International Concert Tours Bring Your Ensemble to the World’s Great Stages Encore Tours creates fully customized international concert tours for choirs, bands, orchestras and other performing ensembles. We connect musicians with new audiences in historic cathedrals, celebrated concert halls, festivals and community venues around the world. Every program is shaped around your ensemble’s repertoire, performance level and goals. Our team coordinates the musical and logistical details, from venue selection and audience development to instrument transportation, rehearsals, workshops and cultural experiences. Experienced tour managers and 24-hour support help ensure your group can travel with confidence. An encore is the moment when a performance connects so deeply that the audience asks for more. We design every tour to create that same feeling: meaningful performances, shared discoveries and an experience your ensemble will carry home. Encore is the performance division of ACIS Educational Tours, which has been creating meaningful travel experiences since 1978. For more than 25 years, Encore has specialized in helping musicians share their work with the world. Designed for Musicians Your Tour, Elevated Every Encore tour is designed around your ensemble’s artistic priorities and the experience you want your musicians to share. Performance venues selected for your ensemble’s size, repertoire and ability Customized rehearsals, workshops, masterclasses and festival opportunities Centrally located hotels and thoughtfully planned cultural experiences Dedicated US-based staff, experienced tour managers and 24-hour support With Encore, every detail supports the music. Why Choose Encore? Benefits for Directors Leading an international concert tour requires time, vision and commitment. Encore recognizes that leadership with benefits that support directors, strengthen their programs and make future travel more accessible. Directors and Assistants Travel Free Complimentary places for directors and assistants are provided according to your group’s enrollment. Fabulous Fundraiser International groups with at least 30 travelers receive Encore’s Fabulous Fundraiser, a five-day trip for two to Paris or London that the group can raffle to support its tour. Single Accommodations The primary Encore director receives single accommodations at no additional cost. Protection Plan Coverage Qualifying directors receive Ultimate-Plus Protection Plan coverage, including enhanced cancellation, medical and instrument benefits. Extended Travel Directors who wish to extend their stay can arrange a later return flight from a major gateway without paying Encore’s standard return-flight change fee. Referral Travel Scholarships Refer a colleague to Encore Tours or ACIS and earn a travel scholarship of up to $2,000 when their first qualifying group completes travel. Graduate-Level Credits Educators may earn up to three graduate-level professional development credits in connection with their Encore tour. Guaranteed Land Rates Encore guarantees your group’s land rate, protecting your program from increases caused by changes in currency exchange rates. Prelude Qualifying group leaders and a guest are invited to Prelude, Encore’s international professional development and networking weekend for ensemble directors. Referral travel scholarships are awarded after the referred group completes travel and may be applied to eligible future travel with Encore Tours or ACIS. Referral rewards are not available as cash. Eligibility is subject to program terms and the rules of the referring educator’s school, district or organization. Featured Venues Encore’s relationships with arts, civic and religious organizations around the world give your ensemble access to an extraordinary range of performance settings, from prestigious concert halls and historic cathedrals to festivals, schools and outdoor venues. Explore a selection of our featured venues or search our larger collection for inspiration. Choir Featured Mozarteum, Great Hall Salzburg The concert hall is located under the gaze of the Hohensalzburg Fortress in the Mozarteum University of Salzburg, a school specializing in the arts. It is suitable for choirs and orchestras and features a new 50 stop tracker action organ, installed in 2010! Take a virtual tour. Band Orchestra Musikverein Vienna The Musikverein is one of the most prestigious classical performance venues in the world. The globally-esteemed acoustics and architectural grandeur make the ‘Great Hall’ an unparalleled location for a classical concert. The Musikverein, home of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, has an impressive calendar of classical events. It would be a true honor for any classical performer to play here. Band Choir Featured Orchestra Notre Dame Basilica, Montreal Montreal Located in Old Montreal, The Notre Dame Basilica’s Gothic exterior faces the Place d’ Armes square. Upon entry, visitors are stunned by the colorful and intricate designs found on the ceiling and walls which depict scenes of Montreal’s religious history. Musical programming includes regular choral and organ performances; perhaps your group is next! Band Choir Featured Orchestra Shanghai Conservatory of Music Shanghai Founded in 1927, this award-winning conservatory, often named ‘cradle of musicians’, was the first music institution of higher education in China. This school places theory, creation, teaching and performing of western music combined with traditional Chinese music as its top priority with emphasis on preparing students for a professional music career. This is the perfect place for a local exchange or perhaps a workshop on traditional Chinese styles of music. Band Choir Featured Orchestra Rudolfinum Prague This beautiful Neo-Renaissance Hall in the heart of Prague is one of the oldest concert halls in Europe. Built in the late 1800’s, the structure contributed greatly to the development of Czechoslovakia as it housed the seat of the state parliment during the world wars. Today it is home to the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, many classical concerts, and is one of the main venues of the Prague Spring International Music Festival. It’s excellent acoustics make it a wonderful venue for symphony orchestras. Show All 15 Venues Show Less Band Choir Orchestra Smetana Hall Prague Named after the late Romantic composer, Bed’ich Smetana, this stunning Art Nouveau building was designed by noted architects of the era Osvald Poivka and Antonin Balsanek. Both architects worked hard to perfect the venues excellent acoustics. Smetana Hall’s impressive program of events throughout the year include the world-famous Prague Spring Festival. This is a truly exceptional setting for any classical performance! Orchestra Château de Chambord Loire Valley This sprawling creation commissioned by Francois I, towering over its deer-filled park, is one of the most recognized châteaux in the world. Featured in the building are works from collections of the Louvre and Compiegne, admired by nearly a million visitors each year. With guaranteed audiences any day, this is a top performance spot in the Loire Valley 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 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 Matthias Church Budapest Matthias Church, first dating back to 1015, is a Roman Catholic church located in the Holy Trinity Square, Budapest, Hungary, in front of the Fisherman’s Bastion at the heart of Buda’s Castle District. The church has a breathtaking interior with colors inspired by orientalism and romantic historicism. Its mystical atmosphere paired with its Neo-Gothic features differentiates it from any other church in Budapest. 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 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! Band Choir Orchestra Bojnice Castle Central and Eastern Slovakia Bojnice Castle is Slovakia’s best-known fairy-tale castle, frequently used as a film set and a wedding venue. The first written record of its existence dates from 1113, though today’s neo-Gothic remodeling dates from the early 20th century. The castle park is home to a zoological garden. Choral and chamber concerts are regularly held in the castle’s historic Hunyadi Hall. Band Choir Orchestra Auditorio Nacional de Madrid Madrid This symphonic hall was built in the early 80’s and has over 2,300 seats and a reverb time of two second. The annual program starts in September and runs through May and is open to both visiting ensembles wishing to attend a performance or perform in the hall themselves! Choir Featured Southwark Cathedral London On the River Thames lies the Gothic Southwark Cathedral, the mother church of the Anglican Diocese of Southwark. The venue is suitable for both choirs and orchestras wishing to perform a concert or within a church service. To perform in this venue, your ensemble must be approved in advance! Featured Itineraries Every Encore itinerary can be customized around your ensemble’s musical priorities, interests and schedule. These sample programs offer inspiration for combining performances, rehearsals and workshops with the cultural, historic and culinary experiences that make international travel so meaningful. Band Choir Orchestra Mozart, Haydn And Dvořák 10 Days / 2 Munich / 2 Salzburg / 2 Vienna / 2 Prague Band Choir Orchestra Finland, Estonia, Latvia And Lithuania 11 Days / 2 Helsinki / 2 Tallinn / 1 Tartu / 2 Riga / 2 Vilnius Band Choir Orchestra Dynastic China 9 Days / 3 Beijing / 2 Xi’an / 2 Shanghai Band Choir Orchestra Wanderlust 11 Days / 3 Prague / 2 Kraków / 1 Zakopane / 3 Budapest Band Choir Orchestra Un Voyage Sentimental 12 Days / 2 Lourdes / 2 Loire Valley / 2 Normandy / 4 Paris Band Choir Orchestra Vivo In Italia 8 Days / 3 Florence / 3 Rome Non-Performing Celebrating la musica de España 10 Days / 3 Madrid / 2 Seville / 3 Granada Featured Festivals Festivals give ensembles the opportunity to perform as part of a larger musical community, collaborate with other musicians and experience a destination through its artistic traditions. Explore several of our featured festivals, each combining meaningful performance opportunities with cultural discovery. Festival des Trois Chateaux Loire Valley, France Festival des Trois Chateaux Loire Valley, France Set in the scenic Loire Valley, the Festival des Trois Chateaux is built upon the pillars of collaboration and creativity. Open to both choral ensembles and individual performers, this French festival offers incredible performance opportunities at Chateau de Blois, Chateau de Chambord, and Chateau de Cheverny. Enjoy a masterclass with a renowned conductor, and perform with Le Chœur de Paris and the Chorale du Conservatoire de Blois! Learn More Musica Orbis Choral Festival Prague, Czech Republic Musica Orbis Choral Festival Prague, Czech Republic Based in Prague, the city of music and one of the most beautiful destinations in the world, Musica Orbis Choir Festival offers a wonderful musical experience to choirs of all ages. Choose from 16 competition categories or simply take part in the non-competitive festival program featuring unique performance opportunities in historic venues and churches located in the heart of the city. Sing Mit Festival Vienna or Salzburg, Austria Sing Mit Festival Vienna or Salzburg, Austria The Imperial City of Music beckons you with its musically rich history, stunning baroque architecture and bustling cosmopolitan squares. Visit the home of some of the world’s greatest musical talents including Mozart, Beethoven and Haydn during the Sing Mit Festivals, three-day festival choir events at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in the heart of Vienna. An additional date and location are offered in Salzburg, Austria. St. Patrick's Day Festival Dublin, Ireland St. Patrick's Day Festival Dublin, Ireland It is never too early to plan a marching band trip to Ireland, as this festival fills quickly. Travel with your marching band to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, perform in the Limerick International Band Festival and explore Dublin and Belfast. Additional marching and static performance opportunities are also available. Customize Your Tour Are you ready to take your ensemble to new places? Get a quote from one of our tour consultants who will help you customize a trip to meet your goals. Get A Quote
Directors and Assistants Travel Free Complimentary places for directors and assistants are provided according to your group’s enrollment.
Fabulous Fundraiser International groups with at least 30 travelers receive Encore’s Fabulous Fundraiser, a five-day trip for two to Paris or London that the group can raffle to support its tour.
Single Accommodations The primary Encore director receives single accommodations at no additional cost.
Protection Plan Coverage Qualifying directors receive Ultimate-Plus Protection Plan coverage, including enhanced cancellation, medical and instrument benefits.
Extended Travel Directors who wish to extend their stay can arrange a later return flight from a major gateway without paying Encore’s standard return-flight change fee.
Referral Travel Scholarships Refer a colleague to Encore Tours or ACIS and earn a travel scholarship of up to $2,000 when their first qualifying group completes travel.
Graduate-Level Credits Educators may earn up to three graduate-level professional development credits in connection with their Encore tour.
Guaranteed Land Rates Encore guarantees your group’s land rate, protecting your program from increases caused by changes in currency exchange rates.
Prelude Qualifying group leaders and a guest are invited to Prelude, Encore’s international professional development and networking weekend for ensemble directors.