Optional professional development Earn 1 graduate-level unit Complete an approved 15-hour pathway →
For verified live attendees $500 domestic$1,000 international New group booking, 25+ travelers; terms apply

On-demand webinar · Available now

Taking Your
Orchestra
on Tour

Tips, Lessons, and Inspiration from Experienced Orchestra Leaders

Watch now · Free · No registration required

Whether you’re weighing your ensemble’s first tour or you’ve toured for years and want fresh ideas, hear Nathan Cohen, Sara Watkins, and Michael Coelho talk candidly about budgeting, fundraising, chaperones, student expectations, musical preparation, and the situations they have managed on tour.

Recorded live · September 16, 2026 · about 1 hour

Meet the panel

Three leaders.
Three perspectives.

Their work spans public schools, districtwide arts leadership, higher education, and youth-orchestra administration. Together, Nathan Cohen, Sara Watkins, and Michael Coelho bring complementary experience in student preparation, program building, access, family communication, and international performance travel.

Nathan Cohen playing violin

Public-school music education

Nathan Cohen

Director of Orchestras, Rockport Public Schools

Nathan also coordinates the district’s performing and visual arts curriculum and directs the Endicott College Chamber Ensemble. A conductor, composer, and multi-instrumentalist whose musical study spans several continents, he brings a public-school educator’s perspective on building readiness, broadening access, and connecting performance with place.

Sara Watkins, Executive Director of the Norwalk Youth Symphony

Youth-orchestra administration

Sara Watkins

Executive Director, Norwalk Youth Symphony

Sara has helped shape Norwalk Youth Symphony’s international touring program since 1998 and has served as Executive Director since 2008. After helping plan its first international tour, she went on to guide nine Encore performance tours involving more than 500 participants, bringing deep experience in family communication, logistics, and sustaining a touring tradition.

Michael Coelho, Director of Fine Arts and Orchestras at Ipswich Public Schools

Districtwide arts leadership

Michael Coelho

Director of Fine Arts & Orchestras, Ipswich Public Schools

Michael oversees PK-12 music, visual art, and theatre in Ipswich, directs five school orchestras, teaches at Longy School of Music, and leads the Northeastern Massachusetts Youth Orchestras. A two-time national finalist for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award, he brings a student-centered perspective on program leadership, preparation, and building community through music.

Barbara Brown, Director of Orchestras at Encore Tours

Your host

Barbara Brown

Director of Orchestras, Encore Tours

Barbara brings decades of performance, youth-orchestra leadership, music education, and community-engagement experience to Encore. Her work with the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra showed her firsthand how travel can shape young musicians and strengthen an ensemble community.

She guides the conversation, draws out practical advice from each panelist, and brings audience questions into the discussion.

Meet Barbara Brown →

On the agenda

The plans before departure. The realities on the road.

A thoughtful, moderated conversation about the responsibilities and decisions that rarely make it into the tour brochure.

Watch now
  1. 01Knowing when your ensemble is ready to tour
  2. 02Setting a realistic budget and fundraising plan
  3. 03Selecting, preparing, and managing chaperones
  4. 04Setting expectations for students and families
  5. 05Handling student issues, group dynamics, and unexpected situations
  6. 06Preparing musicians for an unfamiliar performance setting
  7. 07Lessons directors wish they had known before their first tour

An extra benefit for your ensemble

If you attended live, you have a head start.

Verified live attendees received details about an exclusive Encore Ensemble Travel Scholarship for a qualifying new booking.

Domestic program$500
International tour$1,000

Available for new group bookings of 25+ travelers. Domestic tours qualify for the $500 scholarship; international tours qualify for $1,000. Booking deadlines and additional terms apply.

Optional professional development

Keep learning after the webinar.

Eligible educators may use this session as the opening component of a 15-hour graduate-level professional development experience.

Webinar attendance alone does not earn credit. Additional registration, documentation, and coursework are required. Participants should confirm acceptance with their school district or licensing authority.

The guided independent study carries a $99 Courses4Teachers registration fee paid by the participant. For eligible directors whose ensembles participate in a Symphony Hall Series event, Encore sponsors the $99 fee for the separate Symphony Hall practicum. You’ll receive a certificate of completion to submit with your district or university paperwork.

Explore the Guided Independent Study →
Path 01

Guided independent study

Structured readings, planning exercises, reflections, and applied work designed around your ensemble.

Explore this pathway →
Path 02

Symphony Hall practicum

Pre-event preparation, an eligible Encore event experience, and a practical post-event capstone.

Learn about graduate credit →

The Symphony Hall Series

From conversation to concert hall.

Encore’s Symphony Hall Series gives school, youth, collegiate, community, and adult orchestras the opportunity to rehearse, learn, and perform in celebrated American concert halls.

  • Meaningful stage time in a landmark venue
  • Professional coaching and educational workshops
  • An expertly produced concert experience
Explore the Symphony Hall Series →
Orchestra performing on stage at a grand concert hall Explore the Symphony Hall Series See upcoming concert hall events →

Good to know

Questions,
answered.

Who should watch?

School, youth, collegiate, community, and adult orchestra and ensemble directors and administrators—whether you are considering your first ensemble tour or planning what comes next.

Is the webinar free?

Yes. It’s free to watch, with no registration required.

Can I watch anytime?

Yes. This session was recorded, and the video above is available on demand whenever it’s convenient for you.

Do I need to sign up to watch?

No. The recording plays right on this page. No account or registration is needed.

Does watching automatically earn graduate credit?

No. The webinar is one component of an optional 15-hour experience. Additional registration, coursework, and documentation are required.

Now available on demand

Have tour questions?
Watch and leave with a clearer path forward.

Watch the webinar now

Recorded panel discussion · includes audience Q&A from the live session