag of USA

Tours in the U.S.

Concert halls and festivals closer to home

Boston, New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C. and more, planned with the same care as our international tours.

  • Sample itineraries in six cities
  • The Symphony Hall Series
  • Carnegie Hall travel support

Why Encore

Why instrumental directors travel with Encore.

Our team includes music educators, musicians and travel experts who know what it takes to tour with instruments.

01

Venues that fit your ensemble

We hand-pick indoor and outdoor venues based on your group's size, ability and repertoire, and guarantee they'll suit your ensemble.

02

Instruments handled with care

Instrument trucks travel with your group on request, and your instruments are stored in a separate, secure space at the hotel and at each venue.

03

Rentals ready on stage

Need timpani, a tuba, an upright bass, a grand piano or a sound system? We arrange the rental so it's waiting when you arrive.

04

Instrument insurance

Our Ultimate and Ultimate-Plus Protection Plans include instrument insurance for travelers, with upgrades available for added coverage.

05

Time to set up and rehearse

We schedule sound checks and rehearsals with each venue, tell you what attire to bring and book your changing rooms in advance.

06

Balance and repertoire support

We track your instrumentation as travelers register, can hire ringers if you need them and send your repertoire to venues for approval.

Instrument Logistics

Your instruments, handled.

Traveling with instruments is what directors ask about most. Here is how we take care of it.

  • Cellos, violins, flutes and other cased instruments fly with your group, and in some cases we can buy cellos a seat on board
  • Larger instruments like harps, timpani, tubas and basses are usually rented overseas, which costs less than shipping them
  • Keyboards are rented abroad, so there is no voltage conversion to worry about
  • A climate-controlled instrument truck and driver can travel with your group on tour
  • Joint concerts with local ensembles, workshops and benefit concerts can be added to any tour

Sample Itineraries

Start with an itinerary.

Every Encore tour is customized. Use these as a starting point and we will shape the route, venues and pace around your ensemble.

Adventura Musicale performance tour Italy

Avventura Musicale

9 days | Venice, Florence and Rome

Multiple nights in each city, with a performance in Venice, Florence and Rome.

Central Europe

Mozart, Haydn and Dvořák

10 days | Munich, Salzburg, Vienna and Prague

A classic route through the cities of the great composers, made for orchestras and music history lovers.

Central European Trio: Berlin, Prague, Krakow Jazz

Brass & Bohemia

11 days | Berlin, Dresden, Wroclaw and Prague

Built for jazz ensembles, with performances across Central Europe's lively jazz scene.

Spain

Spanish Flair

10 days | Barcelona, Valencia, Granada and Madrid

Concert halls, flamenco and culture across four of Spain's most musical cities.

Canada Canada

Oh, Canada!

5 days | Montreal and Quebec City

A short French Canadian tour that starts in Montreal, a city with a rich jazz tradition.

April 2027

Finish Line to Symphony Hall

4 days | Boston, Massachusetts

Your Symphony Hall Series performance, a Boston Symphony Orchestra concert and the energy of Marathon Weekend.

Venues

Stages worth the trip.

Concert halls, theaters, palaces and more, each matched to your ensemble’s size and sound.

Mozarteum University (Solitär Uni Mozarteum)

Salzburg, Austria

The Solitär, featuring a gray natural stone exterior, strikingly contrasts with the white main building of the Mozarteum University. It boasts an inviting entrance foyer and a contemporary 300-seat chamber music hall. This hall offers splendid views of the Mirabell Gardens and the Mönchsberg through a large glass front and a stage-back loggia, providing a versatile setting for a variety of events. The hall's unique design and its capacity to accommodate a range of artistic expressions make it a pivotal venue in Salzburg’s cultural landscape, attracting both local and international audiences.

Choir Orchestra Band

Ceremony Hall of the Aristotle University

Thessaloniki, Greece

The Main Ceremony Hall at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, completed in 1973 and designed by architects C. Fines and C. Papaioannou, showcases a distinctive architectural style with sharp, imposing edges. The interior is adorned with a detailed mosaic depicting Thessaloniki's history. The hall not only serves as a venue for important university and city events but is also utilized as a music venue for concerts and cultural performances

Choir Orchestra Band

Britten Theatre, Royal College of Music

London, United Kingdom

The Britten Theatre in London, celebrated for its excellent acoustics and intimate ambiance, is a preferred venue for opera and various musical performances. Designed in the classic Italian opera house style, it features a proscenium arch, orchestra pit, and advanced lighting systems. Home to the RCM Opera Studio, the theatre hosts three operas annually, along with other instrumental shows. With a seating capacity of 390 and extensive technical facilities, it also accommodates lectures and corporate events, making it a versatile space for both artistic and professional gatherings.

Choir Orchestra Band

Festetics Palace

Keszthely, Hungary

Festetics Palace, built in the mid-18th century, stands as one of Hungary’s most significant Baroque landmarks, originally commissioned by the noble Festetics family. Known for its opulent design and historical charm, the palace showcases grand halls adorned with period furnishings. Its elegant ballroom, a favorite choice for ensemble performances, offers superb acoustics and a sophisticated setting, perfect for memorable musical presentations.

Choir Orchestra Band

Toronto Casa Loma, Canada

Toronto, Canada

Casa Loma, one of Toronto's top tourist attractions, was built by millionaire Sir Henry Pellatt in the early 20th century. It was once Canada's largest private residence and featured eccentric additions like secret passageways and a giant oven. In the 1920s, due to high property taxes, Pellatt sold the house, which briefly became a jazz club. During World War II, it served as a secret research facility for SONAR development. Today, it is open to the public and is a stunning venue for orchestral concerts.

Orchestra Band

Rcm Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall

London, United Kingdom

Located in the Royal College of Music, this concert hall can accommodate large orchestras/choirs and features new lighting and sound equipment, perfect for capturing professional shots and recordings of your ensemble! Joint concerts are also possible with the college students for a nice international exchange.

Choir Orchestra Band

Browse all venues

Festivals and Events

Perform on a bigger stage.

Add a festival or featured event to your tour. See all festivals.

St. Patricks Day Marching bands

St. Patrick's Day Festival

Dublin, Ireland

March past Trinity College and Dublin Castle before crowds of thousands, then perform at the Limerick International Band Festival.

Merida Jazz

Mérida International Jazz Festival

Mérida, Spain

Concerts and events in historic venues across Mérida, including its Roman landmarks.

Orchestras

The Symphony Hall Series

Cleveland and Boston

ClevelandMarch 22, 2027
BostonApril 17-18, 2027

Perform on the home stages of The Cleveland Orchestra and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, with clinician-led sessions.

Quebec Non-competitive

Rhythms International Music

Host cities across the U.S. and Canada

Adjudication sessions, clinics and workshops tailored to each band, orchestra or jazz ensemble.

Protection Plans

Coverage for travelers and their instruments.

Every traveler is automatically enrolled in our Basic Protection Plan at no extra charge, and more than half upgrade each year. Both Ultimate plans include instrument insurance and let travelers cancel for any reason up to 4 days before departure. See full plan details.

Included

Basic Protection Plan

Health coverage, program interruption and travel delay protection on tour, with our standard cancellation policy.

Upgrade

Ultimate Protection Plan

Cancel for any reason for a full refund, part cash and part transferable travel voucher. Includes instrument insurance. Not available on USA and Canada tours.

Most flexible

Ultimate-Plus Protection Plan

Cancel for any reason for a full cash refund. Includes instrument insurance.

Compare cancellation coverage

Plan
Cancel for any reason (up to 4 days before departure)
Covered medical or job-loss reasons
Instrument insurance
Ultimate-Plus
Full cash refund, less plan cost
Full cash refund, less plan cost
Included
Ultimate
Full refund in cash and travel voucher, less plan cost
Full cash refund, less plan cost
Included
Basic
Standard cancellation policy
Standard cancellation policy
Not included

How It Works

From first call to final bow.

Here is how an instrumental tour comes together with Encore.

Tell us about your ensemble

Share your group size, instrumentation, repertoire and travel window with a tour consultant.

Get a custom proposal

We suggest venues and an itinerary that suit your ensemble, plus options like joint concerts and workshops.

Recruit your travelers

We provide informational packets for your families and help you promote the tour.

Leave the payments to us

Encore invoices each traveler individually, and you can check your group's status anytime in My Account.

Prepare to perform

We handle repertoire approval, instrument logistics, rentals, changing rooms and rehearsal time with each venue.

Tour with support

Your Encore Tour Manager travels with your group, backed by 24/7 support.

FAQ

Instrumental tour FAQs

How do our instruments travel?

Cellos, violins, flutes and other instruments in hard cases travel with your group on the plane, in the cabin or in the hold. In some cases Encore can buy a seat on board for a cello. Once you land, a climate-controlled instrument truck and driver can transport your instruments for the rest of the tour.

Which instruments should we rent instead of bringing?

It is usually more cost effective to rent large instruments such as harps, timpani, tubas, basses and large percussion. We also recommend renting keyboards overseas so you avoid voltage conversion. We can arrange sound systems and a grand piano, too.

Is instrument insurance included?

Instrument insurance is included with our Ultimate and Ultimate-Plus Protection Plans, and travelers can upgrade for additional coverage through their tour consultant. The Basic plan does not include instrument insurance. Compare protection plans.

Where will we perform, and will there be an audience?

We hand-pick venues based on your ensemble’s size, experience and repertoire, and guarantee they will suit your group. On international tours, our overseas performance representatives, who are musicians themselves, book venues with a history of drawing good audiences.

What if we are short in a section?

We help you keep an eye on your balance as travelers register, and we can hire ringers if you need them.

Can we perform with local musicians?

Yes. Ask us to include joint concerts with local ensembles, workshops with local conductors or jazz musicians, or a benefit concert in your proposal.

How do payments work?

Encore invoices each traveler individually, so you never have to collect money or track who has paid. Group leaders can check their whole group’s status anytime in My Account.

Do you offer fundraising support?

Yes. Our fundraising resources help travelers offset the cost of the tour. Learn about fundraising.

Can we tour in the U.S.?

Yes. Encore plans domestic tours to cities like Boston, New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C., plus the Symphony Hall Series for orchestras. Explore domestic tours.

Is Encore financially stable?

Encore Tours is a division of ACIS, part of AIFS. Our established insurance policies and overseas office network protect your payments and your peace of mind.

Plan Your Tour

Ready to take your ensemble on tour?

Tell us about your ensemble and when you’d like to travel. A tour consultant will build a proposal around your goals.