Concert and Tour Production by Music Celebrations International

ANDRÉ THOMAS~ARTISTIC DIRECTOR~

July 4-8, 2013

André J. Thomas, the Owen F. Sellers Professor of Music, is Director of Choral Activities and professor of Choral Music Education at Florida State University. A previous faculty member at the University of Texas, Austin, Dr. Thomas received his degrees from Friends University (B.A.), Northwestern University (M. M.), and the University of Illinois (D.M.A.). He is in demand as a choral adjudicator, clinician, and director of

Honor/All-State Choirs throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, New Zealand, and Australia. In 2011, Thomas’ dedication to the choral arts were recognized by his peers in Chorus America, when that organization presented Dr. Thomas with its Distinguished Service Award.

ANDRÉ J. THOMAS~ARTISTIC DIRECTOR~

By participating in this festival, you will have the opportunity to: •Work with one of America’s foremost conductors•Perform a special, unforgettable commemoration on July 4th at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial – site of the June 6, 1944 Allied Invasion of Europe during World War II•Have the exclusive experience of singing in L'église de la Madeleine – one of the most historic and beautiful churches in Paris•Experience the thrill of performing to large, appreciative audiences •Grow and strengthen the reputation of your ensemble at home and abroad•Experience the Parisian "art de vivre"•Have unparalleled musical experiences and memories that will last a lifetime

ABOUT MUSIC CELEBRATIONS

• MCI is a full-service concert and festival production company• John Wiscombe founded MCI in 1993. As a youth, he spent

several years as a tour manager throughout Europe. He has now been in the music travel business for over 45 years.

• Our Staff is composed of a unique blend of musicians and travel industry professionals

• We are musicians serving musicians• MCI staff has a combined 200+ years experience in designing

and operating concert tours

FESTIVAL TOUR INCLUSIONS• Airline Transportation (base fare)• U.S. Government airline taxes, fees and estimated fuel

surcharge up to $500• Transportation within Europe by modern deluxe motorcoach• Festival and Concert Arrangements• Accommodations in excellent 3 and 4 star hotels based on

double occupancy, all rooms with private facilities• Meals include daily breakfast, one lunch, and daily dinner (one

dinner is on own)• Guided Excursions guided by professional guides• Entrance fees to major attractions• Full-time, multi-lingual Tour Manager with the choir the entire

tour• Pre-departure travel notes• Printed tour itineraries• Tips to hotel personnel (including meals)• Flight bags, luggage tags, souvenir photo video and t-shirt• Insurance

INSURANCE COVERAGE

• $2,000,000 MCI Tour Liability Coverage

• Individual Insurance Coverage Including:

$10,000 Travel Accident

$1,000 Medical Expense (accident of illness)

$300 Baggage Coverage

$600 Trip Cancelation/Interruption delay

FESTIVALTOUR EXCLUSIONS• Travel Visa for non-U.S. passport

holders• Transportation to and from the

departure airport• Tips to Tour Managers, city

guides, and coach drivers• Difference between current and

actual costs for the airline taxes and the estimated fuel surcharge, if applicable

• Concert programs for individual choir concerts during extension tours

• Instrument or equipment rental and cartage if needed

• Drinks at dinners• Airline luggage fees, if applicable

(2nd checked bag, oversized/overweight items)

Paris. A romantic’s paradise. A food lover’s Mecca. A center for fashion. Often considered the driving force of Western culture, Paris has been home to such diverse bourgeois as kings, painters, political exiles, poets, philosophers, and musicians. Throughout the centuries, the oft-proclaimed “the most beautiful city in the world” has become many things to many people. Visitors today still make of it what they will, as they experience beauty and art, photography and sculpture, opera and theater, dance and improvisation, novelle cuisine and French wine – all unrivaled throughout the world.

PARIS~ FESTIVAL CITY~

Inaugurated during Napolean Bonaparte’s reign, L’église de la Madeleine, more commonly known as La Madeleine, is a church in the heart of Paris that was built in the style of a Greco-Roman temple. This Roman Catholic church, dedicated to Mary Magdalene, is one of the best known buildings in Paris, and is host to some of the most important concerts in the city. The interior is lavishly decorated with marble, and has a single nave with three domes. At the altar sits a stature of Mary Magdalene being carried up to heaven by two angels, by the Italian sculptor Baron Charles Marochetti. La Madeleine also has a statue of St. Augustine created by Antoine Etex, as well as two by Frnçois Rude – the masterpiece Baptism of Christ, and the baptismal font. These two artists also contributed to the Arc de Triomphe.

PARIS~ FESTIVAL VENUE~

L’église de la Madeleine

• Tuesday, July 2, 2013 – Depart for Paris

•Wednesday, July 3, 2013 – Arrive in Paris / Paris Sightseeing

• Thursday, July 4, 2013 – Coleville Sightseeing / Recital / Caen Sightseeing

• Friday, July 5, 2013 – Rehearsal / Paris Sightseeing / Rehearsal

• Saturday, July 6, 2013 – Rehearsal / Paris Sightseeing / Time at Leisure

• Sunday, July 7, 2013 – Dress Rehearsal / Finale Concert

• Monday, July 8, 2013 – Depart for home

PARIS~FESTIVAL ONLY

ITINERARY~

Tuesday, July 2 – Flight to Paris, France

Overnight in the Air

Wednesday, July 3 – Paris Sightseeing

Highlights: See Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe

Wednesday, July 3 – Paris Sightseeing

Highlights: Montmartre

Thursday, July 4 – Coleville Sightseeing

Highlights: Visit the American Cemetery and participate in a special wreath-laying ceremony and commemorative recital on American Independence Day

American Cemetery Recital

Thursday, July 4 – Caen Sightseeing

Highlights: Entrance to the Peace Memorial

Overnight in Paris

Friday, July 5 – Paris Sightseeing

Highlights: Rehearsal, Visit Notre-Dame Cathedral

Friday, July 5 – Paris Sightseeing

Highlights: See Luxembourg Palace and Place de la Concorde

Friday, July 5 – Paris Sightseeing

Highlights: See Latin Quarter and Invalides Hospital, Rehearsal

Overnight in Paris

Saturday, July 6 – Paris Sightseeing

Highlights: Rehearsal, Entrance to the Louvre

Overnight in Paris

Sunday, July 7 – Paris at LeisureHighlights: Possibly see Versailles, Dress

Rehearsal, Finale Concert

Overnight in Paris

L’église de la Madeleine Performance

Monday, July 8 – Depart for home

If you wish to spend more time exploring France after the festival, the following is your post-festival extension.

PARIS~TOUR EXTENSION~

TOUR ITINERARY 2VISIT AVIGNON & LA CROIX VALMER

• Monday, July 8, 2013 – Transfer to Avignon for overnight

•Tuesday, July 9, 2013 – Avignon Sightseeing / Concert

•Wednesday, July 10, 2013 – Aix Sightseeing / Self-arranged Concert / Overnight in La Croix

•Thursday, July 11, 2013 – Full-day at leisure in La Croix

•Friday, July 12, 2013 – Depart for home

Monday, July 8 – Full-day Transfer to Avignon

Overnight in Avignon

Tuesday, July 9 – Avignon Sightseeing

Highlights: Visit Palais des Papes, see Pont St-Bénézet, Concert

Overnight in Avignon

Wednesday, July 10 – AixSightseeing

Highlights: Visit the Cathédrale de St-Sauveur and Cours Mirabeau,

Self-arranged Concert

Overnight in La Croix

Thursday, July 11 – Day at Leisure in La Croix

Overnight in La Croix

Friday, July 12 – Depart for home

Music Celebrations International

looks forward to providing your choir with a truly

memorablemusical and cultural

experience of a lifetime!