Past Signature Performance Tours

A sample of our past world-class performance tours:

FOOSA at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, June 2015

Fresno Opera & Orchestra Summer Academy travels to Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. The FOOSA Philharmonic performance featured composer Benjamin Boone’s “Water(less) Music” drawing on poetry by Laureate Philip Levine about water and drought speaking the vital issue of California’s droughts. Filled with deeply rooted concepts of the conservation of our natural resources and our role as humans on planet earth.

Read feature article by Southern California Public Radio

Performance Tour of Spain, June 2015

The choir had the opportunity to sing at La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Santa Maria del Mar in Barcelona, and the Cathedral of Cordoba. Highlights of their sightseeing included a bull fight, experiencing a traditional Corpus Christi celebration in Cordoba, and a visit to Alhambra Palace.

Choral Tour of France, June 2015

Choir traveled to France visiting the beautiful areas of Paris, Normandy, and Loire Valley. They had the incredible opportunities to sing during mass at the Notre Dame Cathedral, in the American Cemetery in Normandy, Notre Dame La Riche, Chartres Cathedral, and Château Royal d’Amboise. The group was even covered in the local newspaper.

Orchestra & Band Trip to Germany & Austria

During Easter break high school orchestra and band members took a performance tour of Germany and Austria. The students experienced the rich musical culture,  performed at world-class venues, and attended clinics with maters of Vienna.

Ann Arbor Huron High School Performance Tour of France

Under the direction of Stephen Roberts, members of Ann Arbor Symphonic Wind Ensemble traveled to France. In additional to seeing the great sites and witnessing the culture of Paris and Normandy the group was able to preform, becoming part of the beautiful history of these cities. Performances at Madeleine Church, Eglise de la Trinité, Square Jean XXIII and for the occasion of the 70th anniversary of D-Day at the Memorial in Normandy France in honor of those who had sacrificed so much. Also attending the wreath laying ceremony as well as the lowering of the flags.

Voices in the Hall festival Chorus: Mass of the Children by John Rutter at Carnegie Hall 2013

The “Voices in the Hall” concert at Carnegie Hall has been produced annually since 2002 by Classic Performances. In 2013, choirs from across the United States traveled to Carnegie Hall to perform “Mass of the Children” by John Rutter. Under the direction of Eric Dale Knapp, and with the featured Georgia Boy Choir, the chorus members provided a memorable performance for the large audience in attendance.  Their New York City experience also included guided tours of Central Park, SoHo, Times Square, and Ground Zero. A private celebratory brunch was held at Sardi’s, the “toast of Broadway”. The Georgia Boy Choir summarized their experience in an email after the event (link here).

Salute to Valor, Honolulu, Hawaii, 2013

Orchestras, bands, and choirs, including the US Navy Pacific Fleet Band to the Detroit Choral Society,  travel to Hawaii for a patriotic performance tour. They performed at the island of Oahu’s premier venue Blaisdell Concert Hall and on the deck of the USS Missouri, where the Japanese signed the surrender documents to end World War II. The July 4th concert on the USS Missouri featured patriotic selections and culminated in a spectacular fireworks display.

St. John the Evangelist Music Tour

Members of St. John the Evangelist choir (Florida) traveled to Italy and visited Assisi, Florence and Rome. The choir was able to perform in at the Sunday Liturgy at St. Peter’s Basilica as a part of their performance tour and pilgrimage. The highlight of their tour was performing for a large audience of 400 people in St. Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri Basilica in Rome.

Italian Music Festival

Under the Artistic Direction of Steve Petrunak, choirs from Colorado, Michigan, New Jersey & South Carolina united their voices in “Celebrating the God of Hope & Promise” as they traveled throughout Italy. The massed choir of seventy singers raised their voices in praise at the Basilica of St. Francis, in Assisi; St. Trinita Basilica, Florence; and SSt. Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, Rome. The highlight of the choir’s choral journey was to sing for the evening Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. The beauty of Italy, the common language of music and song, and the stunning artwork in all of the selected venues, coalesced into a once–in–a lifetime experience for all who participated.

Britannia Music Festival – Two Countries, One Voice, 2012

Orchestras and choirs from both the U.K. and U.S.A. collaborated in two mass concert performances in the United Kingdom. The students performed in Birmingham Town Hall and at Central Hall Westminster, London. The video below features Orange County (CA) School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra & Choir, Azusa Pacific University (orchestra and choir members), Phoenix Chorale, Thames Youth Orchestra & Choir, & Tiffin Boys’ Choir performing in Central Hall Westminster.

Salute to Valor, Honolulu, Hawaii, 2011

Eleven orchestras, bands, and choirs, ranging from high school performance groups to the US Navy Pacific Fleet Band to the Detroit Choral Society, commemorated the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor with a patriotic performance tour. They performed at the island of Oahu’s premier venue Blaisdell Concert Hall and on the deck of the USS Missouri, where the Japanese signed the surrender documents to end World War II. The July 4th concert on the USS Missouri featured patriotic selections and culminated in a spectacular fireworks display.

Voices in the Hall Festival Chorus: John Angotti Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, 2011

The “Voices in the Hall” concert at Carnegie Hall has been produced annually since 2002 by Classic Performances. In 2011, twelve choirs from across the United States traveled to Carnegie Hall for sold-out performances with acclaimed Christian Music writer and vocalist John Angotti. Their Big Apple experience also included a rehearsal at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and guided tours of Central Park, SoHo, Times Square, and Ground Zero. A private celebratory brunch was held at Sardi’s, the “toast of Broadway” for 82 years.

The International Haydn Festival, Vienna, Austria, 2009

In honor of the Father of Symphony’s bicentenary, the Haydn performance tour was celebrated in the City of Music – Vienna, Austria – including venues such as the renowned Wiener Konzerthaus and the Musikverein, home of the famed Vienna Philharmonic. Classic Performances invited orchestras to audition to perform one of Haydn’s Great Masses with fine choirs from around the world and to tour Haydn’s Austria. More than 800 performers visited the Habsburgs’ Schönbrunn Palace, Haydn’s hometown of Eisenstadt, and the quaint medieval town of Rust near the Hungarian border.