Meet our Newest Program Consultant: Julian Edwards

At Encore, we pride ourselves on having a team of passionate, knowledgeable, and well-traveled individuals who work tirelessly to ensure that your travel experience is truly unforgettable. Today, we’re happy to introduce you to our newest staff member, Julian Edwards.

Julian brings a wealth of experience to our team, having spent close to thirty years orchestrating unforgettable performing arts tours across the UK and the USA, in addition to substantial roles at Yamaha Music and the Naxos Music Group.

In his new role, Julian will collaborate with our group leaders, bringing his seasoned perspective to the customization of your next Encore performance tour. He is committed to elevating your musical travel encounters in the world’s most picturesque settings. Let’s take some time to delve into who Julian is and the distinctive skills he offers to enhance our collective journey.

Can you tell us all about yourself?

I am originally from a tiny town in the Welsh border region of the United Kingdom, and I now live near the UK’s second city of Birmingham. Before joining the team at Encore, I spent many years working in performing arts touring, musical instrument sales representation and as the Head of Global Sales for the Naxos Music recording company. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Music and German from the University of Reading (just outside London), and I also hold Associate Diplomas from the Royal College of Music and from Trinity College London.

I have always been passionate about the joys and benefits of travel, whether as an individual, family or as part of a wider group of people who share the same goals for their journeys.  I’m an inveterate list-maker, and my family always roll their eyes as I make the copious detailed planning documents for our family holidays!  My first trip away from my family when I was a teenager was on my youth orchestra tour to Europe, and ever since then I’ve known that it was ‘in my blood’ to be involved in both music and travel somehow.

What’s your favorite travel destination?

It’s not fair to have to narrow it down to one!  Can I cheat a little and say most of Central Europe? So much amazing history, musical culture, different food and drink experiences, and as a bit of a ‘railway nerd’, I love the possibility to hop over a national border on a tiny local railcar, or to go to sleep in one capital and wake up in another just a few hours later, still in the same bed on the same train!

What is your favorite piece of travel advice?

Pack light; tread even lighter!

Do you still perform anywhere?

My family’s activities and my own sport commitments (see also below) mean that my musical activities have sadly taken a back seat for a while. I was in the Chorus of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra for 10 years and had the immense privilege to sing for some of the world’s great Maestros; Sir Simon Rattle, Mirga, Andris Nelsons, to name but a few, and in some amazing venues including Birmingham’s own Symphony Hall, and as part of the world-famous Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

What do you do outside of music?

Although I’ve come to it fairly late in life, I’m crazy about all forms of the game of Rugby. (For the uninitiated, it’s like the NFL but without any of the protective gear!) In the winter, I referee rugby Union, the original contact form of the game, and in the summer, it’s Touch Rugby, which is the ‘non-contact’ form of the game.  I’m fortunate to have refereed this sport all over Europe and Asia, and this coming summer I’ll be refereeing at the Touch World Cup taking place in the UK, alongside my son who also referees and has represented England at the sport.

Thanks! We’re so happy to have you join the team.

I’m so excited to be joining the Encore team, and look forward to sharing the joys of performing arts travel with as many Encore clients as possible!

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We invite you to join us in welcoming Julian to the Encore family. Drop a message in the comments to say hello, share your thoughts, or ask any questions you might have about our performance tours and the unique touches Julian plans to bring to them.

Want to see how Julian can enhance your next musical journey? Contact us, and let’s start planning your Encore experience today!