Orchestra Group Travel & Performance Tours

Orchestras can perform in a variety of settings, including historic concert halls, cathedrals, festivals, cultural exchange concerts, and international venues. ETA helps identify venues that complement orchestral programs, whether you want a full symphony repertoire concert, chamber orchestra performance, or joint performances with local ensembles.

We work directly with directors to understand ensemble size, repertoire, skill level, goals, and student interests. That allows us to build an itinerary that balances performance time with rehearsal, educational workshops, cultural immersion, and sightseeing. We tailor travel, lodging, and logistical details too. We handle everything so you can focus on a successful music performance.

Our tours can include rehearsal venues, sectional rehearsals, full orchestral rehearsal time, and soundchecks before performances. We can also arrange clinics or masterclasses with professional conductors or local musicians to help refine performance prep. We also coordinate with venues for acoustics and stage setup to suit orchestral needs.

We recommend starting 9–12 months in advance, especially for international trips or large ensemble tours, to secure preferred performance venues, accommodations, transportation, and to allow time for fundraising if needed. For smaller tours within North America, sometimes shorter lead time may work, but earlier planning generally yields better options and rates when working with our music travel consultants.

Venues are chosen based on your ensemble’s style, size, and repertoire, as well as the audience experience. Common venue types include concert halls, cathedrals with good acoustics, university auditoriums, music festivals, and outdoor cultural venues. We assess logistical compatibility (stage size, acoustics, audience capacity) to ensure your performance shines.

In addition to concerts, orchestras often take part in educational experiences such as masterclasses, workshops, cultural exchanges, and sometimes adjudicated performances. These help students develop technique, musicality, and confidence. Tours can also include guided visits to museums, historic music sites, and opportunities to hear or observe local professional ensembles.

Standard inclusions are trip transportation, lodging, group meals, performance arrangements, local transportation, guided sightseeing, 24/7 tour support, and often some rehearsal time. Extras might include private instrument rental fees, visa/ passport fees for international tours, uniform/dress costs, additional baggage for large instruments, insurance, and optional add-ons like extra workshops or extended sightseeing.

ETA provides experienced tour managers who accompany the group, handles transportation, vetting of lodging, meal planning, emergency protocols, and logistical coordination of performance, rehearsals, and travel. We also understand school and district policies and work to ensure compliance with permissions, insurance, and risk management, giving directors and parents peace of mind.

We do! We not only support orchestra travel but also marching band trips, choir tours, dance troupe travel, student theatre trips and other school performing arts tour programs. Our trips are not only for performers though, we also offer customizable student trip programs for schools and teachers across the country, supporting whatever their travel education goals may be.