American Abroad Silver Tour 2018 , , , Austria and Switzerland Itinerary and Director Biographies

Haut Königsbourg Castle, Alsace SILVER TOUR ...... $5199.00 * The price includes Airline Taxes and Fuel Surcharge of $350.00. ITINERARY Saturday, June 30 - Monday, July 2 Check-in at a university in Pennsylvania for pre-tour orientation sessions. Three days of intensive rehearsals culminate with a buffet dinner and Farewell Concert for family and friends on the evening of July 2. Tuesday, July 3 - JFK AIRPORT - ZURICH Morning recording sessions. Afternoon transfer to JFK Airport, NY for transatlantic flights to . Monday, July 9 - PRAGUE On your guided tour of Prague, view sights such as Wednesday, July 4 Wenceslas Square, St. Nicholas Church and the 14th ZURICH - COLMAR century Astronomical Clock, which adorns the Old Arrival in Zurich, Switzerland. Town Hall. Cross the statue-lined Charles Bridge, the Board coaches and travel into oldest bridge in the city, dating from 1357. Free time the Alsace region of France, for lunch and further exploring. An evening concert is an area that reflects a unique planned. blend of German and French culture. Arrive in Colmar, the Tuesday, July 10 - PRAGUE - SOUTHERN CZECH best preserved town in Alsace. Visit Prague Castle, overlooking the city. See St. Tonight, a guided walking tour Vitus Cathedral and the Golden Lane, a picturesque of Colmar. street of pastel cottages built into the fortifications. This afternoon, travel south through the Bohemian Thursday, July 5 - ALSACE REGION countryside to the historic town of Cesky Krumlov, Morning visit to Haut Königsbourg Castle, perched high known for its lovely castle. Free time for exploring above the Alsace Valley. Stop for lunch and exploring before transfering to a nearby town for dinner and in a picturesque town surrounded by vineyards. This overnight. evening, perform your first European concert! Wednesday, July 11 - SOUTHERN CZECH Friday, July 6 Your day of touring throughout the Southern Bohemian HEIDELBERG region of the Czech Republic will introduce you to some DINKELSBÜHL of the lovely medieval towns in this area. Perform an Morning travel to the historic evening concert. city of Heidelberg, Germany. Time to visit the medieval Thursday, July 12 - VIENNA fortress overlooking the Morning travel to Vienna, Austria’s musical capital. town or to stroll along the Your afternoon guided tour of “The City of Music” narrow streets. Perhaps will better acquaint you with the haunts and sites of cross the River Neckar for musical greats such as Strauss, Beethoven and Mahler. a wonderful view of the old Visit the graveyard where many of the composers now town. Afternoon travel to reside. Tonight, enjoy a special Viennese dinner with Dinkelsbühl, a 10th century live musical entertainment. village fortified by walls and Friday, July 13 - VIENNA a moat. Tonight, a guided Morning tour of the internationally renowned Vienna walking tour of Dinkelsbühl. State Opera House. Free time to enjoy a Viennese Saturday, July 7 - DINKELSBÜHL institution: pastry and coffee at a café. This afternoon, Your day is free to explore this delightful and tour lavish Schönbrunn Palace, the summer home of enchanting town with its quaint houses, cobbled streets the Hapsburgs. Tonight, visit Prater Park, home of one and bright flower boxes. Shop for steins, handcrafted of the tallest Ferris wheels in the world. nutcrackers and Christmas ornaments. An evening concert is planned. Sunday, July 8 - PRAGUE Travel east through Germany and across the Czech border to the charming city of Prague, the “City of a Thousand Spires” and the capital of the Czech Republic. Your evening cruise on the River Vltava provides a unique view of the city. Saturday, July 14 - MAUTHAUSEN - SALZBURG The SILVER TOUR cost of $5199.00 per person Journey westward through Austria. Stop for a sobering includes: visit at the World War II concentration camp at Mauthausen. Continue travel to Salzburg, city of The 3-day pre-tour orientation/rehearsal session at a Sound of Music and Mozart’s hometown. Dinner and university in Pennsylvania. Included are meals, overnight in Salzburg. lectures, lodging and coach transportation of participants from the college to JFK Airport. Round-trip air transportation on scheduled flights, including $350.00 in airline taxes and fuel surcharges. Transportation via motor coach throughout the itinerary, including transfers to airports. Arrangements for concerts, including advertising, Sunday, July 15 hall rental fees and transfers to concerts. SALZBURG - SALT MINES - WESTENDORF Transportation of instruments. Your guided tour of Salzburg will introduce you to Accommodations in excellent quality hotels in the history and many of the sights of this wonderful multiple-occupancy rooms with private bath and city. Free time to visit the birthplace of the Mozart and toilet. the imposing fortress which dominates the Salzburg Breakfast and multi-course dinner daily. landscape. Afternoon visit to a salt mine and travel underground to experience the mining of “white gold.” The services of an English-speaking escort and Continue on to Westendorf, a picturesque village in the nurse throughout the land portion of the itinerary. Austrian Alps. Tonight, attend a spirited Tirolean Folk All tips and taxes normally appearing on hotel and Fest filled with song and dance indigenous to the area. restaurant bills, including 20-22% VAT. Monday, July 16 Guided walking tour of Colmar. WESTENDORF Entrance to Haut Königsbourg Castle in France. Today is free for exploring Guided walking tour of Dinkelsbühl. Westendorf - perhaps some  swimming, biking or hiking. A Cruise on the Vltava River in Prague. ski lift ride provides a fantastic Guided walking tour of Prague. view of the valley. This evening, Entrance and guided tour of Prague Castle and St. perform a concert in the town hall. Vitus Cathedral. Tuesday, July 17 - RATTENBERG - GLACIER Guided sightseeing tour in Vienna. Morning visit to the charming town of Rattenberg, Viennese dinner with live musical entertainment. noted for its handicrafts and crystal. Next, be prepared Guided tour of Vienna State Opera House. for excitement and thrills as you ride a cable car high into the Alps to a glacier for a panorama of ice-capped Entrance and guided tour of Schönbrunn Palace. mountains, fertile valleys and spectacular landscapes. Guided sightseeing tour of Salzburg. Travel to a nearby village for dinner and an evening Entrance and guided tour of the salt mines. concert. Return to Westendorf for overnight. Tirolean Folk Fest with folkloric entertainment. Wednesday, July 18 Cable car trip to glacier in Austria. INNSBRUCK - WINTERTHUR  Travel to Innsbruck, known for its towering mountains American Music Abroad polo shirt, passport and as the capital of the Tirol Region. Free time to pouch, blazer patch and pin. stroll down Maria Theresa Strasse and view the famed American Music Abroad travel tips, newsletters, Golden Roof. Following your early afternoon concert, information and materials. journey into Switzerland through the awe-inspiring Alps. Snow-topped peaks, lush meadows and sparkling The tour price does not include: Expenses of passports, waterfalls beg to be photographed. Arrive in Winterthur visas (if necessary), baggage charges, additional airline for dinner and overnight. taxes and fuel surcharges (if necessary), currency Thursday, July 19 - ZURICH - JFK AIRPORT adjustment charges, tour escort and coach driver tip, forwarding of baggage, transportation charges incurred Transfer to Zurich Airport for return to the United States as a result of a deviation from the printed itinerary, via a scheduled flight. Welcome Home! insurance, loss of personal property, expenses for laundry, mineral waters, soft drinks, after dinner coffee/ Itinerary is subject to change if deemed necessary. tea, or food or beverages not on menus of the included meals and all other items not stated specifically above. MR. BRET MASCARO (Head Director & Symphonic Band Director) recently retired as music teacher and music department coordinator from the Methacton School District, PA. Under his leadership, Methacton bands earned many superior ratings and awards including the Revelli Award for Concert Band, the Esprit de Corps Award and Most Improved Marching Band. The Methacton Jazz Band has been a Cavalcade of Bands champion. During his career, Mr. Mascaro served as a PA Music Educators Association District President and Festival Coordinator and has twice been a clinician at the PMEA Annual In-service Conference. He has served as a designer and instructor for several nationally-ranked marching bands, winter guards and drum corps. Mr. Mascaro has been an active adjudicator in and for Drum Corps International, Bands of America, Winter Guard International and many regional and state-level competitions. He now serves as the Director of for Zeswitz Music. This will be Mr. Mascaro’s eleventh tour with American Music Abroad. MR. ERIC GRAYBILL (Symphonic Band Director) has been a band director for over 15 years, is currently Director of Bands within the West Shore School District, PA at Cedar Cliff High School and is the Program Coordinator for the newly formed West Shore Marching Band. He directs the Jazz Ensemble, Concert Band, Symphonic Wind Ensemble and marching band. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in from James Madison University and a Master’s in Music Education from Lebanon Valley College. He has also taught middle school band within the West Shore School District, as well as high school and middle school band in the Angleton School District, TX. Recognized in Keynotes Magazine for his collaboration with performing artists, Mr. Graybill has provided rich guest artist experiences for his students and his community. He has also served as president of the West Shore Education Association among other committee and leadership rolls within the state education association. This will be Mr. Graybill’s fourth tour with American Music Abroad. MR. CHARLES BATEMAN (Choir Director) is currently in his twenty-fifth year as an educator and his sixteenth year at Susquenita High School in Duncannon, PA. Susquenita’s select ensemble, the West Side Singers, has seen substantial improvement since Mr. Bateman’s arrival in 2002. In 2008, the ensemble earned its first ever superior rating and has earned that rating every year since. In 2015 this group was selected to perform at the PMEA State Conference in Hershey, PA. Before coming to Susquenita, he spent nine years teaching elementary vocal music in the Carlisle Area School District. He also teaches a one-day workshop for Wilson College entitled “Music and the Regular Education Teacher.” From 2000 - 2001, Mr. Bateman was the Artistic Director of the Children Singers of Harrisburg, an elite singing group for children in grades 4 - 8 from the greater Harrisburg area. Since 2000, Mr. Bateman has been an organist for a church within the city of Harrisburg. This will be Mr. Bateman’s third American Music Abroad tour. MR. GERALD BACON (Symphonic Band Director) has been a music teacher for more than 20 years and is beginning his 17th year of teaching at Royalton-Hartland CSD, Niagara County, NY where he conducts two concert bands and the pit orchestra, and teaches music theory. Mr. Bacon, a native of Tonawanda, NY, received a Bachelor of Music Degree in Performance from Boston University where he performed extensively with the Epic Brass Quintet. After some years focusing on the craft of pipe organ building, tuning and voicing, and a year performing with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Mr. Bacon returned to the University of Buffalo to earn a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education and a Master of Arts and Humanities Degree with a concentration in multicultural music. He is a member of the National Association of Music Educators, the New York State School Music Association and the Niagara County Music Educators Association. This is his second American Music Abroad tour. MR. BRIAN COX (Symphonic Band Director) is the Director of Bands at Central Bucks High School South. Mr. Cox’s primary responsibilities include directing the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble and CB South Marching Titans. Prior to this appointment, He served as Assistant Marching Band Director at Clifton High School (NJ) and West Chester East High School (PA). Mr. Cox earned a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and is currently pursuing his Masters in Music Performance with a focus in Wind Band Conducting also at West Chester University. Mr. Cox has been fortunate to benefit from many excellent teachers and mentors throughout his musical career including Andrew Yozviak, John Villella, Greg Martin, Mike Zimmerman and Marc DeNicuolo. He serves Bucks and Montgomery Counties as the Vice President for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association in Distirct 11. Mr. Cox is a member of the National Association for Music Educators, the National Band Association, Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, Bucks County Music Educators Association and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

MR. PAUL MCGARR (Symphonic Band Director) is currently teaching in Toronto at the prestigious Upper Canada College where he has been the Director of Bands at the Preparatory School since 2007. During that time his Concert and Jazz bands have consistently received prominent awards on the Provincial, National, and International stage. Since 2015 he is also been a member of the faculty at the National Music Camp of Canada and was recently the Artistic Director for the Hamilton All Star Jazz Band from 2009 - 2014. He has over 25 years of teaching experience throughout southern Ontario and 15 years as musical director, composer, arranger and consultant to many prominent Drum Corps throughout Ontario. Mr. McGarr is in high demand as an adjudicator and clinician working all over North America for such sanctions as Drum Corps International, Bands of America, Fiesta-val and Heritage Music Festivals, having the pleasure of adjudicating the Drum Corps World Championships and the United States National Championships 21 times in recent years. He is also the former Judge Administrator for the Ontario Drum Corps Association. This will be his first American Music Abroad tour.

MR. EVAN WEISBLATT (Choir Director) teaches General Music at Pine Road Elementary in the Lower Moreland Township School District. Mr. Weisblatt graduated Summa Cum Laude from Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance. While at Temple, he received several awards for his achievement in choral conducting and music education, as well as being one of six undergraduates in the entire state to be selected to compete in ACDA-PA’s Undergraduate Conducting Competition. In addition, Mr. Weisblatt served as the Assistant Director of both the Gloucester County Children’s Chorus of NJ and the Council Rock High School South Choral Department. Aside from choral directing and music teaching, he focuses much of his attention on contemporary a cappella. As the Music Director of Temple University’s Premiere co-ed a cappella group, OwlCappella, he led the group to perform at several high profile venues, including the Philadelphia Car Show Black-Tie Event, the White House, and at various universities and schools across the East Coast. Under his tenure as Music Director, OwlCappella was ranked as one of the top singing groups in Philadelphia and toured North Carolina, while also releasing several professional recordings. Mr. Weisblatt delevelops and consults with school a cappella groups throughout the region. This will be his first tour with American Music Abroad.