Bring Your Community Along on Your Next Tour A Shadow Tour lets parents, alumni, and supporters share in the excitement of your Encore performance trip without the demands of rehearsals or a student itinerary. While your ensemble focuses on music, your Shadow Tour travelers enjoy a customized schedule filled with cultural highlights, shared performances, and unforgettable moments. Encore handles every detail from travel arrangements to on-tour support so both groups can travel together with ease. What to expect on a Shadow Tour A Shadow Tour follows the path of your student performance trip, allowing parents, alumni, and supporters to experience many of the same destinations and cultural highlights. While the ensemble rehearses or prepares for performances, Shadow Tour travelers enjoy a schedule tailored to their interests with added free time, special sightseeing, and opportunities to connect with the main group at key moments. Built for supporters Shadow Tour travelers enjoy iconic sights, meaningful activities, and time to attend your performances — without the rehearsal schedule. Encore handles logistics We set up a separate group leader, manage billing and communication, and coordinate with your student itinerary for smooth travel. Flexible pace Supporters can add extra free time, museum visits, and local dining while the ensemble rehearses. Centrally located hotels & flights Leverage Encore’s global network for well-located hotels — often elevated above what the main tour receives — and well-timed group flights. Unique cultural access Tap into our overseas connections for memorable experiences that are not typically available to the public. Easy for directors You focus on the music. We field traveler questions, manage invoices, and support both tours on the ground. Fund your program with a Shadow Tour For groups of 25 or more, you can qualify for a travel scholarship of up to $5,000 that applies to the main student tour. Directors often use this support for students with financial need, instrument rentals, or program costs. Bring parents, alumni, and supporters Invite your biggest advocates to share the journey. Shadow Tour travelers follow a coordinated version of your itinerary, attend performances, and enjoy customized cultural time at a comfortable pace. Easy to add. Easy to run. Encore sets up a separate group leader for your Shadow Tour, aligns logistics with the student tour, and manages billing and communication for supporters. You get the benefits without extra work. Benefits of Adding a Shadow Tour Our Shadow Tour brought parents and alumni into the experience. It also helped us support students who needed assistance. High School Choir Director I loved traveling on the Shadow Tour. I saw the performances and still had time to explore the city with other families. Shadow Tour Traveler Shadow Tour FAQs Whether this is your first time hearing about Shadow Tours or you’re already considering adding one to your program, you may have questions about how it works in practice. Our goal is to make the process simple, transparent, and stress-free for everyone involved. From travel logistics and itinerary customization to payment handling and on-tour support, we’ve compiled the most common questions directors and community travelers ask. If something isn’t covered here, your Encore Tour Consultant is happy to provide additional details tailored to your group. Who can join a Shadow Tour? Parents, family members, alumni, patrons, and community supporters are a great fit. A Shadow Tour is designed for non-performing travelers who want to share the experience. Is the Shadow Tour itinerary identical to the student tour? We keep both groups aligned for key moments and performances. The Shadow Tour often includes more free time and optional activities while the ensemble rehearses. How does leadership and billing work? Encore sets up a separate group leader and manages billing directly with Shadow Tour travelers. Directors do not take on additional admin tasks. Can a Shadow Tour be customized? Yes. Your Tour Consultant can tailor sightseeing and pacing for supporters while keeping the big moments aligned with the student tour. How does the scholarship work? For groups of 25 or more, you can qualify for a travel scholarship of up to $5,000 that applies to the main student tour. Many directors use these funds to assist students with financial need or to cover program costs. 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 Exclusive music travel without performing Encore Experiences If you love music but prefer to travel without performing, Encore Experiences open the door to the world’s most inspiring destinations in unmatched style. These journeys are crafted for discerning travelers who appreciate premium accommodations, exceptional service, and a pace designed for savoring every moment. Enjoy behind-the-scenes access to historic concert halls, private viewings of treasured collections, and encounters with artists and experts rarely available to the public. Each itinerary blends cultural depth with comfort, creating a travel experience that is as enriching as it is unforgettable. Learn More