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About MCI 
"I am commending you for providing the Trinity Community Choir with such a wonderful trip to Wales. Given my very basic ideas for the trip in its initial planning stage you created an extremely varied and meaningful tour that delighted our group. You kept us up-to-date on all the billing and paperwork (we especially liked the booklet you prepared at the end), you showed great attention to detail, you maintained a cool head when dealing with the unforeseeable problems that inevitably seem to arise on such trips, you gave personal attention to the individuals, and you developed an instant rapport with the group...In fact, my expectations of you were already high, but on the Wales trip you more than exceeded my expectations."
Kevin Kelly, Choir Director
"Your organization did a marvelous job orchestrating the entire experience. Special gratitude is extended to our tour escorts Paige Betten and Molly Waldstein...Thanks to these special ladies I have memories that will last a lifetime."
Curtis Ross, Choir member
"Eva (our tour escort) was tremendous to say the least. Her easy going temperament, ability to think and plan ahead, language ability...I could go on and on...She was a true professional. The entire choir now possesses many wonderful memories which will be with them for their lifetimes..."
William A. Spencer, Choir Director |
Planning and ServicesBeauty is in the detailsMCI plans each concert tour according to the individual group's requests and interests. We customize the length of the tour, the budget, the venues, the meals, the guides and even the hotel styles. Each tour reflects the group's special musical requirements, their venue preferences and the choir's unique profile. There are never unexpected costs and we work with you to meet your budget. With partner offices around the world, we are able to pay a great deal of attention to the finer details of your tour, from recommending scenic routes with quaint town stops as opposed to highway travel, to finding which Viennese coffee shop has the best sacher torte (a sweet Viennese specialty) or which local choir would be best suited for a Friendship Concert with you group.  Customized HandbookMusic Contact International will provide each member of your group with a customized handbook outlining the details of your tour. We create each handbook for your choir's unique tour with the choir's name on the cover, a detailed minute-by-minute itinerary on the first few pages, followed by information about the history and local customs of the areas being visited, concluding with recommendations for restaurants in cities where the group has free time for dinners and lunches. The Music Contact International handbook is unique in the industry and offers each traveler a wonderful memento of their tour in addition to a very practical guide during the tour. You can imagine the practicality (and necessity!) of being able to ask "Where is the bathroom" in the language of the country you are visiting, something the handbook provides. Hotel StandardsMusic Contact International uses only those hotels, whether three-, four- or even five-star, which meet the requirements of the choir's budget and have the amenities and space to make people feel comfortable and pleased with the property. If a group has free time in a city, it is important for the hotel to be centrally located so one can feel comfortable going out on foot to explore. If a group has very little free time and a tight schedule, it may be wiser to stay at a charming hotel in the countryside where there would be less traffic in the morning. A Music Contact International staff member has stayed in most hotels we use, so there are no unwanted surprises. Restaurant StandardsOne of the important aspects in planning trips is, of course, planning meals. Trying local cuisine is definitely a central part of experiencing local culture. For each tour we will make recommendations for excellent cafes or restaurants where the group can sit down and experience the flavors of the country, the ambiance of the region and the unique local atmosphere. Whether you would like to have a nice, quiet meal in a café in Munich, or a festive dinner cruise along the Adriatic Coast of Italy, Music Contact International will make your meals a memorable experience that enhance your visit to a different culture. Motor Coach StandardsSince many choirs also choose to travel over long distances while on tour, we take special care in selecting the motor coach in which they will travel. The motor coaches are always new models with full facilities including restroom, reclining seats, video player and lush interiors. We select drivers who are service minded and who will offer any assistance the choir may need while en route. Guides and EscortsMusic Contact International sends a full-time escort to accompany the group during their entire tour. The escort stays with the group from arrival at the airport to departure and handles all the logistics of the program so the director of the group is free to concentrate on the concerts, workshops, sightseeing and local culture. Additionally, local guides conduct city tours along the route and are able to focus their information on the significant music history of the region. We can also customize the tours according to special interests and include any additional sights of interest. For example, groups in the past have requested tours focusing on the history of Mozart's years in Vienna; others have requested tours that focus on the contemporary music and art of Paris. We are happy to make each element of the tour reflect the unique interests of the group.  Support Material and our WebsiteBrochures, videos and poster materials about the countries where you will be traveling can be very helpful in building enthusiasm among group members. We can also send you multiple copies of the program, the itinerary, and registration forms to help promote the tour in your home community. We are happy to support the group in any way possible to see that every member gets details and updated information on the program. A portion of our website is designated to confirmed tours where your group members can access all the details about your tour with just a password! They can read about the times for concerts, get information on weather and what to bring, and even check on flight times. Informational MeetingsSome groups find it helpful to have one of our staff members come to their community and present the tour to the entire group. We can plan the format of these meetings according to your preferences; we can show slides, give a lecture, or simply have a question and answer session for the group members. These informational meetings provide a forum for prospective travelers and group leaders to ask detailed questions. Our experience with these meetings has shown us that the group comes away very informed and excited about their trip. Choir Comments → |
