There’s no place like Italy, especially for art and music!
Registration is open now for “Evermore and Evermore” — Conductor-Composer Debra Lynn‘s performance tour of Italy emphasizing world peace, March 15-25, 2024. Singers and Non-Performers welcome.
You do NOT have to be affiliated with Manchester University to join this adventure!
Cost is $5,039 and includes
- roundtrip airfare
- lodging
- two meals per day
- ground transportation in Italy
- full-time, Italian-speaking guides
- entrance to group exhibits and events
- opportunities to lift your voice in some of the most acoustically perfect cathedrals in Europe, including St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, the upper Basilica at St. Francis of Assisi, and yes, even the Vatican in Rome.
$200 deposit due with registration, any time from now through December 2023. Starting early keeps your payments low.
Information Links:
- Specific Payment and Registration Information PLUS a complete itinerary: Performance Tour of Italy under the Direction of Dr. Debra Lynn
- Registration at www.encoretours.com under the group leader name “Lynn” and Group ID number 15555
- Best Deal: Auto-Pay Advantage (includes discount, gives you longer to pay, allows later cancelation)
- Passport Application and Renewal Information (allow 10-13 weeks for new passports)
- Cancellation/Refund Policies
- Fundraising opportunities (100% of raised funds go toward YOUR trip account):
- Drawing for trips to London and Paris (Deadline is January 19, 2024):
- Crowd Funding Opportunity
- Excerpts from Mini Documentary about Debra’s 2004 Tour to Italy (13 mins duration).
Remaining Zoom Q&A/Information Session Links:
Questions? Contact tour coordinator Robert Bucher at RobbieBucher90@hotmail.com with questions or to request further information.
And here are a few photos from our 2004 tour!
April 30, 2023 at 6:19 pm
This looks exciting
What is the decision deadline?
Is this a possibility every 4 years or less?
Deb (Oberleas) Rudd (MC-1976)
June 6, 2023 at 8:26 pm
Hello Deb,
Thanks for your inquiry. Given my age, this is likely my final performance tour to Italy, so it probably won’t be repeated. The decision deadline is September, but registering early makes payments smaller and everything is fully refundable if you cancel before October.
June 8, 2023 at 4:37 pm
We’d like to know what we will be singing.
June 10, 2023 at 12:51 am
Hello Twila,
Since we will provide music for at least two Catholic Masses ( at The Vatican in Rome, and at St Marks Basilica in Venice), a significant portion of our repertoire will be sacred a cappella works. These will have to be approved by each Basilica, so I won’t have actual titles until October, most likely. The restof or repertoire will likely be American music. Europeans love to hear Americans sing music from America, so WE will certainlyinclude So jazz (always a favorite in Europe) and some gospel in addition to works by American greats like Virgil Thomson, Aaron Copland, etc. I am also planning to compose a piece specifically for this tour. Does that help? I won’t finalize repertoire until I know what voices I have in the chorus.
June 10, 2023 at 11:48 am
One idea for an “American” song is Shawn Kirschner’s African inspired song that starts with a “W”… it is extremely engaging and inspiring and I will look it up and send the title to you! (I am a cellist having played in a dozen orchestras who also sang with the Salzburg Akademie Mozarteum Choir for the Johannespassion! I went with the set design class to Venezia for $27 for train and hotel for one week!). So I can easily visualize your fab trip!!
Blessings on your prep and trip!
Barbara Daté (Smith)
June 12, 2023 at 7:15 pm
Thank you for the suggestion, Barbara! Shawn is a friend of mine, and I’ve already thought it would be great to take one of his fabulous compositions and/or arrangements along to share with the good people of Italia. I’ll have to wait to see what sort of voices I have before I settle on repertoire for certain — but I have his music in mind already.
June 17, 2023 at 2:25 pm
What is the deadline for when everything has to be paid for? I really want to go, but my funds are a bit tight right now so I need to make sure I’ll have the money in time.
I do know the $200 placement fee is in August and I’ll have that but the other $4,761 definitely would need a bit more time.
June 27, 2023 at 6:05 am
Hello Erin!
There are a couple of different answers to that question, honestly. It all depends on how you choose to pay. Are you available to attend out zoom meeting at 7 p.m. this evening (June 27)? If so, we’ll be explaining all about that and also some fund-raising possibilities.
August 16, 2023 at 11:36 am
Hi Dr. Lynn,
I’m super excited about the trip. Singing in a choir in San Marco is a bucket list item (is a G. Gabrieli polychoral piece performed in the two lofts too much to ask?). We live 5.5 hour due north of Manchester. Once the repertoire has been finalized I imagine we receive our parts to learn on our own. How will rehearsals go? Will we mainly rehearse in Italy?
Thank you,
Brian
August 21, 2023 at 6:58 pm
Hello Brian,
I apologize for my late reply. I’ve been traveling more than expected this summer. I will finalize repertoire once I know what singers are registered. I will provide online rehearsal materials (music and recordings). I hope to have one rehearsal before we go to Italy (at least for those who can be there), but then we will rehearse in Italy as well.
Debra
August 22, 2023 at 8:10 am
I’m definitely coming! I might bring 2 grand children. We plan to travel up to Bremen, GDR later. It would be such a shame not to do it! I think the Grands are a tenor and a soprano. They both read music. I’m of course a 1at alto. I know I’m coming–not so sure about them!
September 8, 2023 at 1:58 pm
That is awesome Joy! What great memories this will create for you and your grandkids.
September 9, 2023 at 3:56 pm
It turns out that none of my extra singers are coming. So sorry.
September 10, 2023 at 9:02 pm
That’s okay. We’re happy to have you with us anyway!