Touring empowers students with musical, social, and cultural opportunities that will shape their lives for years to come.

PYSO Symphony Tour - Summer 2024
We are excited to announce that PYSO Symphony will be going on Tour to Washington D.C. amd Philadephia in summer 2024! Open to all 2023/24 Symphony musicians and 2023/24 Sinfonia musicians (pending space and instrumentation).
Tour Dates: June 17- 23, 2024
We have the opportunity to:
  • Enjoy time to visit and explore one or more of the Smithsonian Museums.
  • Enjoy an evening guided walking tour of the Lincoln, Vietnam, Korean, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Eisenhower, the MLK Jr. and National World War II Memorials, as well as a view of the outside of the Washington Monument.
  • Visit the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery.
  • Visit to the National Archives, to see the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution (including the Bill of Rights), and the Emancipation Proclamation.
  • Sightseeing includes Independence Mall, with entrance to the Liberty Bell Pavilion and Independence Hall. Also see the Betsy Ross House and Elfreth’s Alley.
  • Enjoy an evening visit to the Historic District/Old Town – the birthplace of the nation and the first World Heritage City in the U.S.
  • Tour include visits to the “Rocky Steps” and statue, the “Love” Statue, and see the United States Mint.
  • Have unparalleled opportunities and memories that will last a lifetime!

This tour is arranged by Music Celebrations International.

Please keep in mind that this tour will be for musicians enrolled in Symphony and  Sinfonia for our 23-24 season and all current students will need to re-audition and be accepted into this ensemble to be eligible to go on this tour. 

Retreats/Tours are expected and encouraged for all our students, but not mandatory.
DAY ONE: MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2024 | LOS ANGELES TO WASHINGTON D.C.
  • Evening red-eye scheduled airline departure from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), for Washington, D.C.
DAY TWO: TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2024 | WASHINGTON, D.C.
  • Morning arrival at one of Washington, D.C.’s area airports, where you will meet your full-time MCI Tour Managers (1 full-time MCI Tour Manager per motorcoach).
  • Your full-time MCI Tour Managers will remain with you for the entire duration of your time in Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia
  • Collect your luggage at baggage claim and board your awaiting-chartered motorcoaches.
  • Breakfast included at a local restaurant/bakery or a to-go breakfast option
  • Morning and afternoon sightseeing will include an orientation tour of Historic Washington, D.C., including Lafayette Square for a photo opportunity of the White House
  • Lunch, on own
  • Enjoy some free-time to explore the National Mall, the student-friendly most central area in Washington, D.C. – home to numerous Smithsonian Museums, National Monuments, and Memorials. Enjoy time to visit and explore one or more of the Smithsonian Museums. (The most visited Smithsonian museums are: The National Museum of American History, The National Air and Space Museum, The National Museum of Natural History, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture)
  • Afternoon hotel check-in with some free-time to freshen up and relax
  • Dinner included at a local restaurant
  • Enjoy an evening guided walking tour of the Lincoln, Vietnam, Korean, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Eisenhower, the MLK Jr. and National World War II Memorials, as well as a view of the outside of the Washington Monument
  • Return to the hotel for overnight
DAY THREE: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 2024 | WASHINGTON, D.C.
  • Breakfast included at the hotel
  • Visit the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery and participate in a special PYSO Symphony Wreath-Laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with the United States Army’s 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment – “The Old Guard” (subject to confirmation). Also visit the Pentagon National 9/11 Memorial and the Iwo Jima Marine Corps War Memorial
  • Lunch, on own
  • PYSO Symphony afternoon concert performance on the National Mall – at the National WWII Memorial or the Lincoln Memorial*
  • Enjoy some afternoon free-time on the National Mall for shopping
  • Dinner included at a local restaurant
  • Attend an evening concert of the National Symphony Orchestra ($55 ticket allowance included) in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
  • Following the concert, enjoy a meet-n-greet/talk-back with a musician or associate conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra*
  • Return to the hotel for overnight
DAY FOUR: THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 2024 | WASHINGTON, D.C.
  • Breakfast included at the hotel
  • Enjoy some morning free-time to explore the National Mall, the student-friendly most central area in Washington, D.C. – home to numerous Smithsonian Museums, National Monuments, and Memorials. Enjoy time to visit and explore one or more of the Smithsonian Museums. (The most visited Smithsonian museums are: The National Museum of American History, The National Air and Space Museum, The National Museum of Natural History, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture)
  • Lunch, on own
  • Afternoon visit to the National Archives, to see the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution (including the Bill of Rights), and the Emancipation Proclamation
    Dinner included at a local restaurant
  • PYSO Symphony evening concert performance in Capital One Concert Hall -or- the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater -or- the Kennedy Center Family Theatre*
  • Return to the hotel for overnight
DAY FIVE: FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2024 | WASHINGTON, D.C. TO PHILADELPHIA
  • Breakfast included at the hotel, followed by check-out
  • Morning transfer to Philadelphia, PA (approx. 139 miles), stopping en route for rest and meal breaks, as needed
  • Lunch, on own
  • Afternoon guided sightseeing includes Independence Mall, with entrance to the Liberty Bell Pavilion and Independence Hall. Also see the Betsy Ross House and Elfreth’s Alley – a historic street in Philadelphia dating back to 1703, that is the oldest continuously inhabited street in America. Most of colonial Philadelphia has cobblestone lanes and is lined with colonial and federal period homes – each no more than 16 feet wide!
  • Afternoon hotel check-in with some free-time to freshen up and relax
  • Dinner included at a local restaurant
  • Enjoy an evening visit to the Historic District/Old Town – the birthplace of the nation and the first World Heritage City in the U.S. This Historic District, spanning from the Delaware River to 7th Street is incredibly rich in history — after all, this was the heart of Philadelphia’s original city
  • Return to your hotel for overnight
DAY SIX: SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 2024 | PHILADELPHIA
  • Breakfast included at the hotel
  • Visit and tour the Curtis Institute of Music (subject to Curtis Institute confirmation). Curtis is one of the finest music conservatories in the world and only accepts exceptionally gifted students into its tuition-free programs
  • Lunch, on own and free time at the famous Reading Terminal Market, One of America’s largest and oldest public markets, housed since 1893 in a National Historic Landmark building
  • Enjoy some afternoon free time at leisure for additional sightseeing with your Tour Manager, or time for shopping
  • Dinner included at a local restaurant
  • PYSO Symphony evening concert performance in the Lew Klein Auditorium of the Temple Performing Arts Center at Temple University*
  • Return to your hotel for overnight

DAY SEVEN: SUNDAY, JUNE 23, 2024 | PHILADELPHIA & DEPATURE FOR HOME

  • Breakfast included at the hotel, followed by check-out
  • Morning guided touring to include visits to the “Rocky Steps” and statue, the “Love” Statue, and see the United States Mint. Depending on your flight time, also enjoy a walk across the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, for stunning views of Philly
  • Lunch, on own
  • Depending on your flight time, you may have additional afternoon time free for shopping or additional sightseeing with your Tour Manager
  • Afternoon transfer to the Philadelphia International Airport for your return flight home to California
  • Evening arrival to the Los Angeles International Airport
Download Sample Itinerary
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