St. Catherine s Episcopal Church Chancel Choir VIENNA ADVENT SING & PRE EXTENSION TO PRAGUE & CESKY KRUMLOV & SALZBURG November 23 December 2, 2019 1
Prague - Cesky Krumlov - Salzburg - Vienna Advent Sing Experience these amazing and historic European cities by combining Vienna Advent Sing with Prague, Cesky Krumlov, and Salzburg! Start in the Czech Republic, and find out why Prague is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Its impressive architecture, quaint city streets, and grand Vltava River create a magnificent background for a concert tour. Grand historic churches, theaters, and concert halls line the streets and provide fantastic venues for both small and large ensembles and performers. Music fills the air in Prague 365 days a year. The city pulses with a truly musical rhythm heard on the streets, in the language, and of course in the beautiful venues that will welcome your group. Cesky Krumlov is a pearl of Renaissance architecture and a place where the luxuriousness of the local castle, maze-like alleyways, richly decorated coats of arms of residents houses, and magnificent floral gardens are harmoniously intertwined; at the same time, it boasts deep-rooted pubs, ale-houses, galleries and graphite mines. Hear the music pulse through this unique small city. Continue on to Salzburg, Austria. Explore this captivating city situated in the Austrian Alps along the River Salzach. Follow in the footsteps of Mozart, Salzburg s most famous son, and delve into the city s truly magical atmosphere. Its shop-lined streets and exquisite Baroque and Gothic churches are bewitching to even frequent visitors. End in Vienna, Austria, where Mozart found inspiration, Strauss wrote his famous waltzes, and Beethoven, Schoenberg, Berg, Haydn, Schubert, Liszt, and Bruckner lived and performed for decades. Now it is your turn! Join the International Advent Sing in Vienna and share your choir s repertoire in this incredible city of music and culture! Perform concerts in Vienna s prestigious City Hall, where Strauss first presented the waltz to the world and where Pavarotti, Carreras, and Domingo performed. Sing in the gilded Abbey of Melk, considered the most stunning example of Baroque architecture in Europe, and share holiday songs at the festive Christmas market in front of Schönbrunn Palace, where a seven-yearold Mozart played for Empress Maria Theresa. Become part of a quintessential European Advent season! 2
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2019 DEPART FOR THE CZECH REPUBLIC IN FLIGHT Depart from Atlanta on an overnight flight bound for Prague, Czech Republic. Select meals, snacks, and refreshments will be served on board the flight. Be sure to read through the great tips and travel information in your Music Contact International handbook! SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2019 ARRIVE IN PRAGUE! Arrive in Prague, Czech Republic! Upon arrival in Prague, your Music Contact International tour manager will greet your group at the airport. Having been spared the bombs of World War II, Prague is reminiscent of a fairytale city. The town was built on seven hills and boasts a combination of different styles of architecture from many centuries with beautiful parks and gardens interspersed throughout. The Vltava River, which is spanned by 16 bridges, winds through the city. There are four breathtaking districts of Prague: the Castle Area, the crowning glory of the city s skyline perched above the river; Mala Strana (Lesser Town), which links the castle area with the Vltava and Charles Bridge; the Old Town across the river, and the New Town- aptly named, as it was founded only in the 14th century! Together, board your waiting motor coach and embark on a guided sightseeing tour of Prague. Stretch your legs as you embark on a walking tour of the Old Town. See sights such as the Old Town Square, Astronomical Tower, the Gothic Powder Tower built in 1475, and Wenceslas Square. After, your tour manager will assist with exchanging money, and then you will have free time to buy lunch and walk the Christmas Markets (pending confirmation of Prague s 2019 Christmas market schedule). Your tour will end at your hotel, where you will check in and take some time to relax and refresh. This evening, a welcome dinner of Czech specialties will be served to your choir at a local restaurant as your tour manager previews the days ahead. 3
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2019 PRAGUE CASTLE CONCERT* After breakfast, embark on a guided tour of Prague Castle during which you will explore Europe s largest castle complex. The ancient seat of Czech kings throughout the ages, this is Prague's premier tourist attraction. Admire the weapons and armor of soldiers from many eras in a district where several destructive wars and fires and subsequent renovations, along with differing political forces, have combined to create an intriguing mix of palaces, churches, and fortifications. The Prague Castle complex consists of Saint Vitus Cathedral, the most recognizable landmark in the city, viewing towers, museums and art galleries, a monastery, Golden Lane, and several palaces, including Lobkowicz Palace, and St. George's Basilica. You will certainly be mesmerized by the magnitude and beauty of this glorious complex. After the tour, the remainder of the afternoon and evening are free for individual pursuits, shopping, exploration, and meals throughout the city. Your tour manager will be happy to make recommendations! Perhaps spend some time shopping on Prague s famous Celetna Avenue or visit the Cubist Museum, which houses an excellent café on its second floor, The Café Grand Orient. The Havelska Market could be another wonderful way to spend part of your day. Here, you can find anything from Czech crafts to Czech delicacies. If art is something you love, walk to the Museum of Contemporary Art. On your way there, you will cross the Charles Bridge. Here, you can enjoy beautiful views and shop for handmade souvenirs created by local Czech artists. However you choose to spend the day, it will be filled with memorable moments, gorgeous vistas, and delicious Czech cuisine. Early this evening, visit a local church, such as St. Nicholas Church, where St. Catherine s Episcopal Church Chancel Choir will be invited to perform a concert for an appreciative audience*. There will be time to meet and mingle with the crowd after your performance. Dinner will be on your own following the concert. Be sure to ask your tour manager for suggestions! TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2019 CESKY KRUMLOV CONCERT* Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then check out and load your luggage onto the motor coach. Depart for Cesky Krumlov, a captivating small town famous for its Renaissance and Baroque buildings (approximately 2.5 hours.) Upon arrival in Cesky Krumlov, stretch your legs strolling through the city and having lunch at leisure. 4
The afternoon is yours for shopping and sightseeing. Perhaps start by visiting the Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a large part of the reason the town is a popular holiday destination for tourists from Germany, Austria, and beyond. Careful restoration following architectural neglect during the Communist Era reinstated the city s fairy-tale beauty, with Renaissance and Baroque buildings lining the arc of the Vltava River. You may also wish to visit Cesky Krumlov Castle, home to the Cesky Krumlov Baroque Theatre; one of the world s most completely preserved Baroque theaters, with its original theater building, auditorium, orchestra pit, stage machinery, and other elements still intact. Meet at the hotel to check in and prepare for tonight s concert. Reconvene in the hotel lobby before transferring to a local church where St. Catherine s Episcopal Church Chancel Choir will perform a concert*. Following your performance, there will be a chance to socialize with your audience. After your performance, dinner will be served for your choir, consisting of traditional Bohemian fare such as roast duck, roast pork, beer sausage, smoked meat, red and white cabbage, bread, bacon and potato dumplings. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2019 SALZBURG After breakfast at the hotel, check out, load your motor coach, and depart for Salzburg, Austria (travel time is approximately 3 hours). Salzburg s scenic Alpine backdrop, Baroque architecture, and incredibly preserved historic center have earned it a UNESCO heritage site title. Salzburg has a magnificent Old City featuring narrow streets and buildings from the Medieval, Romanesque, Baroque, and Renaissance periods. Famed composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart called the city home. Upon arrival in Salzburg, enjoy free time for lunch in the charming Old Town, before checking into your hotel and takeing some time to refresh. Tonight, attend the festive Mozart dinner concert in the baroque hall of St. Peter s Abbey (the oldest restaurant north of the Alps), wherein opera singers perform Mozart arias in between courses! 5
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2019 SOUND OF MUSIC CHORAL OFFERING* Have breakfast in the hotel dining room before embarking on a guided Sound of Music tour. Visit the sights associated with the famous von Trapp family and the film that immortalized them, The Sound of Music. First, see Leopoldskron, the mansion whose façade was used as part of the von Trapp home in the film. Catch a glimpse of Nonnberg Abbey, where Maria was a novice and where she and the baron were married in 1927. Next, visit Hellbrunn Palace, a hunting castle built in the early 17th century by Prince-Archbishop Markus Sittikus. In the gardens, you will see Gazebo Hellbrunn, the glass pavilion from the famous Sixteen Going on Seventeen scene in the movie. After, make a stop at Mondsee to see the church where the wedding scene in The Sound of Music was filmed. Here, St. Catherine s Episcopal Church Chancel Choir may be inspired to sing a few songs. The tour proceeds to St. Gilgen on Lake Wolfgang, which offers views of the best-known landscapes of the Salzkammergut region and is a favored weekend getaway by many Austrians, including the Chancellor. Here, the Mozart Fountain recalls the connection between Mozart and this beautiful land. Following your tour, continue to Salzburg Cathedral, where St. Catherine s Episcopal Church Chancel Choir has been invited to sing an a capella musical offering, and where you will see the Romanesque baptismal font where Mozart was baptized in 1756*. The evening is yours to explore Salzburg at leisure with the assistance of your tour manager. Be sure to ask about the many delicious restaurants where you can order traditional Austrian fare. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2019 VIENNA CONCERT* Following breakfast in the hotel dining room, check out, load your motor coach, and depart for Vienna, Austria (travel time is approximately 3 hours). Upon arrival, embark on a guided sightseeing tour of Vienna. Visit the Ringstraße, an ambitious piece of city planning by the Hapsburg family, based around a single street that encircles the center of Vienna. See the University of Vienna, the Staatsoper, the Rathaus (City Hall), Parliament, and the Belvedere Palaces. See the Hofburg Palace, an impressive complex that has served as the official residence of every Austrian ruler since the Middle Ages, and the Hundertwasser Haus, a fanciful piece of modern architecture designed by the contemporary Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. 6
Following your tour, join other choirs from across Europe and Asia participating in the Advent Sing for a delicious lunch of Austrian specialties at the Rathauskeller Restaurant in Vienna s City Hall. After lunch, St. Catherine s Episcopal Church Chancel Choir will perform a concert for appreciative listeners at a local senior citizen center*. After your performance, take some time to meet the audience and share season s greetings. This evening, dinner is on your own. Your tour manager would be happy to make suggestions. Tonight, a special chamber concert will be arranged for your group at Sala Terrena, the oldest concert hall in Vienna where Mozart himself once played. Listen to a string quartet play repertoire from Haydn, Schubert, and Mozart as you admire the hall s beautiful frescoes. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2019 VIENNA CONCERT* Following breakfast, the morning is free for individual exploration. You may wish to tour the magnificent Schönbrunn Palace, once the summer residence of the monarchy of the Habsburg dynasty. Strolling from room to room, you will be transported back to the days of the eighteenth-century when Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven called Vienna home. If you visit the palace, be sure to explore the spectacular Christmas market. This afternoon, St. Catherine s Episcopal Church Choir will perform a concert in the Festival Hall of the Vienna City Hall - the magnificent room where Strauss first presented the waltz to the world*! There will be ample time to enjoy the music of other guest choirs from different countries. Tonight, visit the 800-year-old wine village of Gumpoldskirchen, where you will dine on a traditional Austrian Heurigen dinner of grilled meats, sauerkraut, and bread, served family-style on long wooden tables. A local musician strolling through the restaurant inspires guests to sing along! SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2019 MELK CONCERT* Have breakfast in the hotel before embarking on a scenic drive to the town of Melk, located on the banks of the Danube River. Considered one of the most beautiful buildings in Austria, the stunning baroque Melk Abbey is perched on a hill above town. 7
Upon arrival, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and enjoy a guided tour of the Abbey. The most breathtaking space in the Abbey is the magnificent Melk Abbey Church, decorated in sculptures and covered in gold leaf. The sheer beauty and outstanding acoustics of the church will leave your choir in awe. This is the venue where St. Catherine s Episcopal Church Choir will have their afternoon performance*. Following your concert, enjoy listening to other choirs participating in the International Advent Sing. Each year, this popular concert is a highly anticipated event for the local community and visitors to the region. This evening, all of the guest choirs meet at the Vienna City Hall for the official closing ceremony of the International Advent Sing. After the formalities of the ceremony, join together with all the guest choirs in singing Ode to Joy. Tonight, a festive farewell dinner will be served to your group at a restaurant serving local specialties. There will be ample opportunity to recount the many highlights of your tour! MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2019 VIENNA - ATLANTA IN FLIGHT Enjoy your final Austrian breakfast before departing by motor coach to Vienna s Schwechat Airport for the return flight home. Select meals, snacks, and refreshments will be served on board the flight. Welcome home! *All concert opportunities proposed in this itinerary are pending final confirmation and availability at time of booking. Your group's final program will be determined by confirmed times and locations for concerts, workshops, lectures and other activities. Although your ensemble's exact itinerary will vary to accommodate performance schedules, the same type of concerts, activities and caliber of venue will be included in your ensemble's final concert tour program. 8
TOUR DETAILS YOUR TOUR INCLUDES: FLIGHTS Roundtrip airfare on regularly scheduled flights from Atlanta to Prague and from Vienna to Atlanta (may include one or more layovers in each direction) ACCOMMODATIONS 8 nights in upper-class hotels (4-star), centrally located, double occupancy, including all hotel service charges and taxes: 2 nights Prague 1 night Cesky Krumlov 2 nights Salzburg 3 nights Vienna TRANSPORTATION Transportation as described in the itinerary in a modern climate controlled motor coach with a professional driver MEALS Breakfast served daily in the hotel dining room 2 lunches served as follows: Lunch at the Vienna City Hall Rathauskeller Lunch at a local restaurant in Melk 5 dinners served as follows Welcome dinner at a local Czech restaurant Dinner in Cesky Krumlov at a local restaurant Festive Mozart dinner concert in Salzburg Traditional Heurigen dinner in Gumpoldskirchen Festive farewell dinner in Vienna PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES 6 performance opportunities as indicated in the itinerary, pending availability and acceptance: Evening concert at St. Nicholas Church (or similar) in Prague Performance in a local church in Cesky Krumlov Choral offering at Salzburg Cathedral Performance in a senior citizen center in Vienna Performance in the Festival Hall of the Vienna City Hall Performance in the Melk Abbey Church TOUR MANAGER A full-time Music Contact International tour manager to accompany your group from arrival to departure LOCAL GUIDES & ENTRANCES Sightseeing tours with local English-speaking guides and entrances as described in the itinerary: Sightseeing tour in Prague with local guide Prague Castle tour with local guide Cesky Krumlov Castle Sound of Music Tour with local guide Sightseeing tour of Vienna with local guide Chamber Concert at Sala Terrena 9
MUSIC CONTACT INTERNATIONAL ONLINE ACCOUNTING AND PAYMENT SYSTEM Group leaders can opt that each traveler in the group make individual trip payments online with credit cards or debit cards. Individuals receive electronic reminders, receipts and statements. Group leaders can track payments made by each travelers and receive automated reports with current balances and due dates. CUSTOM TRAVELER S RESOURCE WEBSITE FOR YOUR GROUP FEATURING Day to day itinerary Things to Know Before You Go Maps Helpful links, including recommended reading and websites Blog Photo gallery ADDITIONAL MATERIALS Each member of your group will receive: A customized handbook including detailed hourly tour itinerary with regional and travel information Luggage tags INSURANCE Music Contact International, Inc. holds $5,000,000.00 of Travel Agent and Tour operators Professional Liability Insurance. TOUR PACKAGE PRICE Prices based on a minimum of 30 paying travelers: LAND PACKAGE PRICE: $2,475.00 per person in double occupancy ESTIMATED AIRFARE: $1,110.00 estimated based on 2017 TOTAL ESTIMATED LAND AND AIR PACKAGE: $3,585.00 Prices based on a minimum of 25 paying travelers: LAND PACKAGE PRICE: $2,645.00 per person in double occupancy ESTIMATED AIRFARE: $1,110.00 estimated based on 2017 TOTAL ESTIMATED LAND AND AIR PACKAGE: $3,755.00 ABOVE FLIGHT ESTIMATES ARE BASED ON 2017 AIRFARES AND WILL BE UPDATED ONCE 2019 AIRFARE IS AVAILABLE NOT INCLUDED: Checked bag fees imposed by the airline Porter service (available upon request) Drinks with meals (except breakfast) Any meals not listed above Entrance fees and bus services not indicated in the above itinerary Instrument rental and transportation Gratuities for tour managers, local guides, and bus drivers** Travel insurance* 10
*Travel Insurance can be purchased per individual requests through your custom Traveler s Resource Website. **Upon request, we can include tour manager, local guide, and bus driver gratuities in your package prices. OPTIONAL PRICES: $395.00 per person supplement for a single room NOTES ON PRICING The prices for land services in this offer are valid until January 1, 2018. In order to guarantee these prices, please send your choir s confirmation deposit of $1500 and registration materials by this date. Prices cover above dates and listed services only, and are based on current availability. Severe fluctuation in the exchange rates before the group has confirmed their plans can also lead to a change in the price. Therefore, please inform Music Contact International in writing of your confirmed plans when they are made. FLIGHTS: At this time, no flight reservations have been made for your group. The tour package prices in this proposal are based on the most currently available group flight quotes for your dates of travel as indicated on this itinerary. Please understand that airfare and seats are subject to availability and can only be guaranteed when seats are reserved. Music Contact International recommends that we secure your group s flights as early as possible in the tour planning process. In order to reserve group space and lock in airfare, a $100 per person flight deposit will be required. Upon receipt of your deposit, our flight department will confirm the best flight option for your group. Therefore, we suggest that you prepare to send us your group s flight deposit upon confirmation of this tour. FLIGHT TAXES AND SURCHARGES: Flight taxes and fuel surcharges are subject to change until tickets are issued. For this reason, flight taxes and surcharges are not included in the price of this tour. The exact amount of flight taxes and surcharges will be determined by the airlines at the time of ticketing which normally occurs 30 to 60 days before departure. The amount of the flight taxes and surcharges varies greatly depending on a wide range of factors from the number of scheduled connections to the price of fuel. IMPORTANT TOUR INFORMATION CONCERTS: Indicated in the itinerary are times when, and venues where concerts could be planned. We would be glad to pursue any specific venue. All venues are pending final confirmation and will be pursued to the fullest extent once the tour has been accepted and placed under deposit by the client. The proposed repertoires for the tour should be provided to Music Contact International, in addition to the director s and ensemble s biographies, photographs for promotional purposes and a sample CD or mp3 audio file. MOTOR COACH: In this itinerary, a standard motor coach seating up to 49 passengers is used. Should the group size increase beyond 49 passengers, an additional motor coach will need to be hired, affecting the cost of the land program. Please notify Music Contact International of the exact size of your group. Additional transfers or a change in itinerary may result in added coach fees. MANAGER AND LOCAL GUIDES: Music Contact International will send a professional, full-time manager to accompany your group during the entire tour. The manager will handle all logistics for your group during the tour and provide general 11
information about the regions to be visited. Local guides will conduct tours of specific cities and sites as indicated in your itinerary. OPTIONAL SERVICES: Music Contact International can make additional meal or excursion arrangements for the group, for example: lunches, museum tours, theater or performing arts tickets. Prices listed for optional activities are subject to reconfirmation at the time a reservation is made. Group discounts may be available. 12