Every performance tour starts with a director’s goals. For some ensembles, it’s the chance to perform in a legendary hall. For others, it’s a budget families can manage, a trip that fits between concerts and exams, or a few days of shared musical experiences that bring a group closer together. We’re refining the performance tours Encore offers within the U.S., and we want them shaped by the people who lead ensembles. So we’ve launched a short survey for directors and administrators, with a thank-you for four music programs that take part. Six minutes, and a chance to win for your program The survey takes about six minutes on any device. Every director who completes it by November 15 is entered in a drawing for: Grand prize: a $250 J.W. Pepper gift certificate Three runners-up: a $50 J.W. Pepper gift certificate each All prizes go to the winner’s music program, whether that means new repertoire, method books or supplies for the year ahead. Take the survey What we’re asking The questions focus on what actually shapes a decision to travel: Your ensemble: who you would travel with, their level and your typical group size Musical priorities: the performance settings and experiences that matter most Trip length and timing: when your group can realistically travel, and for how long Budget and add-ons: what families can support, and which extras are worth it There’s also space to tell us, in your own words, what would make a domestic trip right for your ensemble. Who should take it Directors and administrators of school, youth, collegiate and community ensembles. You don’t need to have traveled with Encore, or traveled at all. If your group has never toured, knowing what has held you back is just as valuable to us as feedback from a director with a dozen trips behind them. What happens next Your answers will directly inform the U.S. programs we build, from trip length and timing to the performance experiences we include. When the survey closes, we’ll share a summary of what we heard with everyone who took part. No one from Encore will contact you unless you ask for a follow-up conversation or win the drawing. Add your voice by November 15 Whether your ensemble travels every year or is still weighing its first trip, we’d like to hear what makes a tour worth taking. Take the survey by November 15 to share your perspective and be entered in the drawing. No purchase necessary. See the official drawing rules for full details.
November 2, 2026 Encore Tours Venue Spotlight: Vienna’s St. Stephen’s Cathedral Explore St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna: its history, its deep ties to Haydn and Mozart, and what it’s like for your ensemble to perform there. Backstage Blog
October 27, 2026 Encore Tours Music Tour Planning Mistakes: 7 Horror Stories to Avoid Every music director has heard one. The tour where the price went up after families had already paid. The concert where the ensemble outnumbered the audience. Backstage Blog
October 21, 2026 Encore Tours Meet Encore Tours at the 2026 Midwest Clinic Encore Tours is heading to The 80th Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference, taking place December 16–18, 2026, at McCormick Place West in Chicago. Backstage Blog