Dear Mieko and Omid, Thank you both for all your communication and patience while awaiting your second destination option for OSYO’s 2026 Performance Tour. There are certainly so very many moving parts that go into making a performance tour a truly seamless experience. It will be a pleasure working with you, your staff, and my colleagues here in Boston and abroad on this 2026 performance tour. Please also know that the revision of either of the proposed itineraries will be extremely speedy. Once you have had a chance to review both proposals and weigh out the strengths of each and their individual offerings, please let me know of the changes that would make the selected tour and destination the best fit for the OSYO 2026 season curriculum. Welcome back to Encore Tours, OSYO’s long relationship with Encore is valuable and appreciated beyond words. Thank you for all you do! Visit Your TripSite Traveler Resources Your Encore Benefits Guaranteed Land Rates We do not raise our prices based on currency fluctuations in the marketplace. This alleviates any unwelcome currency surcharges during the planning period or immediately prior to travel. The Best Tour Managers Around Our Tour Managers are repeatedly evaluated and praised as being the best in educational travel, and they are available to you 24 hours per day. The tour manager stays in the same hotel as the group, and coordinates hotel check-ins, restaurant reservations, and concert venue availability and rehearsal time. These representatives also deliver the educational portion of the tour with detailed historical commentary during travel. Protection Plans for Everyone All participants are covered at no extra cost by our Basic Protection Plan covering health insurance overseas and trip cancellation/interruption in case of illness. Participants also have the option to upgrade to our Ultimate or Ultimate Plus plans, which include the ability to cancel for any reason up to four days before departure and still receive a full refund. Additionally, all Encore participants travel with an automatic $15,000 health protection plan. Financial Security Encore Tours and our parent company, ACIS, carry a $50 million general liability insurance policy to protect our groups. In addition, as an Active Member of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), we post a $1 million indemnity bond as part of USTOA’s Travelers Assistance Program. Tour Fundraiser Register 30 or more participants with Encore Tours and we will award your group a FREE weekend getaway for two to Paris or London over Veteran’s Day Weekend or Martin Luther King Day Weekend. We have had ensembles raise over $20,000 using this gift as a raffle prize. 2025 Domestic Fundraiser Info Sheet 2025 International Fundraiser Info Sheet Prelude Join Encore staff for our annual Prelude event, a free professional development weekend for ensemble directors and a guest that takes place in a different musically rich international destination. “Incredible! I cherished every moment. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime journey. Such experiences would have been impossible on my own. Being pampered in this manner and witnessing the professionalism and luxury that Encore embodies was an absolute delight.” – 2024 Prelude attendee Online Billing We are excited to offer the choice of group billing or direct billing and will gladly work with your preference. With group billing you will receive an invoice with each participant’s balance and payment due prior to the due date. If you decide to enroll your group in direct billing Encore will mail invoices to each participant for all payments due. Accounts can also be accessed 24 hours a day on our website and payments can be made online with MasterCard and Visa for no additional cost. This is the suggested payment plan, however you can adjust it according to the group’s needs. Automatic Payments Plan Encore offers an auto-pay option for all participants signed up for individual billing. Enrollment in the plan is free and funds are withdrawn from the participant’s checking account on a regular basis, with the last payment being processed 45 days prior to departure. 24-7 Overseas Coverage Encore has offices overseas in the event of an emergency. In addition, US staff are always available to ensure you are receiving a quality travel experience, before, during and after your concert tour. All land arrangements including concert bookings and promotion are provided directly by Encore’s affiliate offices, offering the highest quality services and the very best value to our clients. Graduate Level Credits Enhance your professional development! Directors and participants have the opportunity to earn graduate-level credits through their tour experience and participation in our Prelude events. These educational opportunities not only enrich your tour but also contribute to your lifelong learning and professional growth. Tour Inclusions Flights on Major Airlines with departure from San Francisco flying into Mexico City and out of Buenos Aires Internal flight from Mexico City and into Montevideo Airport and airline taxes, and fuel surcharges Accommodations at the conveniently located 3 and 4-star-hotels throughout Rooming in double-room occupancy. Breakfast at your hotel daily and dinners at local restaurants each evening All sightseeing and entrances as featured in the itinerary Arrangements for all concert performances as featured in the itinerary including pre-concert advertisement, on-site Encore staff assistance for rehearsals and performances. Please note that the suggested professional theatre venues have additional costs to be listed below Private deluxe air-conditioned motor coach and driver Services of a professional Tour Manager throughout your program. One Tour Manager per motorcoach Basic gratuities for the tour manager and bus drivers Entrances to all sites and museums as featured in the itinerary Instrument Truck for transportation of musical instruments in tandem with the Tour Buses Vox Headsets What’s Not Included? Baggage Fees imposed by the airlines Instrument stands Any Instrument Rental Any meals not listed in your itinerary Programs for the concerts Allocations of specific seat assignments on flights Added Cost of rental and use of upgraded professional theatres Pricing Options Travelers #2 Free Spots 3 Free Spots110Air and Land: $6819Land Only:$4439Air and Land: $6879Land Only:$4519100Air and Land: $6879Land Only:$4499Air and Land: $6939Land Only:$457990Air and Land: $6939Land Only:$4579Air and Land: $6999Land Only:$467980Air and Land: $7039Land Only:$4679Air and Land: $7139Land Only:$477920 Based on “Land and Air” out of San Francisco flying into Mexico City and out of Buenos Aires OR No Airfare/Land Only. Internal flight from Mexico City to Montevideo also included accommodating the group in double occupancy rooms. Payment Deadlines DateAmountJune 15, 2025$200September 30, 2025$1,000November 15, 2025$1,500January 15, 2026$1,500Final BalanceMarch 30, 2026 SAMPLE VENUES Please note that venues are not confirmed until expressly stated by your Program Consultant. Band Orchestra Blas Galindo Auditorium Mexico City The Blas Galindo Auditorium at Cenart, Mexico City, honors the legacy of composer Blas Galindo. With a 693-seat capacity and exceptional acoustic features, it hosts a diverse range of music, from symphonies to intimate chamber ensembles. This venue blends Galindo’s heritage with contemporary vitality, serving as a portal to a world of emotions and unforgettable artistic experiences. Band Choir Orchestra Sala Silvestre Revueltas Mexico City Sala Silvestre Revueltas is a renowned concert hall within the Centro Cultural Ollin Yoliztli in Mexico City, celebrated for its excellent acoustics and professional performance setting. Named after composer Silvestre Revueltas, the venue is ideal for orchestras, choirs, and instrumental ensembles, offering a distinguished stage that enhances both sound quality and audience experience. As part of a major cultural hub, it provides touring groups with the opportunity to perform in an esteemed hall while engaging with Mexico City’s vibrant musical community. Band Choir Orchestra Teatro de la Ciudad Esperanza Iris Mexico City Teatro de la Ciudad Esperanza Iris is one of Mexico City’s most iconic concert halls, offering a historic and grand setting for orchestras, choirs, and ensembles. Located in the heart of the city, this beautifully restored theater features elegant architecture, excellent acoustics, and a rich cultural legacy dating back to its opening in 1918. Named after the celebrated Mexican singer and actress Esperanza Iris, the venue has hosted world-class performances and continues to be a prestigious stage for both local and international artists. Its central location and historic charm make it an unforgettable performance venue for touring ensembles. Band Choir Orchestra Sodre National Auditorium Montevideo The Auditorio Nacional del Sodre, Uruguay’s premier concert venue, is a landmark of Montevideo’s cultural scene. Home to the National Ballet of Uruguay, this state-of-the-art auditorium hosts world-class orchestral, choral, and ballet performances. The Eduardo Fabini Hall, its main concert space, seats approximately 2,000 guests and features a vast stage with an orchestra pit for over 100 musicians. The Hugo Balzo Hall, a versatile 280-seat venue, is ideal for chamber music and smaller productions. Recognized as a Historical Monument, Auditorio del Sodre offers an exceptional performance setting with outstanding acoustics and modern facilities, making it a prestigious stage for touring ensembles. Choir Metropolitan Cathedral Montevideo This Roman Catholic Church is located in Constitution Square of Montevideo, Uruguay’s capital city. Dedicated to the Immaculate Conception and the patron saints Philip and James, this church is the perfect place to perform your mass services in Uruguay. Show All 8 Venues Show Less Band Orchestra Usina de la Musica Buenos Aires A multi-purpose space for the arts, La Usina del Arte is located in the Boca district of Buenos Aires. Its main concert hall seats 1,200 and offers an exceptional space for instrumental and large choral groups alike. Band Choir Orchestra Centro Cultural Kirchner Buenos Aires Centro Cultural Kirchner (CCK), also known as Palacio Libertad, is one of Latin America’s largest cultural centers and a premier venue for orchestras traveling with Encore Tours. Originally Buenos Aires’ grand central post office, this beaux-arts landmark was transformed into a world-class venue in 2015, featuring the Ballena Azul concert hall, renowned for superb acoustics and a state-of-the-art Klais Orgelbau pipe organ. Home to the Argentine National Symphony Orchestra, CCK offers musicians the opportunity to perform in one of Buenos Aires’ most prestigious and architecturally stunning venues. Band Choir Orchestra Teatro El Círculo Rosario This theater is known for its interior and exterior beauty, particularly the unique stage curtain featuring images from Greek mythology. Said to have an acoustic quality similar to New York’s Metropolitan Opera, this performance venue is a must when visiting Argentina. Hotels Royal Reforma Hotel Mexico City Royal Reforma Hotel is a 4-star hotel in the heart of Mexico City, conveniently located near shopping centers, business areas, and entertainment. Just one block from Chapultepec Avenue and within walking distance of Paseo de la Reforma, the hotel offers easy access to key landmarks such as the Angel of Independence, the U.S. Embassy, Glorieta Insurgentes, and Plaza Reforma 222, all just five minutes away. The Museum of Anthropology in Chapultepec is a 15-minute drive. Ideal for group travel, the hotel features a 24-hour front desk, private parking, and free Wi-Fi. Guests can dine at Spring, the on-site restaurant serving Mexican and international cuisine, or unwind at one of the two bars, including a rooftop terrace with city views. Learn More Holiday Inn Montevideo Montevideo The 4-star Holiday Inn Montevideo combines modern comfort with a prime location near Plaza Independencia, perfect for exploring Montevideo’s cultural landmarks like Ciudad Vieja, Solís Theatre, and the vibrant Mercado del Puerto. Guests enjoy elegantly decorated rooms, a buffet breakfast, and amenities like an indoor pool, sauna, and fitness center. The scenic Rambla promenade and on-site tour services make it an excellent choice for all travelers Learn More Hotel Presidente Buenos Aires The 4-star Hotel Presidente Buenos Aires offers classic comfort and a prime location in the Recoleta district, perfect for business and leisure travelers. Its soundproofed rooms feature city views and modern amenities, complemented by on-site parking, Wi-Fi in public areas, and a daily continental breakfast. Within walking distance of Teatro Opera Allianz, Autoria Shop, and transport links like Court subway station, the hotel provides easy access to top attractions. Just a 15-minute drive from Jorge Newbery Airport, it ensures a convenient and sophisticated stay. Learn More Hotel Solans Riviera Rosario Hotel Riviera is a 4-star hotel in the heart of Rosario, ideally situated near the city’s commercial and financial district. Its central location provides easy access to key attractions, including the National Flag Monument, the bustling Córdoba pedestrian street, and Parque de España along the Paraná River. The area is rich with shops, restaurants, and cultural sites, making it a convenient choice for group travel. The hotel features a 24-hour front desk, private parking, and a gourmet restaurant serving local and international cuisine. Learn More