ANDRÉ THOMAS
~ARTISTIC DIRECTOR~
July 4-8, 2013
Concert and Tour Production by Music Celebrations International
ANDRÉ J. THOMAS
~ARTISTIC DIRECTOR~
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.
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
~ FESTIVAL CITY~
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 VENUE~
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.
L’église de la Madeleine
PARIS
~FESTIVAL ONLY ITINERARY~
• 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
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 Leisure
Highlights: Possibly see Versailles, Dress Rehearsal, Finale Concert
Overnight in Paris
L’église de la Madeleine Performance
Monday, July 8 – Depart for home
PARIS
~TOUR EXTENSION~
If you wish to spend more time exploring France after the festival, the following is your
post-festival extension.
TOUR ITINERARY 2
VISIT 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 memorable
musical and cultural experience of a lifetime!