Concert Band Heritage Tour A Performance Tour Commemorating the Heritage of the Concert Band Visit the Marine Band School, conduct a joint British/American concert, see Holt s birthplace and museum, visit the home of Vaughan Williams, and have a clinic with worldrenowned Denis Wick all during this exciting Band Heritage Tour. 1440 S. Priest Drive, #102 Tempe, AZ 85281 800.395.2036 www.musiccelebrations.com info@musiccelebrations.com
Concert Band Heritage Tour Standard Tour #1 (8 nights / 10 days) Day 1 Departure from USA via scheduled air service to London. Enjoy full meal/beverage service and in-flight entertainment during this trans-atlantic flight. Day 2 Portsmouth Arrival in London. Meet MCI Tour Manager. Transfer to Portsmouth, with a brief panoramic tour of this town en route to the hotel. Dinner and overnight. Home to the world renowned historic ships - Mary Rose, HMS Victory and HMS Warrior - Portsmouth is the centre of one of the most important naval and defence heritage regions of Europe. It was from there that allied ships set sail for the Normandy Coast. Day 3 Portsmouth Half-day guided tour of Portsmouth, including the harbor ramparts, a visit to the HMS Warrior 1860, Britain's first ironclad battleship, and entrance into St. Thomas Cathedral, originally built in 1180 as a chapel to honor Thomas Becket, martyred in 1170. Afternoon visit to the Marine Band School. Possible joint evening concert as part of the American Celebration of Music in Britain. Day 4 Oxford Morning transfer to the university town of Oxford. During an afternoon panoramic city tour, you will soon see why many authors have been inspired by Oxford, including Oscar Wilde, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Find your own inspiration as you see the Bodleian Library, Ashmolean Museum, Radcliffe Camera and the various university colleges of this sweet city with her dreaming spires. The famous university city of Oxford is found North West of London, on the north bank of the River Thames. Oxford University is the oldest in England, dating from around 1200. The city itself was developed in Saxon times around the 8th century nunnery, now Christ Church, and still maintains its original street plan and parts of its city walls. Day 5 Oxford Full day excursion to Cheltenham. Afternoon tour of the town, including the Town Centre area, the Promenade, the Montpelier Walk, and most importantly, the Holst Birthplace Museum. Afternoon or evening concert as part of the American Celebration of Music in Britain (including much music by Holst). Return to Oxford for overnight. Cheltenham is one of the most elegant of English spas. The benefits of its waters were discovered in the 18th century, but it was at its most fashionable in the Regency period, when it became a pleasure town of Classical architecture, its squares, terraces and crescents in a delightful setting of trees and gardens which are still its pride. It has an animated cultural life, with internationally important musical and literary festivals. This town was the birthplace of the composer Gustav Holst, born here in 1874.
Day 6 Oxford Half-day excursion to Stratford-upon-Avon to tour the Shakespeare properties. Start with the half-timbered house that is Shakespeare s Birthplace. The house itself is part museum and part shrine and is of course, the house where he was born in 1564. Then visit Anne Hathaway s Cottage, which is situated around 1 mile outside Stratford. In truth, the cottage is more a farmhouse than a cottage. See the Hathaway bed in addition to the beautiful gardens, orchard and Shakespeare tree garden. Also tour Holy Trinity Church, which occupies a truly magical setting amongst some trees next to the river. The church itself is typically English, demonstrated by the tower, transepts and the perpendicular nave and aisle. It is on the north side of the chancel that Shakespeare is buried. Afternoon return to Oxford. Evening concert in Oxford s Town Hall as part of the American Celebration of Music in Britain. Day 7 London Transfer to London. En route, visit Windsor Castle. Built in 1078 for William the Conqueror, this is the official summer residence of the Queen. Tour includes a visit to the State Apartment and St. George's Chapel as well as the opportunity to admire the castle itself and the surrounding parkland. Established 1,250 years ago by King Aethelbald, London became an important Roman city. The Saxons resettled it in the fifth century after the end of the Roman occupation. London has been scourged by plague (1665) and was almost entirely destroyed by the Great Fire (1666). World War II's "Blitzkrieg" tore up the city considerably. She stands today as a monument to perseverance, culture, excitement, history, and greatness. Day 8 London Guided tour of central London including sights such as Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, and the London Eye. Continue past the famous Westminster Abbey, which embodies much of the history of England. It has been used for all but two coronations since 1066. Afternoon instrumental workshop with Denis Wick or another band/wind ensemble director. Evening at leisure. Day 9 London Morning excursion to Dorking, the home of Ralph Vaughan Williams (as well as Sir Laurence Olivier). Spend time exploring the town with The Heritage Trail or The Ralph Vaughan Williams Trail, or browse amongst the wealth of specialist shops. Meet with a local wind ensemble. Performance (possibly shared) in Dorking as part of the American Celebration of Music in Britain (including music by Vaughn Williams). Farewell dinner. Return to London hotel for overnight. Day 10 Depart for the USA Transfer to one of London's airports for the return flight to USA. Return home the same day.
Concert Band Heritage Tour Standard Tour #2 (9 nights / 11 days) Day 1 Departure from USA via scheduled air service to London. Enjoy full meal/beverage service and in-flight entertainment during this trans-atlantic flight. Day 2 Portsmouth Arrival in London. Meet MCI Tour Manager. Transfer to Portsmouth, with a brief panoramic tour of this town en route to the hotel. Dinner and overnight. Home to the world renowned historic ships - Mary Rose, HMS Victory and HMS Warrior - Portsmouth is the centre of one of the most important naval and defence heritage regions of Europe. It was from there that allied ships set sail for the Normandy Coast. Day 3 Portsmouth Half-day guided tour of Portsmouth, including the harbor ramparts, a visit to the HMS Warrior 1860, Britain's first ironclad battleship, and entrance into St. Thomas Cathedral, originally built in 1180 as a chapel to honor Thomas Becket, martyred in 1170. Afternoon visit to the Marine Band School. Possible joint evening concert as part of the American Celebration of Music in Britain. Day 4 Oxford Morning transfer to the university town of Oxford. During an afternoon panoramic city tour, you will soon see why many authors have been inspired by Oxford, including Oscar Wilde, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Find your own inspiration as you see the Bodleian Library, Ashmolean Museum, Radcliffe Camera and the various university colleges of this sweet city with her dreaming spires. The famous university city of Oxford is found North West of London, on the north bank of the River Thames. Oxford University is the oldest in England, dating from around 1200. The city itself was developed in Saxon times around the 8th century nunnery, now Christ Church, and still maintains its original street plan and parts of its city walls. Day 5 Oxford Full day excursion to Cheltenham. Afternoon tour of the town, including the Town Centre area, the Promenade, the Montpelier Walk, and most importantly, the Holst Birthplace Museum. Afternoon or evening concert as part of the American Celebration of Music in Britain (including much music by Holst). Return to Oxford for overnight. Cheltenham is one of the most elegant of English spas. The benefits of its waters were discovered in the 18th century, but it was at its most fashionable in the Regency period, when it became a pleasure town of Classical architecture, its squares, terraces and crescents in a delightful setting of trees and gardens which are still its pride. It has an animated cultural life, with internationally important musical and literary festivals. This town was the birthplace of the composer Gustav Holst, born here in 1874.
Day 6 Oxford Half-day excursion to Stratford-upon-Avon to tour the Shakespeare properties. Start with the half-timbered house that is Shakespeare s Birthplace. The house itself is part museum and part shrine and is of course, the house where the bard was born in 1564. Then visit Anne Hathaway s Cottage, which is situated around 1 mile outside Stratford. In truth, the cottage is more a farmhouse than a cottage. See the Hathaway bed in addition to the beautiful gardens, orchard and Shakespeare tree garden. Also tour Holy Trinity Church, which occupies a truly magical setting amongst some trees next to the river. The church itself is typically English, demonstrated by the tower, transepts and the perpendicular nave and aisle. It is on the north side of the chancel that Shakespeare is buried. Afternoon return to Oxford. Evening concert in Oxford s Town Hall as part of the American Celebration of Music in Britain. Day 7 London Transfer to London. En route, visit Windsor Castle. Built in 1078 for William the Conqueror, this is the official summer residence of the Queen. Tour includes a visit to the State Apartment and St. George's Chapel as well as the opportunity to admire the castle itself and the surrounding parkland. Established 1,250 years ago by King Aethelbald, London became an important Roman city. The Saxons resettled it in the fifth century after the end of the Roman occupation. London has been scourged by plague (1665) and was almost entirely destroyed by the Great Fire (1666). World War II's "Blitzkrieg" tore up the city considerably. She stands today as a monument to perseverance, culture, excitement, history, and greatness. Day 8 London Guided tour of central London including sights such as Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, and the London Eye. Continue past the famous Westminster Abbey, which embodies much of the history of England. It has been used for all but two coronations since 1066. Afternoon instrumental workshop with Denis Wick or another band/wind ensemble director. Evening at leisure. Day 9 London Morning excursion to Dorking, the home of Ralph Vaughan Williams (as well as Sir Laurence Olivier). Spend some time exploring the town with The Heritage Trail or The Ralph Vaughan Williams Trail, or just spend time browsing amongst the wealth of specialist shops. Meet with a local wind ensemble. Performance (possibly shared) in Dorking as part of the American Celebration of Music in Britain (including music by Vaughan Williams). Return to London hotel for overnight. Day 10 London Morning at leisure in London. Afternoon finale concert in Royal Embankment Gardens as part of the American Celebration of Music in Britain. Farewell dinner. Day 11 Depart for the USA Transfer to one of London's airports for the return flight to USA. Return home the same day.