In the third episode of our Virtual Director’s Exchange, David Grandis (Director of Orchestras at William & Mary) and Arnaud Schotte (Director of Brass at Conservatoire de Lyon) join host Sabrina Nikolov to discuss all things France. In addition to talking about how the current pandemic has affected their ensembles, some of the topics discussed include recommendations for your next French trip, their favorite performance venues, and so much more! Although we may be unable to create music or travel together right now, staying connected is more important than ever before. At Encore, we love interacting with music directors, educators, and members of our vast international network. We’re missing those connections right now, but we know that someday soon, travel will return. Until then, speaking with musicians around the globe and hearing about how their lives have been affected by recent events serves as yet another reminder that we’re all in this together. If you enjoyed the episode, please let us hear your thoughts or questions over on our YouTube page! At Encore Tours, we are committed to supporting music education both at home and abroad. Have any questions for our staff? Please email us at encoretours@acis.com!
September 10, 2026 Encore Tours Custom Performance Tours, Built Around Your Ensemble Your ensemble has its own sound, its own goals and its own reasons for traveling. Your performance tour should reflect them. Backstage Blog Planning Your Tour
September 2, 2026 Encore Tours Taking Your Orchestra on Tour: A Free Webinar for Educators Taking an orchestra beyond its familiar stage can be one of the most memorable experiences a music educator offers. Backstage Blog Music Educator Resources
August 18, 2026 Encore Tours 7 Best International Band Trip Destinations for Student Musicians When a student performance tour is done well, it becomes much more than a trip. Backstage Blog