Where are all your former Music students now? Is it time for a reunion? What about a reunion concert? If so, consider taking your alumni Ensemble on an exciting performance tour to Vienna and Salzburg. Whether your alumni are just out of high school or enjoying their retirement days, they’re sure to love singing with old friends in the historic and beautiful mountains, castles, and cathedrals of Austria.
An alumni Ensemble is always a great way to bring old friends together and drive participation in all sorts of school activities but taking that singing group to Austria is sure to bring graduates back together and rekindle interest in their alma mater. The delight of singing together joins with the joy of seeing new places in a country of such rich musical heritage.
In Salzburg, music is everywhere, and is celebrated. On your performance tour, be sure to visit the birthplace of Mozart and enjoy memorials to him across the city. The monument in Mozartplatz, a beautiful plaza in Old Salzburg, is a must see. In between performances, you can take a boat down the Danube River, explore medieval castles, or marvel at baroque cathedrals. Free time can also be spent at tourist shops, art museums, and other performances. For the best views of the old city, make sure to take the cable car up to the Hohensalzburg Fortress. If the weather takes a turn for the worse, head underground to the salt mines that gave the city its name and take a boat across an underground lake.
While Vienna is every bit as exciting as Salzburg, the best alumni Music trips also take advantage of the time travelling there. First, enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the Alps. Fans of the musical “Sound of Music” will feel right at home in the mountains where the story was inspired and much of that classic movie was filmed. Of special interest to Choirs is a Benedictine abbey in the town of Melk. Besides providing a much-appreciated chance to stretch your legs, the abbey frequently allows informal choral performances by passing groups.
Mozart may have been born in Salzburg, but his most well-known music was almost all composed in Vienna. His contemporary, Joseph Haydn, also spent much of his life in the Austrian capital, as well as in the nearby village of Eisenstadt. His student, Ludwig von Beethoven, lived in Vienna from age 21 to his death a few decades later. As you take in the sites of old Vienna, imagine these famous musicians, friends, meeting, talking, composing, and even making music together!
Two imperial palaces, Hofburg and Schonbrunn, and a variety of art museums are perfect spots for tourists. At Schonbrunn, you can even visit the world’s oldest continually operating zoo, TiergartenSchonbrunn, where Holy Roman Emperor Francis I opened a menagerie in 1752. The Wiener Riesenrad, a 212 foot tall Ferris wheel built in 1897, is a classic way for visitors to view the city. Visiting various historic churches and cathedrals may provide the opportunity for even more spontaneous performances, as well as an untold number of photo opportunities and group selfies.
Fun experiences and great views, from the top of Hohensalzburg to the busy streets of Vienna, will keep your alumni talking about the trip for years, but the crowning achievement will be performing together in venues on the other side of the globe. With so many options to choose from, let Peak Performance Tours create a proposed itinerary for your trip to Vienna and Salzburg. Peak Performance Tours takes the hassle out of planning, leaving you and your Music alumni ready to enjoy performing and touring in Austria.