Sublime
Singing
World
Class Dining
Luxury
Accommodation
Overview
In January 2020, the world-renowned Choir of Trinity College will embark on its tenth international tour travelling to the USA and Canada. Led by their extraordinary Director Christopher Watson, a former member of the Tallis Scholars and Director of Music at St Edmund Hall Oxford, the choir will give the world premiere performance of a new collection of American folksongs composed especially for them by Frank Ferko, one of America’s truly great choral composers.
The tour will see the choir perform in several of America’s most iconic cathedrals, including San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral with its murals, labyrinths and breathtaking “Gates of Paradise”, and New York’s most impressive house of worship St John the Divine. The choir will attend events and perform at several of the world's top universities including Harvard and Stanford.
We hope you will join us on this wonderful choral tour of the USA and Canada.
Tour Itinerary
DAY 1 | TUESDAY 28 JANUARY 2020
1ST OF 4 NIGHTS IN SAN FRANCISCO
SAN FRANCISCO
In the early evening the group will meet each other for a ‘welcome’ drink in the grand lobby bar of our legendary San Francisco five-star luxury hotel. This iconic city hotel has enjoyed a prime location atop Nob Hill since 1907 and has played host to Hollywood stars, celebrities, politicians and presidents throughout it’s colourful and storied history. With all the major sights at your fingertips, this San Francisco institution boasts a prime location close to Chinatown and Union Square with a rooftop garden and enviable views across the city and the Bay. Our hotel package includes elegant, well-appointed rooms and daily buffet breakfast in the gorgeous Laurel Court restaurant. Following our drink, we travel together to San Francisco’s iconic waterfront bay area for a unique dining experience at Waterbar. Regarded as San Francisco’s foremost seafood restaurant, Waterbar continues to set new standards of excellence in the sourcing, preparation and presentation of foods fresh from the sea. Waterbar is situated in a prime location on the waterfront of San Francisco’s Embarcadero, featuring panoramic views of the bay, Bay Bridge, Treasure Island and the San Francisco skyline. Under the guidance of chef Parke Ulrich, Waterbar presents a daily menu of fresh caught fish and shellfish as well as the most expansive selection of freshly farmed oysters on the West coast. Combining his passion for the best and freshest produce with an imaginative take on ingredients, Ulrichs delivers a showcase of San Francisco Bay flavours in a simply sublime waterfront setting with unparalleled, panoramic views.
DAY 2 | WEDNESDAY 29 JANUARY 2020
2ND OF 4 NIGHTS IN SAN FRANCISCO
SAN FRANCISCO
This morning we meet our knowledgeable private guide in the hotel foyer from where we will embark on a Grand City Tour. From the comfort and warmth of our luxury coach we will learn about the history of San Francisco as we experience and admire it’s iconic landmarks and monuments. Our journey of discovery will encompass Union Square, Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, North Beach, The Palace of fine Arts, Coit Tower, Nob Hill, Presidio National Park, and the Pacific Ocean. We will also experience legendary places such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, the Civic Centre, Ghirardelli Square and Twin Peaks.
The afternoon is free for you to enjoy the wonderfully central location of our hotel by exploring the city, or shopping or simply resting before this evening’s performance.
In the early evening, we travel together by private coach to Stanford University in Palo Alto where we will enjoy a brief tour of the area and university campus as well as a private pre-concert talk by pre-eminent American choral composer Frank Ferco. We then attend the first of our choral concerts in the stunning Stanford Memorial Chapel where we will hear the Choir of Trinity College Melbourne give the premier performance of Ferco’s Collection of American Folksongs composed especially for them. The tour group will have priority seating at the concert and will attend an exclusive post-concert event with the choristers, their Director Chris Watson and their Stanford University hosts.
DAY 3 | THURSDAY 30 JANUARY 2020
3RD OF 4 NIGHTS IN SAN FRANCISCO
SAN FRANCISCO
This morning we take the cable car down to the waterfront from where we will explore San Francisco Bay and visit the notorious island prison of Alcatraz. One of the world’s most feared penitentiary’s, Alcatraz has played a significant role in jailhouse folklore. We will learn as we hear history brought to life through chilling tales of the prison’s horrid past and the infamous prisoners it housed such as Al Capone and Robert Stroud, the Birdman. We will experience first-hand the darkness of solitary confinement and the prison walls that drove men mad and broke even the most hardened and cruel prisoners. No prisoner ever successfully escaped Alcatraz alive.
The afternoon is free to explore, shop or rest at leisure. However for those interested there will be the option to take a guided tour of the Legion of Honor Museum of Fine Arts. This beautiful neo-classical building contains one of San Francisco’s most impressive European art collections. Pre-eminent are the Rodin sculptures, and the impressionist paintings.
In the early evening, we walk 3 mins from our hotel to one of America’s most iconic cathedrals, The Grace Cathedral. Here we will enjoy an Evensong performance by the Choir of Trinity College, followed by a post-concert event with the choristers and their Director, Chris Watson. The evening is free for families and friends to spend time with the choristers, or sample one of the many fabulous San Francisco restaurants.
DAY 4 | FRIDAY 31 JANUARY 2020
4TH OF 4 NIGHTS IN SAN FRANCISCO
SAN FRANCISCO
Today we take a scenic journey across the Golden Gate Bridge, through coastal mountains and rolling green hills as we embark on a Californian wine tasting tour of the famed Sonoma and Napa valleys. We will have the opportunity to learn about the different production techniques and experience the best of California wine country as we taste a series of award-winning wines at select wineries including Domaine Carneros, Mondavi and Caymus. We will enjoy a leisurely lunch with paired wines in The Restaurant, Auberge du Soleil, the Napa Valley’s “must experience” culinary destination. With 13 consecutive Michelin Star awards, Executive Chef Robert Curry offers delectable Mediterranean-inspired cuisine showcasing the freshest seasonal ingredients, sourced from local purveyors, to provide a memorable feast for the eyes and the senses!
In the evening we travel 20 mins by private coach to the university town of Berkeley where we will enjoy a performance by the Choir of Trinity College, in the beautiful St Mark’s Episcopal Church. We then enjoy some post-concert time in Berkeley with the Trinity choristers and staff before our return trip home.
DAY 5 | SATURDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2020
1ST OF 3 NIGHTS IN TORONTO
TRAVEL DAY - SAN FRANCISCO/TORONTO
This morning we travel by coach to the airport and fly together from San Francisco to Toronto. On arrival in Toronto, our coach will be waiting to deliver us to Toronto’s newest five star hotel hotel where chic laid back luxury meets edgy sophistication. Situated in the heart of the Entertainment District this hotel is the vision of influential nightclub owner and restaurateur Charles Khabouth. From the metallic fuschia pink Jeff Koons Sculpture in the lobby and etched gold reception desk, to the arabesque black and white marble floors and crushed velvet panelled walls that entice us through to the dark velvet-clad lobby bar, this hotel is high stakes glam! It boasts 3 restaurants including the Michelin starred Akira Back, a Parisian inspired café, and Kost an indoor-outdoor all-day rooftop dining experience with 360-degree views of Lake Ontario, the CN Tower and Toronto. The super sophisticated Mr C. Bar Room is a low lit, sultry lounge bar, it’s marble-encased fireplace offering welcome respite from the cold. By contrast, the sprawling rooftop terrace with infinity lap pool and views to die for has more of a ‘South Beach in the sky feel’!
After almost a full day of travel you may like to unwind in the lobby bar, dine at any one of the hotel’s sensational restaurants, take in the stunning views with a drink or bite on the rooftop terrace, or simply robe up and relax in the warmth and comfort of your hotel room!
DAY 6 | SUNDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2020
2ND OF 3 NIGHTS IN TORONTO
TORONTO
This morning we will take a guided coach tour introducing us to the history and highlights of downtown Toronto. Our tour will include the iconic CN Tower and nearby Rogers Centre, Royal Ontario Museum, The Entertainment District, Chinatown and the Markets, Toronto City Hall, Harbourfront, Distillery Historic District and the Eaton Centre .
The afternoon is free to explore the city from our wonderfully central location. You may like to visit the Ontario Art Gallery or Ripley’s Aquarium, shop at the Eaton Centre, browse the markets or simply rest in preparation for this evening’s choral concert. This evening, we travel to the University of Trinity College Toronto where we will enjoy a concert by The Choir of Trinity College Melbourne and the Chapel Choir of Trinity College Toronto. Afterwards we will join the choristers and staff at a post-concert reception. Dinner is at own discretion providing those who wish the opportunity to have an evening with the choristers. However, there will be an organised group dining option available for anyone who wants to come.
DAY 7 | MONDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2020
3RD OF 3 NIGHTS IN TORONTO
TORONTO
Today we travel together by private coach to Niagra Falls where we will meet up with the Choir of Trinity College choristers for a spectacular day long sight-seeing experience. Lunch will be available for purchase at The Falls.
In the evening we will enjoy a remarkable ‘last night in Toronto’ deluxe dining experience. Voted the country’s No.1 restaurant for 2 years in a row, Alo is a contemporary French restaurant located atop a heritage building in downtown Toronto. Chef Patrick Kriss offers a blind, unfolding, multicourse tasting menu that pairs the finest in seasonal ingredients with classic French techniques. The result is a memorable creation of French haute cuisine where perfectly balanced, refined and layered flavours play out like poetry in the mouth. Matched wines are offered with each course.
DAY 8 | TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2020
1ST OF 2 NIGHTS IN BOSTON
TRAVEL DAY – TORONTO/BOSTON
We meet in the morning and travel to Toronto Airport for our flight to Boston. On arrival we are met by our private coach for transfer from Boston airport to our 5 star hotel at Copley Plaza. This luxury grande dame is a Boston landmark hotel and has been a symbol of the city’s rich history and elegance since its gala opening in 1912. Upon entry, the gilded lobby’s marble busts, elegant ceiling mural and all-round gorgeous décor ooze the charm, grandeur and opulence of a bygone era. Centrally located in Boston’s historic Back Bay and overlooking the famous Copley Square, it sits in the heart of the city steps away from key historical attractions such as Trinity Church, the Boston Public Library and the Freedom Trail. This stellar location offers a vast array of shops, cafes and eateries, as well as the Copley Place Mall and the boutique fashion stores of Newbury Street. Shoppers will be in heaven!
In the afternoon we explore this very walkable city on foot with a guided walking tour. We will get our bearings as we learn about the city’s history and key attractions. Afterwards we will have the opportunity to sample local flavours, fares and wares at the much loved Faneuil Hall Market Place. Established in the mid eighteenth century, this hugely popular shopping and tourist destination comprises three historical buildings (North Market, South Market and Quincy Market) and boasts a spectacular view of the waterfront. One can easily while away the hours here but you may prefer to visit the nearby New England Aquarium, Boston’s beautiful Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), or the stunning Isabella Stewart Gardner Collection where magnificent art works and furnishings are housed in a sumptuous renaissance-style mansion.
In the evening we will enjoy a fine dining experience at one of Boston’s best fine dining restaurants.
DAY 9 | WEDNESDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2020
2ND OF 2 NIGHTS IN BOSTON
BOSTON
This morning we travel together across the Charles river to the nearby university town of Cambridge, home of Harvard University. Here we will have the opportunity to visit the University Art Museums, including the long-established Fogg Museum with it’s outstanding early Italian paintings and Impressionists, and the Busch-Reisinger Museum of German and Nordic painting. Around midday we arrive at the Cambridge Memorial Church where we will have priority seating at a gorgeous concert given by the Choir of Trinity College, Melbourne. We will enjoy a post-concert reception with the choristers at Harvard before returning to our hotel at Fairmont Copley Plaza.
The late afternoon is free.
In the evening we walk to the nearby Trinity Church, where the choir will perform at evensong. Erected between 1872 and 1877 this grand Episcopal church is described as an architectural masterpiece. It’s location in the bustling yet charming city centre of Copley Square is just minutes from our hotel and offers great shopping, beautiful architecture and a vast array of bars and restaurants where you might like to enjoy a post-performance drink or meal with the choristers.
DAY 10 | THURSDAY 6 FEBRUARY 2020
1ST OF 6 NIGHTS IN New York
TRAVEL DAY – BOSTON/NEW YORK
In the morning we will have a couple of hours for last minute sight-seeing/shopping in Boston. Around 11am we meet our luxury coach driver for travel to New York. We arrive in the afternoon at our beautiful five star hotel. On the border of Upper East Side and Midtown, this world class Art Deco hotel sits in a prime location overlooking Central Park. It is close to the Museum Mile and high-end shopping including Barney’s New York, and the boutiques of Madison and Fifth Avenues. It offers a variety of quietly luxurious, well-lit rooms with lofty ceilings and stunning city and Central Park views. With hatted porters, white gloved lift attendants and a Les Chefs d’Or concierge team, the hotel offers guests world class luxury service. The newly-opened restaurant Perrine offers seasonal French-American cuisine and daily specials inspired by Pierre culinary classics. The hotel also offers a bar/lounge, Two E, with traditional high tea by day and live jazz by night.
In the early evening we take a short walk to the Saint Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue where we will hear The Choir of Trinity College Melbourne perform at Evensong. This impressive church located in the heart of midtown Manhattan, was built in 1913 and contains more than 40 statues of saints and bishops.
The evening is free but there will be an optional organised dinner for anyone who wishes to come.
DAY 11 | FRIDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2020
2ND OF 6 NIGHTS IN New York
NEW YORK
In the morning we will take a guided tour of New York. We will drive through the city on a route that will take us by some of NYC’s most iconic sights and attractions including Central Park, the Empire State Building, times Square & the Theatre District, Grand Central Terminal with it’s Beaux-Arts architecture. Rockefeller Centre, Wall Street and the World Trade Centre site and 911 Memorial just to name a few. Our guide will share with us the city’s rich history and tell us about the significant role it played in the American War of Independence.
The afternoon is free to take advantage of the wonderfully central location of our hotel and explore at your leisure.
In the evening we attend a concert to hear The Choir of Trinity College perform in the Church of the Transfiguration. To locals this small, historic and very beautiful oasis in the city is more affectionately referred to as ‘the little church around the corner’. It is celebrated for it’s advocacy of social inclusion, and is a sanctuary where all are made to feel welcome regardless of religion, race or sexuality. Post-concert, the tour group will be invited to join a reception with the choristers in the church. NB There will be an optional post-concert dinner organised for anyone who wants to come.
DAY 12 | SATURDAY 8 FEBRUARY 2020
3RD OF 6 NIGHTS IN New York
NEW YORK
Today is a totally free day for all (including the Choir of Trinity College choristers and staff). With so much to do in the Big Apple you are provided with the opportunity to explore at your own pace and do as you please.
In the evening we will have a delicious dinner at The Grand Tier before attending a 8pm performance of Mozart’s scintillating class comedy Le Nozze di Figaro at the Metropolitan Opera House.
DAY 13 | SUNDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2020
4th OF 6 NIGHTS IN New York
NEW YORK
This morning is free as we gear up for a busy afternoon and evening. However, for anyone interested I highly recommend a walk up to the famous St Patrick’s Cathedral where Sunday morning mass will be on. This international landmark is the Mother Church of the Archdiocese of New York and the seat of the Archbishop. It is the largest Gothic Catholic cathedral in the US and welcomes more than five million visitors each year. With it’s 330-foot spires, it is truly one of the city’s most spectacular architectural sights and well worth a visit.
In the afternoon we go together to Broadway to see a show. In the evening we walk to New York’s most impressive house of worship St John the Divine, where we will see The Choir of Trinity College perform at Sunday Evensong.
DAY 14 | MONDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2020
5th OF 6 NIGHTS IN New York
NEW YORK
This morning we will have a guided tour of 2 of New York’s top art galleries. At the Guggenheim Museum, Frank Lloyd Wright’s impressive spiral architectural masterpiece showcases a collection of mostly modern paintings. From here we go to America’s foremost gallery, the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Home to thousands of historical artworks and artifacts from around the world this collection can be overwhelming. Our private guide will help us zone in on a selection of ‘must see’ works. The afternoon is free for you to linger longer at the gallery should you wish.
The evening activity is TBC but for those who wish, there will be the option to travel by return coach to Princeton, New Jersey where The Choir of Trinity College will give a 7pm performance in the Trinity Church.
DAY 15 | TUESDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2020
6th OF 6 NIGHTS IN New York
NEW YORK
Today we visit the nearby Frick collection. Located in the salubrious 5th Avenue Henry Clay Frick mansion, this is an ever expanding, world class private collection. Our private guide will talk us through the collection as well as the scandalous and controversial life of Henry Frick. The afternoon is free, although I highly recommend a visit to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).
In the evening we will attend the Broadway play ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ before having a final Farewell New York dinner.
DAY 16 | WEDNESDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2020
1ST OF 1 NIGHT IN PHILADELPHIA
TRAVEL DAY – NEW YORK/PHILADELPHIA
This morning we depart New York for Philadelphia in our private luxury coach. On arrival we will check into our boutique hotel perfectly located in the city’s epicntre. It is a unique luxury boutique hotel that features a striking lobby, the critically acclaimed Square 1682 restaurant and an on-site fitness centre. Throughout the hotel, original artwork interacts dynamically with soft hues, luxurious custom furnishings and original architectural detailing.
In the afternoon before we will meet our private guide for a sight-seeing tour and introduction to this fascinating city with it’s storied history, thriving arts scene, lauded culinary scene and world-class shopping.
In the evening we will hear The Choir of Trinity College perform at 6pm Evensong at the beautiful Saint Mark’s Church, just a short walk from our hotel. Later in the evening we will experience one of Philadelphia’s top fine dining restaurants.
DAY 17 | THURSDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2020
1ST OF 3 NIGHTS IN WASHINGTON DC
WASHINTON DC
This morning we visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the third largest museum in the country, and the Barnes Foundation, one of the world’s largest private collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. We will have lunch in Philadelphia before traveling by private coach to Washington DC.
On arrival, we check in to our luxurious Washington DC hotel. Located in Washington’s fashionable West End and adjacent to historic Georgetown this chic hotel welcomes guests in capital style. Blending timeless elegance and modern touches, the hotel boasts a long list of five-star facilities that will make your stay incredibly comfortable. Whether you want to have your hair done in the hotel’s glamorous salon, take a free fitness class and swim in the indoor salt-water pool, or build your own G&T with handpicked herbs from the lounge bar garden, this hotel has it all.
In the evening we will attend Evensong with The Choir of Trinity College. We then have a very ‘DC’ fine dining experience at The Oval Room. Located just steps away from the White House, The Oval Room is where you can rub shoulders with congressmen and lobbyists while you dine. An institution in D.C. this restaurant was featured on the 2019 Michelin Guide and oozes sophistication. Frequented by the ‘Who’s Who’ of Washington politicians, it serves well prepared classics and a refined selection of fine wines.
DAY 18 | FRIDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2020
2ND OF 3 NIGHTS IN WASHINGTON DC
WASHINGTON DC
In the morning we will take a guided sight-seeing tour of the capital’s most prominent attractions. This city is dripping in history and with so many lovely monuments and buildings, as well as a range of fantastic museums, Washington will astound with all that it has to offer. Our expert guide will help us learn the history of Washington DC and American politics in general, as well as some of the most famous people who have impacted the country including Lincoln, Jefferson and Martin Luther King.
The afternoon is free for you to explore the city at your leisure.
In the evening we will attend a stunning concert by The Choir of Trinity College. Afterwards we will find the most romantic restaurant in DC for Valentine’s Day dinner!
DAY 19 | SATURDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2020
3RD OF 3 NIGHTS IN WASHINGTON DC
WASHINGTON DC
This morning we are guided by an art historian through the National Gallery of Art. Defining itself as ‘The nation’s museum’, it is a spectacular collection of some of the finest artworks in the world. From Van Gogh’s self-portrait to Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpieces this is a gallery not to be missed.
The afternoon is free.
In the evening we attend an early event with The Choir of Trinity College and celebrate our final night together.
DAY 20 | SATURDAY 16 FEBRUARY 2020
TOUR CONCLUDES
WASHINGTON DC
Following a final breakfast at the hotel, our tour concludes.
Costs and Information:
There may be some changes to the itinerary depending on confirmation of concert times and venues.
Hotel Names will be released on confirmation of booking
International flights from Australia to the USA are not included in this itinerary.
Tour costs are based on a minimum number of 8 participants, and are subject to change depending on the number of participants
SAN FRANCISCO - NEW YORK (HALF TOUR)
SAN FRANCISCO, TORONTO, BOSTON, NEW YORK
DATES
JAN 28 – FEB 12 2020 (15 nights)
COSTS
$12,000 (AU) PER PERSON TWIN SHARE
(based on a minimum of 8 people)
Single Supplement: $4000 (AU)
OR
SAN FRANCISCO - WASHINGTON D.C (FULL TOUR)
SAN FRANCISCO, TORONTO, BOSTON, NEW YORK, PHILADELPHIA, WASHINGTON D.C.
DATES
JAN 28 – FEB 16 2020 (19 nights)
COSTS
$14500 (AU) PER PERSON TWIN SHARE
(based on a minimum of 8 people).
Single Supplement: $4000 (AU)
*Please note:
There may be some small changes to the itinerary as choirs activities are confirmed
International flights from Australia to the USA are not included in this itinerary
Tour costs are based on a minimum number of 8 participants, and are subject to change depending on the number of participants
Hotel names will be released on confirmation of booking
CONTACT
Rachel Whealy
COMPANY
Bravura – Luxury Music Tours
E-MAIL
rachel@bravuraclassical.com
PHONE
0425 243 191