June 20-24, 2013

June 19-23, 2014

Each year in June, the International Choral Festival in Tuscany, Italy, attracts choirs from as far off as South Africa and China! The festival is set in the picturesque Tuscan spa town of Montecatini Terme, nestled between the rolling hills of Pistoia. The festivities begin on Thursday night as choirs form a procession and walk to the Torretto Spa for the Opening Ceremony. Guests enjoy a traditional Tuscan Flag Throwing Ceremony and performances by local choirs.

Choirs perform three concerts while participating in the festival; first at the Tettuccio Spa, then in the town’s main plaza, Piazza del Popolo, for a large local audience, and finally for a church congregation on Sunday morning. Between performances, choirs may visit the nearby towns of Florence, Pisa, or Lucca. Additional trips can be arranged for your choir to cities such as Siena or San Gimignano.

The Festival’s closing ceremony takes place at the stunning Villa Medici, founded by Ferdinando I de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. Guests enjoy a traditional four course Tuscan dinner. The evening culminates with a group sing under the stars in the Villa’s gardens. Enjoy singing with a diverse selection of choirs in a beautiful Tuscan setting!
 

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 2013 | DEPARTURE

Afternoon or evening departure from North America on a flight bound for Florence, Italy. Select meals and snacks will be served on the flight.

THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 2013

ARRIVAL IN ITALY AND OPENING CEREMONY

Upon arrival in Florence, meet your Music Contact International Tour Manager in the arrivals area and travel thirty minutes via private motor coach to Montecatini Terme, located in a peaceful valley of olive groves and wine vineyards.

During an orientation walk, gather your first impressions of the picturesque town center. Stretch your legs, enjoy the fresh air, take time to exchange money, and orient yourself to Montecatini Terme with your Tour Manager.

After the walk, return to your hotel for a fantastic Welcome Dinner.

This evening, attend the official Tuscany International Choral Festival Opening Ceremony in the Torretto Spa with all of the participating guest choirs. Groups will be welcomed by the Mayor’s office of Montecatini Terme and festival organizers, while enjoying a welcome performance by a local Italian choir.

FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013

CONCERT AT TETTUCCIO SPA AND PIAZZA DEL POPOLO OR ROCCA

This morning, your choir will perform an open-air concert under a magnificent dome at the beautiful Tettuccio Spa. Arrive early to enjoy the concerts of other participating choirs from across Europe, and feel free to remain afterward to continue watching concerts of other choirs.

The afternoon is free to enjoy on your own in Montecatini. You may choose to explore the quaint outdoor market, or you may opt to take the funicular to the ancient city of Montecatini Alto, with its old palaces, towers and piazzas. Situated on a mountain peak, Montecatini Alto offers wonderful views of the rolling Tuscan countryside.

Tonight, dinner is served at the hotel.

This evening, the choir will perform an open-air concert at the Piazza del Popolo, the central square in town, or at “Rocca,” the medieval fortress of Montecatini Alto. On summer evenings, the locals enjoy strolling through the town, enjoying the warm night air and perhaps a delicious gelato. This is another opportunity for all participating choirs to share their music with the local people and each other.

SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 2013 | GUIDED TOUR OF FLORENCE

Start the day with an excursion to Florence, a city in which Italian artistic and intellectual genius flourishes. Once home to the likes of Dante and Michelangelo, many influential artists and philosophers have found the city to be an ideal forum for their intellectual and artistic development. Discover the city’s treasure chest of sights during your walking tour. After the tour, enjoy free time to explore one of the many beautiful museums, or shop at one of the open-air markets in the city. Leather goods, pottery, jewelry, and handmade paper products are just some of the wonderful items one can bring back to family and friends at home.

In the late afternoon, return to Montecatini Terme.

This evening, depart for a Festive Tuscan Dinner at the Villa Medici, a sprawling, rustic country home that used to belong to the Medici family. Enjoy a welcome drink of sparkling wine or orange juice and hors d’oeuvres in the garden before a magnificent four-course classic Tuscan meal is served in the dining room. After dinner, the awards ceremony will be held in the garden. Certificates are awarded to each participating Choir Director, accompanied by words of thanks from the festival organizers. Your choir will then perform in a group sing with local and guest choirs participating in the festival, after which choirs are free to perform a couple of impromptu pieces on stage if they choose.

SUNDAY, JUNE 23, 2013

CHURCH SERVICE AND EXCURSION TO PISA OR LUCCA

Depart from the hotel for one of the beautiful Catholic Churches in Montecatini Terme (or a town in the surrounding area), where you will perform the music during the church service. Enjoy sharing the Sunday service with the local citizens and meeting some of the congregants following the Mass.

This afternoon, your choir has the option to choose from two possible excursions to the nearby towns of Pisa or Lucca.

In Pisa, see the city’s most curious landmark – the Leaning Tower. Construction on the tower began in 1173, on a foundation only 10 feet deep on a base of sand and soil mixed with stone and rubble. The tower began to tilt even before the third level was finished in 1274, and today the tower leans more than 16.5 feet.

In Lucca, you will see a town whose streets are still laid out in the pattern of the former Roman colony, founded in 180 BC. It is a wonderful town to explore on foot, with winding narrow lanes closed to automobile traffic. Peaceful alleys between medieval buildings open to beautiful squares and churches. Visit Lucca’s marvelous cathedral, San Martino, with its façade decorated with delicate Romanesque colonnades and sculptures.

This evening, a marvelous Farewell Dinner is served at the hotel for the choir. Enjoy your final evening together sharing your favorite memories from the past few days in Italy!

MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013 | DEPARTURE

In the morning, check out of the hotel and depart for the airport in Florence for your return flight to North America. Those extending their stay in Italy or elsewhere in Europe may depart for their next destination.
 

Accommodations

•4 nights in Montecatini Terme in 3 or 4-star hotels, double occupancy with private bath

Transportation

•A private, modern, air conditioned motor coach with a professional driver is provided for all transportation as described in the itinerary, including round-trip transfer between the Florence airport and hotel.

Meals

•Breakfast each morning at the hotel
•Three dinners served at the hotel
•Festive Tuscan dinner at Italian Villa with all participating guest choirs

Tour Manager

•Full-time, English-speaking Music Contact International Tour Manager from arrival to departure

Performance Opportunities

Up to three performance opportunities
•Open-air concert at the Tettuccio Spa
•Open-air concert in Montecatini Terme Town Square OR in Montecatini Alto’s “Rocca”
•Participation in a Catholic church service

Local Guide and Special Events

•Full-time local Italian festival guide to assist with festival related activities and events
•Participation in the Opening Ceremony with a performance by a local Italian choir
•Half-day guided tour of Florence with a local expert
•Half-day guided tour of Pisa OR Lucca with a local expert

Complimentary Places

•Two complimentary land packages for every 30 paying travelers (31st & 32nd travelers are complimentary), based on double occupancy accommodations

Traveler’s Resource Website

•Featuring Itinerary, Photo Gallery, Blog, Maps, recommended books, movies, and more!

Web Payment System

•Group leaders have the option to use our Web Payment System, allowing each traveler the opportunity to make individual trip payments online with a debit or credit card via their Traveler’s Resource website. Individuals receive electronic reminders, receipts and statements. Group leaders can track payments made on-line, and receive automated email reporting with balances and due dates.

Additional Materials

•Customized Handbook for each person traveling with your choir, including a detailed program and travel information.
•Keepsake DVD video of photos from your tour set to your group’s music.
•Luggage tags and electrical adapters.

Tettuccio Spa

The Tettuccio Spa was built in the late 1700s as a location for travelers to enjoy its healing thermal waters. The beautifully designed Thermal Park is home to the acoustically rich Tettuccio Band Stand. This covered, outdoor venue is the perfect location for open-air choral concerts amidst the stunning 18th century architecture.

Repertoire: 15 minutes

Montecatini Terme Square

Each year the city of Montecatini Terme constructs a large stage in the Piazza del Popolo, located in the center of town, for the main concert of the International Choral Festival in Tuscany. The citizens of Montecatini Terme thoroughly enjoy hearing the array of choirs from around the world each year in the town Square.

Repertoire : 15 – 20 minutes

Catholic Church Service

Participating Choirs optionally can choose to participate in a Sunday morning worship service in a local Catholic Church. Choirs will enjoy joining the congregation in a worship service and performing the music for the service.

Repertoire: Sacred , Typically 4 Pieces:  Processional | Communion | Offertory | Recessional

Complimentary* 2013 Director's Orientation Tuscany

March 15-18, 2013

Departs North America On March 14, 2013

The director’s orientation trip for the International Choral Festival in Tuscany, Italy is a 4 day excursion to Tuscany, March 15-18, 2013. Directors will arrive into Florence or Pisa airport and be greeted by your Music Contact International representative. Together you will transfer via private car to your hotel located in the quaint spa town of Montecatini Terme. There will be time to refresh from your journey before joining other directors from across Europe and North America who will also be bringing their choirs to participate in the festival in June. All directors will then travel together to the Villa Medici, the site of the Closing Ceremony and Gala Dinner of the Festival. You will be treated tonight to a special dinner, which will mimic the menu for the Closing Ceremony of the Festival in June. You will certainly enjoy this wonderful evening of delicious food, with ample time to meet and mingle with other choir directors and the organizers of the Festival.

The following morning we will depart by train to the nearby Tuscan capital of Florence (Firenze). Enjoy a guided walking tour of this magnificent city and have time for shopping in the world-renowned open air markets and leather shops. This evening dinner will be served at the hotel and you will be able to taste the menu which will be served to your choir in June.

Sunday morning will be dedicated to visiting the two main festival venues in Montecatini Terme with a local representative from the city. In the afternoon, transfer to the picturesque walled city of Lucca by train. There will be time to explore Lucca with your tour manager and certainly will be time for last minute shopping before returning to the hotel in Montecatini Terme for dinner. The following morning we will depart on a flight back to North America.

*The Orientation Program is an opportunity to preview the venues, hotels and program points of the International Choral Festival in Tuscany. Your travel to Tuscany is complimentary including airfare from New York’s JFK Airport, accommodations in Montecatini Terme, transportation, guides and most meals. This complimentary trip is for the choir director or official representative of each registered choir attending the festival. Participation is not required but the weekend is very helpful for visualizing the components of the Festival and a great opportunity to meet other directors bringing their choirs to the Festival. If you are unable to attend, Music Contact International can answer your more detailed questions about the Festival.

Enhance your Tuscany Festival experience with a two night extension to Rome, Italy!

Spend two days in Rome, Italy’s capital, after the Tuscany Festival and experience Roman culture, history and music at its best.  Rome is a city famous for its lively nightlife, charming cafes, and friendly inhabitants and for its numerous museums, ruins and other sights of historic interest.  When traveling to Rome, you may enjoy the city’s cultural offerings, and also share your musical background and passion with the locals.  A post-extension to Rome is the perfect way to end your stay in Italy!

Day One

Mid-day arrival in Rome.  Enjoy a guided tour of Vatican City with a local English-speaking guide.  Tour the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel.  See St. Peter’s Square and St. Peter’s Basilica.  After, check in to the hotel. Dinner is on your own tonight.

Day Two

Following breakfast, the day is free for independent exploration and sightseeing. In the evening, perform a concert at a local church such as Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli.  After the concert, a Festive Farewell Dinner will be arranged at a local restaurant.

Day Three

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to the Rome Airport and your return flight to North America.  Welcome home!
 

Enhance your Tuscany Festival experience with a two night extension to a Tuscan Villa!

Spend two days at Villa Sabolini, situated in the Chianti hills, after the Tuscany Festival and experience more of Tuscan culture, history and music at its best.  Just outside the city of Siena sits Villa Sabolini, a former haven of peace and inspiration of the archpriest Amerigo Sabolini, who worked on the construction of the Cathedral of Colle Val d’Elsa. Spend two days exploring more of what Tuscany has to offer as you visit the medieval town of San Gimignano and then share your voices in the historic city center of Siena. A post-extension to Villa Sabolini is the perfect way to end your trip to Italy!

Day One

Visit the medieval town of San Gimignano this morning. Late afternoon transfer to Villa Sabolini and check in.  Enjoy a sumptuous dinner at Villa Sabolini this evening.

Day Two

Following breakfast, full day excursion to Siena. Arrive and enjoy a guided walking tour with a local guide. Spend the afternoon at leisure.  In the evening, perform a friendship concert with a local Siena choir.  After the concert, a Festive Farewell Dinner will be arranged at a Siena restaurant. 

Day Three

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to the Florence Airport for your return flight to North America.  Welcome home!

Enhance your Tuscany Festival experience with a two night extension to Venice, Italy!

One of the most beautiful cities in Europe, Venice will provide a stunning backdrop to your final days in Italy.  Spend two days exploring all that Venice has to offer.  From the Grand Canal and Doge’s Palace to the twisting alleyways filled with Murano glass, Venice, in itself, is a work of art.  A city with charm unlike any other, Venice will enchant you with its ambiance and rich culture.  A performance in historic St. Mark’s Basilica will delight your group members and is sure to be a memorable experience at the end of an already memorable and rewarding tour!

Day One

Mid-day arrival in Venice.  Hotel check-in Venice Mestre.  In the afternoon, take the ferry to Venice Island and enjoy a guided tour of Venice, see famous sights such as Piazza San Marco, the Canal Grande, the Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs.

Day Two

Following breakfast, take the ferry to Venice Island and enjoy a day of independent exploration.  You may want to visit the Accademia, Venice’s impressive art museum, or take an enchanting Gondola ride down the Grand Canal.  In the evening, perform as part of the Mass at St. Mark’s Cathedral*.  Following the service, a Festive Farewell Dinner will be arranged at a local restaurant.

Day Three

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to the Venice Airport and your return flight to North America.  Welcome home!