Waubonsie Valley High School Choir Seth Durbin & Kristen Donnelly, Director March 24-29, 2018
The Honorable Megan Barry Mayor of Nashville The Honorable Jim Strickland Mayor of Memphis The Honorable Francis Slay Mayor of St. Louis together with Music Celebrations International cordially invites the Waubonsie Valley High School Choir to be a representative of Illinois in performance in the 2018 National Festival of the States Nashville, Memphis, and St. Louis
Waubonsie Valley High School Choir National Festival of the States St. Louis, Memphis & Nashville Custom Tour #1 (5 nights/6 days) Day 1 Saturday, March 24, 2018 Aurora - St. Louis (D) Depart Aurora, IL for St. Louis, MO via chartered motorcoach (approx. 277 miles; 4 ½ miles non-stop) Lunch, on own Upon arrival in St. Louis, meet your Tour Manager who will be with you for the duration of your tour Time permitting, half-day sightseeing includes Old Courthouse, Old Town St. Louis, and the Mississippi Riverfront Recital at St. Louis Basilica as a part of the National Festival of the States in St. Louis* Visit the St Louis Arch with a ride on the Arch, taking the tram ride to the top for a view 630 feet high above the Mississippi River Dinner at a local restaurant Check-in to the hotel for overnight Day 2 Sunday, March 25 St. Louis - Memphis (B,D) Breakfast at the hotel, followed by check-out Transfer to Memphis, TN (approx. 283 miles; 4 ½ hours non-stop) Lunch, on own Enjoy an orientation tour of Memphis to get to know the city. Learn about the past, present and future of the Home of the Blues, Birthplace of Rock n Roll & explore Memphis diverse ethnic heritage Visit the Graceland Mansion, former home of Elvis Presley. See the many mementos of Elvis and relive a great part of music history. The Elvis Experience Tour includes an audio tour of the mansion as well as self-guided tours of Elvis two custom jets, the Automobile Museum and more Evening dinner included at a local restaurant Check-in to the hotel for overnight Day 3 Monday, March 26 Memphis (B,D) Breakfast included at the hotel Visit to National Civil Rights Museum, site of the Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968 This award winning museum traces the history of the American Civil Rights Movement and honors its leaders through interactive displays, collections, and historical exhibits Performance at the National Civil Rights Museum as part of the National Festival of the States in Memphis* Lunch on own Also visit Sun Studios where Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, B.B. King and many others first created the hot, new sounds that became known as Rock n Roll. Musicians come from all over the world to record in this legendary studio Evening Mississippi Riverboat dinner cruise
Return to hotel for overnight Day 4 Tuesday, March 27 Memphis - Nashville (B,D) Breakfast at the hotel, followed by check-out Transfer to Nashville, TN (approx. 317 miles; 3 ½ miles non-stop) Lunch, on own Enjoy a tour of Nashville including a backstage tour of the Grand Ole Opry. Walk in the footsteps of country music's superstars and get an exclusive look at what happens behind the scenes of the show that made country music famous! Your knowledgeable guide will share stories about the Opry and country music greats, past and present Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, an endlessly entertaining and informative experience that will help you grasp Nashville's importance as a songwriting and recording mecca. You will also be taking a back stage tour of the RCA Studio B Check-in to the hotel Dinner included at a local restaurant Return to the hotel for overnight Day 5 Wednesday, March 28 Nashville (B,D) Breakfast included at the hotel Morning visit and tour of the Ryman Auditorium. A National Historic Landmark and Revered by many as the Mother Church of Country Music, the Ryman Auditorium was the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974. The building was built in 1892 and named for Captain Tom Ryman, a wealthy riverboat captain. Ryman was inspired to sponsor the building s construction after his religious conversion at a tent revival held by Sam Jones. Before its Opry days, the Ryman s excellent acoustics and large seating capacity made it the unofficial Nashville city auditorium. Ryman is famous for hosting performances by legendary greats as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, George Strait, Brooks & Dunn, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Carrie Underwood, Neil Young, W.C. Fields, and Booker T. Washington, to name a few. Currently the Ryman continues to be a popular entertainment venue for performances of all genres. Clinic at Belmont University as part of the National Festival of the States in Nashville* Lunch on own Afternoon visit to the Hermitage, Andrew Jackson's stately Southern plantation home. The plantation offers a fascinating glimpse into the former U.S. President's life here in Tennessee Dinner included in a local restaurant Return to your hotel for overnight Day 6 Thursday, March 29 Return Home (B) Breakfast at the hotel, followed by check-out Depart for Aurora, IL (approx. 504 miles; 8 hours non-stop) *Subject to confirmation This is a very flexible itinerary. Except for confirmed appointments and performances, the places of interest and the sequence of sightseeing might be changed if necessary or desirable. In the event of an unavoidable conflict in the performance and the sightseeing schedule, the concert schedule will prevail, and it may be necessary to exclude some sightseeing activities. Music Celebrations International
MUSIC CELEBRATIONS INTERNATIONAL Cost Inclusions & Exclusions WAUBONSIE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR The price is based on the number of paying participants in each 54 seat motorcoach staying in quad occupancy. Please contact Music Celebrations International for more details. 5 nights / 6 days 50-52 45-49 40-44 35-39 30-34 25-29 20-24 Including Motorcoach $1,173 $1,208 $1,251 $1,308 $1,382 $1,487 $1,645 Transportation (chartered bus) is priced as of April 24, 2017, and is subject to change. Fuel surcharges for coaches may apply. COST INCLUSIONS CONCERT ARRANGEMENTS: All performances and workshops, including necessary clearances or permits, and the following as needed: For Choirs sound equipment for outdoor concerts only (amplification, playback, up to five microphones), keyboard or piano, and choral risers or steps. CONCERT PROMOTION: Official recognition, quality concert venues and publicity. COACH TRANSPORTATION: Round-trip transportation by deluxe motorcoach from Aurora, IL based on afternoon arrival. Extended hours or overnight driving may incur additional charges for relief drivers. ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotel accommodations, based on quad occupancy. City center accommodations are available at a supplement upon request. Triple Supplement Double Supplement Single Supplement 5 nights / 6 days $75 $225 $674 MEALS: Two meals per day (as noted in the Tour itinerary) including breakfast and dinner. Please note that breakfast is not included on day of arrival and dinner is not included on day of departure. TOUR MANAGEMENT: One full-time, professionally-licensed Tour Manager on each motorcoach who meets the group upon arrival and remains until departure to guide all excursions, maximize use of time, and enhance the educational value. ENTRANCE FEES: Entrances are included to all sights listed on the Tour itinerary. T-SHIRTS: One souvenir T-shirt for each participant. PHOTO VIDEO: One souvenir photo video for each participant. GRATUITIES: Tips and taxes are paid to Tour Managers and hotel personnel. LIABILITY INSURANCE: $2M MCI Tour Liability Insurance coverage. Only MCI arranged services (motorcoach, flights, guides, hotels, etc.) will be covered under MCI s Tour Liability Insurance. Tips to long-distance motorcoach driver(s). Daily lunches. Instrument rental. Concert programs. COST EXCLUSIONS
NATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THE STATES IN ST. LOUIS, MEMPHIS, & NASHVILLE MUSIC CELEBRATIONS INTERNATIONAL Payment & Cancellation Schedules WAUBONSIE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR PAYMENT SCHEDULE $100 per person deposit (non-refundable)...due: June 1, 2017 $50 per person (non-refundable)...due: September 15, 2017 $175 per person, of total tour costs...due: October 15, 2017 $250 per person, of total tour costs...due: November 15, 2017 $300 per person, of total tour costs...due: January 15, 2018 Final Payment (remaining balance)...due: February 1, 2018 Amount paid is % of the total tour cost, not the balance owed. CANCELLATION SCHEDULE $100 per person (non-refundable)...penalty Begins: June 1, 2017 $50 per person (non-refundable)...penalty Begins: September 15, 2017 10% per person, of total tour costs...penalty Begins: November 15, 2017 25% per person, of total tour costs...penalty Begins: December 15, 2017 50% per person, of total tour costs...penalty Begins: February 1, 2018 100% per person, of total tour costs...penalty Begins: February 5, 2018 Amount penalized is % of the total tour cost, not % of what has already been paid. Please note that the above payment and cancellation schedule is based on the initial deposit date as well as subsequent on-time payments and can be modified with your input and feedback. This schedule is subject to change should any payment dates be missed. Group payments made by organization check or cash-equivalent qualify for our lowest discounted prices. If you choose to have MCI handle the accounting and payment processing for any individuals on tour, a 5% accounting fee will be assessed on the full group.