Cheltenham High School CONCERT TOUR OF NEW ORLEANS March 14 18, 2019 1
New Orleans Located in southeastern Louisiana where it straddles the Mississippi River, New Orleans was founded in 1718 and named after Philippe II, Duc d Orleans, Regent of France. Best known for its annual Mardi Gras celebration, New Orleans is a vibrant city with a rich, multicultural heritage. The city is home to outstanding cuisine, beautiful architecture, and a vast array of wonderful museums. It hosts a variety of festivals throughout the year. Music has always been an essential part of the fabric of New Orleans. Through a unique blending of European instruments and traditions with African rhythms, jazz was born here and continues to serve as the pulse of the city. Your ensemble can contribute to the creative atmosphere by performing at local venues such as the stunning St. Louis Cathedral and by sharing your music with the city's elder generations. A jazz workshop with leading jazz educators at the University of New Orleans will submerge you in this unique American art form. Enjoy a concert tour of New Orleans, and let yourself be immersed in all that the city has to offer as you share your music with local people. New Orleans 2
THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2019 WELCOME TO NEW ORLEANS! Depart from Philadelphia on a flight bound for the spirited city of New Orleans, Louisiana. Be sure to read through the great tips and travel information in your Music Contact International handbook! Upon arrival, your MCI tour manager will greet you at the airport. Together, load your motor coaches and enjoy an introduction to the "Big Easy" with a guided tour of New Orleans. Admire the Garden District, home to some of the city's most opulent and elegant residences. Get a hopeful glimpse at the city's rebirth as you travel through neighborhoods touched by Hurricane Katrina. Afterwards, check into your hotel and take time to relax and refresh. Tonight, a festive welcome dinner of local Cajun dishes is planned for Cheltenham High School ensembles! Tonight s dinner will be accompanied by a live performance of Zydeco music and dancing lessons! FRIDAY. MARCH 15, 2019 FRIENDSHIP CONCERT* After breakfast in your hotel dinning room, begin your first full day in New Orleans with a Friendship Concert alongside a local ensemble. Fellowship time will follow to mingle with your hosts. Later, visit New Orleans Riverwalk Marketplace, a unique shopping complex located along the Mississippi River waterfront. Here the Cheltenham High School Orchestra and Band will perform an informal concert for other vistors along the promenade of this bustling tourist attraction. After your performance, the afternoon is free for lunch, shopping and enjoying the French Quarter. This afternoon embark on an unique and exciting adventure through one of Lousiana s meandering bayous and swamps. On this narrated swamp tour, you will learn about the early days on swamp explorations and see the American alligator in addition to abundunt wildlife. Tonight, your group is free to explore the French Quarter and find a place for dinner on your own. Your MCI tour manager will be hapy to make suggestions. 3
SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 2019 CHORAL OFFERING* Have breakfast before departing for Oak Alley Plantation, a Greek-revival style antebellum home whose most striking feature is its quarter-mile canopy of oak trees. Enjoy a mansion tour led by a costumed guide and time to explore the estate. Before returning to the city, the Cheltenham Choir will perform an a cappella concert against the backdrop of the famous Oak Alley oak trees. Return to New Orleans city center where you will have free time for lunch and exploring the French Quarter in chaperoned groups. The iconic French Quarter is the largest and most well preserved district of 19th-century architecture in the United States. This afternoon, your group will visit the St. Louis Cathedral* where the Cheltenham High School Choir will perform a choral offering. St. Louis Cathedral is the oldest continuously operating cathedral in the United States. Situated in Jackson Square in the heart of the French Quarter, St. Louis Cathedral is one of the most recognizable sights in New Orleans. Enjoy a free evening to experience this lively city! You may wish to visit the legendary Preservation Hall for a night of live jazz. A cornerstone of New Orleans music and culture, this unique venue offers nightly performances by its world-famous house band that has epitomized the city's sound for generations. SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2019 WORKSHOPS* In the morning, enjoy a leisure breakfast at the hotel before departing the University of New Orleans Performing Arts Center where your ensembles will participate in three separate jazz focused workshops led by skilled faculty members, and a workshop specializing on marching band techniques. This afternoon, visit Mardi Gras World, which offers a taste of New Orleans' famous Mardi Gras celebration all year long. See the massive studio in which artisans create parade floats, get a behind-thescenes look at costumes, and sample a slice of traditional king cake. Culminate your tour of New Orleans with a festive farewell dinner jazz cruise on the Steamboat Natchez. Cruise along the Mississippi River on a paddle-wheel steamboat as you dine on traditional Southern fare as you enjoy music from the Grammy-nominated Dukes of Dixieland. 4
MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2019 NEW ORLEANS PHILADELPHIA IN FLIGHT After breakfast, check out of the hotel and store your luggage. Enjoy a leisure morning for last minute souvenir shopping and exploring. This afternoon, depart for the New Orleans airport and your return flight to Philadelphia. Return home with wonderful memories of your concert tour. *All concert opportunities proposed in this itinerary are pending final confirmation and availability at time of booking. Your group's final program will be determined by confirmed times and locations for concerts, workshops, lectures and other activities. Although your ensemble's exact itinerary will vary to accommodate performance schedules, the same type of concerts, activities and caliber of venue will be included in your ensemble's final concert tour program. 5