Performing Arts: Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival

A mountainous and breathtakingly beautiful country, Austria has a rich cultural history, producing some of the greatest musicians and scientists (Mozart, Haydn, Liszt, Strauss, Doppler, Mendel, and Freud) in the world. With beautiful terrain, medieval castles, flowing rivers, and a warm citizenry, the Czech Republic is one of the most prosperous post-communist states. Note: Tour must depart North America on 6/30/22 for the 2022 festival or 6/29/23 for the 2023 festival.
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Day 1 Start tour
Day 2 Guten tag Vienna
Meet your tour director and check into hotel
Details: SCL Festival Welcome Ceremony
Enjoy the Welcome Ceremony to the Summa Cum Laude Festival and meet the other participating groups in the festival.
Details: Conductor's Kick-Off Meeting
All conductors and directors will meet this evening.
Day 3 Vienna
Boxed lunch
Group performance
Details: Vienna guided sightseeing tour
Join a professional licensed tour guide on a sightseeing adventure around Vienna, the city of brilliant musicians, Baroque art and architecture, and velvet-clad coffeehouses. Along your journey, you’ll sense the power and decadence of the city’s early ruling family, the almighty Habsburgs. Wander down the infamous Ringstraße, the series of boulevards circling the city, commissioned by Emperor Franz Josef in 1857. Visit to Schönbrunn Palace, where the Habsburg’s ruled until 1918 and six-year-old Mozart serenaded Marie Antoinette.
Details: Visit Schönbrunn Palace
Stop just outside the city center for a visit to the 1,441-room Schönbrunn Palace, which was designed for the Habsburgs before becoming the imperial summer palace, and where Mozart and Haydn both performed as children. Our tour will include the State Apartments and a stroll through the Imperial Gardens. Make a brief visit to the Wagenburg, or Carriage Museum, which contains a fine display of imperial coaches from the 17th through the 20th century.
Details: Competition or celebration performance at the Golden Hall of the Musikveiren
Perform yourself and receive feedback from an elite panel of adjudicators, as well as enjoying performances from other groups.
Day 4 Vienna
Boxed lunch
Workshops at the University of Music in Vienna
Group performance
Day 5 Vienna
Boxed lunch
Workshops at the University of Music in Vienna
Details: Haus der Musik visit
Visit the Haus der Musik, an interactive discovery museum housed in the former residence of Otto Nicolai, the founder of the Vienna Philharmonic. Journey back in time to learn more about the great composers of western classical music. Compose a waltz and have it played. Learn more about the science of sound and aural perception, and then conduct the Vienna Philharmonic from a virtual conductor's podium. The musicians will even rate you!
Day 6 Vienna
Details: SCL Festival competition & celebration
Today, we will participate in the festivities associated with the Summa Cum Laude. Many of these activities may include exchanges with local groups, professional workshops, rehearsals, and performances. Official schedule TBD.
Details: SCL Gala Winner's Concert
Tonight, the winners of the Competition will perform on stage in the great Wiener Konzerhaus while the rest of the performers will get to enjoy seeing their new friends perform.
Details: Award Ceremony and Farewell Reception
Following the Gala Winner's Concert, we will here the official standings and awards will be given out.
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Day 7 End tour

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    Day 7 Vienna--Prague
    Prague city walk
    Mala StranaJewish Quarter
    Details: Travel to Prague via Telc
    Telc lies at the midpoint of the old King's route from Vienna to Prague. Telc is the best preserved Renaissance town north of the Alps, and was added to the UNESCO list of international heritage sights in 1993.
    Details: Prague city walk
    Feel the inspiration for Franz Kafka’s novels as you stroll the medieval streets of the Mala Strana (Little Quarter). Stop in Josefov (Jewish Quarter), to view Europe’s oldest synagogue, dating from 1270.
    Day 8 Prague landmarks
    Details: Prague guided sightseeing tour
    Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic, built on seven hills astride the Vltava River. The beauty of Prague is legendary; Goethe described the city as “the most precious stone in the crown of this world.” While its most well-known composer remains Dvorák, the current Czech Republic also produced Mahler, Smetana, Martinu, and Janácek, among other greats!
    Details: Charles Bridge
    Stroll across the stunning Charles Bridge which spans 16 arches and is lined with 30 Baroque statues of religious figures.
    Details: Golden Lane
    Stroll along the Golden Lane which is an ancient street within the Prague Castle complex. Dating back to the fifteenth century it has beautiful and quaint architecture that make up eleven historic houses that were home to artisans.
    Details: Visit Hradcany (Prague Castle)
    Explore the immense castle that was named by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest ancient castle in the world. Prague Castle represents virtually all of the architectural designs of the last millennium and contains several churches, a monastery, gardens as well as multiple museums.
    Details: Antonín Dvorák Museum visit
    Visit the museum dedicated to the life and works of Antonín Dvorák.
    Details: Prague choir performance
    Venue options in Prague for choral groups include: The Lobkowicz Palace at Prague Castle, The Martinu hall of the prestigious Academy of Music, the Czech Museum of Music, The Congress Centre of the Czech National Bank, which has two theatres, Hlahol Hall, built in 1905 for the Hlahol Association of Choral Singing, the Novodvorská Cultural Center concert hall which has good acoustics, the Hall of the House of Culture Krakov, the School of Arts Botevova, and the English International School of Prague where student groups can interact with the local students.
    Day 9 End tour
    Tour Includes:
    • Round-trip airfare and other transportation described in the itinerary
    • Accommodation in three- or four-star hotels in twin (or occasional triple) rooms with private facilities guaranteed throughout
    • Plentiful daily breakfast to start the day energized and ready to go
    • Appetizing, culturally representative, three-course dinner daily
    • Full time, multilingual, WorldStrides tour director who is LEAP-trained in experiential education
    • Local guide at sites and on city tours as described in the itinerary
    • All of the venue arrangement fees and promotional costs for included concert performances
    • LEAP! Learning through Exploration and Active Participation; trademarked immersive approach of learning by doing
    • Entrances and transportation to sites and activities described in your itinerary
    • Local guide and local bus driver tips; see note regarding other important tips
    • Basic Medical, Dental, Emergency Evacuation Insurance during trip
    • 24/7 On Tour Emergency Support
    • Up to three college credits upon course completion (grades 9-12) or high school credit (grades 6-12)
    • Note: On arrival day only dinner is provided; on departure day, only breakfast is provided
    • Note: Tour cost does not include airline-imposed baggage fees, costs for rental, transport of instruments or music stands, any passport or visa fees, or tips for the Tour Director or multi-day bus drivers. Optional excursions, optional pre-paid tips, or other customizations will be listed as separate line items in the total trip cost, if included.

    We are better able to assist you with a quote for your selected departure date and city over the phone. Please call 1.888.378.8845 to price this tour with your requested options.

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