July 21-31, 2022

Austria & Germany with optional Prague extension (extension dates 7/31-8/3)

See our latest itinerary here: FSW 2022 Itinerary Updated 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

REGISTRATION INFORMATION HERE

Updated Tour Music

Need the sheet music? Get it here: 

Download Tour Music 

All music is electronic - no hard copies will be handed-out at workshops or rehearsals.

***Update June 17, 2022***

Hello! Please find the latest update to our itinerary from TRC here.

A reminder to invite all of your friends and family to our "Pre-Tour Concert" Saturday, July 16, 2022 4:00 PM at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 3240 McMullen Booth Rd, Clearwater, FL 33761

By the way, was that a fun rehearsal or what with Dr. Traster on Tuesday? You're sounding...great!

***Update April 28, 2022*** 

We are happy to welcome Dr. Jeffrey Traster as the conductor of the Florida Symphonic Winds for this tour. Read about Dr. Traster in this biography. 

After workshopping with most of the band on April 26, Dr. Traster commented that "the band exceeded my expectations in every way – responsive, capable musicians and good people; it’s going to be a fun trip all the way around.” We’re only just beginning, Jeff!

Some notes for all tour performers and participants:

• If you were unable to attend the most recent workshop, some of the music has been changed. Please find our current tour music here. Two additional pieces (Finlandia and Gershwin Portrait) will be available May 3. 
• If you are planning to book the group airfare option and have not indicated this in your WeTravel account, we need to hear from you no later than May 6. If you are booking your own air travel, you should probably have your airfare booked by now: there are less than 90 days to the tour! If you haven't booked it yet, we kindly suggest you do so as soon as possible.
• Tour Resource Consultants (TRC) is finalizing every detail of our itinerary, but we have some great news for you right now: We will perform on the Mirabell Garden band stage on Saturday July 25 as part of the Salzburg Music Festival. This is a major upgrade in performance venue! In addition, the local Mondsee, Austria band will join us on Sunday morning for “Frühschoppen” (early get-together, or an early glass of beer or wine), which is a mini-festival that happens at the end of the 10am Sunday Mass. We will perform with them in the church square with beer tents nearby. It is a very festive atmosphere (Our itinerary is getting better and better!)
• We are currently seeking percussion, trombone, alto saxophone, and bassoon performers for this year's European tour. Other instruments are still welcome to help fill out our depth. We are willing to be creative with qualified out-of-towners joining us at our first full rehearsal in Austria, but only after a successful conversation with Dr. Traster and myself before the tour. It's not the ideal solution, but if you know of someone that might be interested and qualifies, let’s talk!

Please take note that our first full rehearsal is scheduled for June 14, then additional rehearsals will be on June 21, 28, July 5, & 12. Mark your calendars for 7pm downbeat. Also, note that we will have our "Pre-Tour Concert" after rehearsal on Saturday, July 16. The concert is scheduled for 4PM and we'll be making a day of it, likely starting at 10AM (TBD) in rehearsal.

It's been a beautiful journey to this point, with more to come. Full hotel information will be published soon!

***Update February 28, 2022***

New Members, their friends, and family are still welcome to join the tour and with your own airfare*, are welcome through the beginning of April to join the band! Thinking of joining? Call Lee Lafleur at 727.534.6966 or write at Questions@floridasymphonicwinds.org.

*Group airfare selection and deposits remain due by March 3 (more detail below).

We have a fairly-well balanced ensemble but are looking for an additional percussionist, trombone, and bassoon. Other instruments welcome with brief discussion!

Full rehearsals begin Tuesday, June 14 at 7PM in the music room of the Dunedin Recreation Center (1920 Pinehurst Road, Dunedin, FL 34698) and repeat on June 21, 28, July 5 and 12. Members must commit to make at least 4 of 5 rehearsals as discussed at tour sign-up.

On Saturday, July 16, the ensemble will be busy much of the day with a final rehearsal then our farewell concert for friends and family in the afternoon (exact time pending). We’ll also review with you much of the final tour details this day and everyone is expected to attend this fun and exciting day!

*For those of you opting to fly with the group to Europe (group airfare), Maury at TRC announced a few days ago via email a reduction of the earlier negotiated fare of $200 pp. That’s terrific news!

We also realized the flaw in planning for the group airfare previously, which required the traveler to pay for all of the airfare as an option at the time of booking. We have changed this now in WeTravel so that travelers can now pay a $100 Group Air Deposit (due by March 3), and then the remaining balance in a separate option, due May 27. Also good news! Login to your WeTravel account BEFORE MARCH 3 to commit to group airfare and make your $100 deposit. Due to contractual needs of the carrier, It will not be available to any of us on March 4 (Important)!

The group flight detail can be viewed by logging-in to your WeTravel account! To reserve, select as an OPTION to your trip either the “Main Tour $100 Group Air Deposit” -or the- “Ext(ension) Tour $100 Group Air Deposit” (for those going to Prague), and make the $100.00 deposit to hold your space (by March 3).

It’s not too late to add the Prague extension tour to your trip. Write me (Lee) at Lee@usafest.org and I’ll make that change for you!

****For those of you making your own flight arrangements to Europe (and that’s perfectly fine). Please send an Email to Maury Shulte of Tour Resource Consultants ALSO BY MARCH 3 with your arrangements (Important). Send your flight itinerary to Maury.schulte@tourresource.com . If you haven’t booked your airfare yet…it’s time!

***Update December 1, 2021*** 

A letter from Maury Schulte, President of Tour Resource Consultants, our tour operator, begins with:

Hello again, fellow travelers!

We are very excited for the July tour to Austria and Germany, and I (Maury Schulte, President of TRC) had a very productive visit there in September/ October. Tour planning is always a fluid situation, but in our case, the small adjustments we have made have improved the trip. Those adjustments are:

1) Changing our arrival city to Mondsee instead of Bad Ischl.

2) Our accommodation in Mondsee is the 4+ Star Schlosshotel Mondsee, the former Bishop’s Palace.

3) The Vienna hotel is located 1 block from the State Opera House, near the pedestrian only area.

4) In Würzburg we changed the hotel so that we are also in the heart of the city center.

5) We met with members of the Retzbach Community Band and have a great performance day planned, and a fun party to close the tour!

Read Maury's full letter here, including the latest group airfare rates & conditions and country-based travel restrictions.

***Update November 5, 2021*** 

We’re seeking an additional tuba (and/or string bass), trombone, trumpet, french horn, and bassoonist to round-out what is already a fairly well-balanced group. Other instruments still considered with brief discussion (we want everyone that wasn’t to play, to play, if we can). Friends and family of those performing are of course welcome as well!

Ready to join us on the tour?

ORIGINAL FLORIDA SYMPHONIC WINDS TOUR BROCHURE

Got more questions?
Watch the information and Q&A session below, or email
questions@floridasymphonicwinds.org

Watch the Tour Preview Video

(Registration is Still Open (as above))!

Watch the initial information and Q&A session