Overview
Give your students the opportunity to explore Austria’s rich musical heritage. Begin in Salzburg with guided sightseeing, a Sound of Music visit and a concert performance before travelling through the Wachau Valley to Vienna. At the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival, students will perform, attend workshops and connect with young musicians from around the world. Explore Vienna’s musical traditions and celebrate the festival with the Gala Winners’ Concert and Festival Finale. This festival takes place annually every July.
Itinerary
Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival
- Performing Arts
- Music Festivals
Day 1
Travel to Austria (Vienna)
Day 2
Arrive in Vienna
Meet your Tour Director
Your 24-hour Tour Director will meet you at the airport and remain with your group until your final airport departure.
Salzburg guided sightseeing tour
Discover Salzburg on a guided sightseeing tour featuring the city’s rich history and musical heritage. See Salzburg Cathedral, Festival Hall, Mirabell Palace and Mozart’s Birthplace as you explore the city where the legendary composer was born.
Day 3
Sound of Music guided sightseeing tour
Explore Salzburg through the story and scenery of "The Sound of Music." Inspired by the true story of the von Trapp family, the 1965 film brought Salzburg’s landscapes and landmarks to audiences around the world. On this guided sightseeing tour, visit memorable filming locations while learning about the real von Trapp family and where the film took creative liberties with their story. See the gardens of Mirabell Palace, Leopoldskron Palace, Hellbrunn, Nonnberg Abbey, St. Gilgen, and Lake Wolfgang as you discover the history behind the beloved film.
Concert performance
Day 4
Panorama tour through Wachau Valley
Visit Melk, situated along the Danube next to the Wachau Valley. The town is best known for Melk Abbey, a massive Baroque Benedictine monastery overlooking the river.
Melk Abbey guided visit
Visit Melk Abbey, a masterpiece of baroque architecture. Your tour includes the Marble Hall with its red marble pilasters and allegorical ceiling, the Library holding more than 80,000 volumes, and the Kaisergang lined with portraits of Austrian rulers. You’ll also see the Abbey’s musical archive, home to historic instruments and more than 10,000 works, including early manuscripts by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Schumann.
Day 5
SCL Festival Welcome Ceremony
Attend the Summa Cum Laude Festival Welcome Ceremony and meet fellow youth music groups from around the world.
Conductor's Kick-Off Meeting
All conductors meet in preparation for the festival.
Day 6
SCL Festival Competition and Celebration
Your group will take part in the exciting festivities of the Summa Cum Laude Festival, which may include cultural exchanges with local ensembles, professional workshops, rehearsals, and performances. The official schedule is TBD.
Day 7
SCL Festival Competition and Celebration
Your group will take part in the exciting festivities of the Summa Cum Laude Festival, which may include cultural exchanges with local ensembles, professional workshops, rehearsals, and performances. The official schedule is TBD.
Workshops at the University of Music in Vienna
Day 8
Workshops at the University of Music in Vienna
Haus der Musik visit
This interactive museum is located in the former home of Otto Nicolai, founder of the Vienna Philharmonic. Explore the lives of classical composers, compose your own waltz, and discover the science behind sound and hearing. Step onto a virtual conductor’s podium to lead the Vienna Philharmonic, and receive feedback from the musicians themselves.
Vienna performance
Take the stage and perform for local audiences in a venue that captures the spirit of the city.
Day 9
Vienna guided sightseeing tour
Join a professional, licensed tour guide on a sightseeing adventure through Vienna—the city of brilliant musicians, Baroque art and architecture, and velvet-clad coffeehouses. Along the way, you’ll sense the power and decadence of the city’s early ruling family, the mighty Habsburgs. Stroll down the famous Ringstraße, a grand boulevard commissioned by Emperor Franz Josef in 1857. Visit Schönbrunn Palace, where the Habsburgs ruled until 1918 and a six-year-old Mozart once serenaded Marie Antoinette.
SCL Gala Winner's Concert
Tonight, the winners of the competition will take the stage at the grand Wiener Konzerthaus, while the rest of the performers enjoy watching their new friends shine.
Award Ceremony and Farewell Reception
Following the Gala Winners Concert, the official standings will be announced and awards will be presented.
Day 10
Return home
Optional Extension
Add 2 Days in Prague
Travel via Dresden and visit the Zwinger Museum, a Baroque palace complex renowned for its art collections, including works by Raphael, Rembrandt, and Vermeer, as well as porcelain and scientific instruments. Continue to Prague, where a guided sightseeing tour features Old Town Square, the Astronomical Clock, Charles Bridge, the John Lennon Peace Wall, and Prague Castle. Conclude with a city walk through Mala Strana and the historic Jewish Quarter.
TourFlex: Your Experience, Your Way
With TourFlex, available for tours departing in October 2027 or later, you get the flexibility to shape an itinerary that's as unique as your group. Dial your trip up or down for more choice, more control, and more meaningful learning moments, all while getting the right experience at the right value. Available options vary by program and destination.
Explore Your Way
- Add experiences like theatre tickets or unique excursions
- Swap activities for ones that better serve your group
- Extend the learning through go-aheads or stay-behinds
Go Your Way
- Select transport options that suit your group's needs
- Choose from a variety of accommodation styles to support your level of comfort
Dine Your Way
- Choose pre-selected meals or encourage exploration by dining on your own
- Enjoy 2 course meals at local restaurants or at your accommodation, with the option to upgrade to 3 courses
Inclusions
Accommodations
WorldStrides Tour Director: A dynamic destination expert who makes learning come to life by leading your group's activities and discussions
Transportation to and from your destination
WorldAssist staff members available 24/7/365 should your group need extra help
Adjudications, workshops, clinics and performances as per itinerary
Daily meals with options varying by program
Tips for local guides and drivers (excluding multi-day bus drivers)
Entrance fees to attractions as per itinerary
Guided sightseeing tours and city walks as per itinerary
Scenes from Vienna
Health, Safety & Protection
Additional health and safety measures may be available within your respective destination. Refer to your program-specific materials for complete details.
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