dcadmin, Author at KI Concerts

Hidden Gems of Central Europe

Posted on September 26, 2022June 11, 2025 by dcadmin

Whether you’re looking for a remarkable place to visit or an extraordinary performance venue, there are several locations in central Europe that will make your tour unique. In Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic, there are places off the beaten path that are just as beautiful as the more famous spots.

St. Thomas Church, Leipzig

Germany

Leipzig is a large city in Germany that surprisingly flied under the radar. Its one of the few cities that has kept its original architecture after World War II. As the home of Europe’s oldest opera house and many museums and galleries, this city is a fantastic choice for performance tours. A special venue to see is St. Thomas Church, home to one of the oldest choirs in the world, the St. Thomas Choir. Johann Sebastian Bach was the choir’s cantor from 1723-1750!

If you want a small-town experience, consider visiting Eisenach. Once a border town of East Germany, this small town is known as the birthplace of Bach and the city where Martin Luther lived during the Reformation. Be sure to visit the Wartburg Castle, where Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German.

St. Peter’s Church, Vienna

Austria

Vienna, the capitol of Austria, is known as “the city of music.” If you want to know why, visit Vienna’s Haus der Musik, or House of Music. This museum of sound features interactive exhibits showcasing the city’s rich history of sound and music that your ensemble will love.

Vienna is also the home of St. Peter’s Church, a Baroque church that can be the highlight of your performance tour. With both a stunning exterior and interior, this church is a brilliant venue for one of your ensemble’s performances in central Europe.

Salzburg is another wonderful city in Austria with interesting spots for performance tours. Known as the birthplace of Mozart, Salzburg has many sites dedicated to the composer. If you’d like to branch out from music history while touring the city, visit the Dommuseum in the Salzburger Dom Cathedral to see Archbishop Wolf Dietrich’s infamous ‘Wunderkammer,’ or “Cabinet of Curiosities.” A variety of natural and man-made objects are stored in the original cabinets. Afterwards, explore the Baroque paintings and architecture of the cathedral.

Czech Republic

Strahov Monastery, Prague

Prague is a beautiful city full of surprises around every corner. In a city with rich music and scenery, sometimes it’s nice to find a quiet oasis. Near the Manes Bridge and the Rudolfinium, Wallenstein Garden is a Baroque haven that is part of the Wallenstein Palace. Take in a breathtaking view of Prague while exploring the garden’s geometric designs, pond, and elegant bronze statues. If you’re lucky, you’ll see the peacocks that roam the gardens!

Some people may not consider a trip to the library to be on their to-do list for an international performance tour, but the Theological Hall in Strahov Monastery is one of the world’s most beautiful and significant libraries. It’s home to some amazingly preserved artifacts and ceiling frescos. One of its rarest artifacts is the remains of a now-extinct dodo bird.

Central Europe is a truly special performance destination. We can promise you and your ensemble will have an especially rewarding experience traveling to these unique places.

To book your tour contact us here.

Three Reasons to Visit Ireland

Posted on August 11, 2022June 26, 2025 by dcadmin

With so many wonderful places to visit and see in Ireland, this destination continues to be one of our most popular for performance tours. If you are looking to take your ensemble to a unique country with rich history and beauty like nowhere else, Ireland is the perfect choice. Here is how the history, landscape, and culture make Ireland a unique performance destination.

History

Whether in Dublin, Belfast, or Galway, the architecture and scenery displays Ireland’s unique personality and history. One of the most visited sites is the Rock of Cashel, located 2 hours away from Dublin. This is Ireland’s medieval center, said to be where St. Patrick converted the King to Christianity. Featured buildings include a Gothic cathedral, The Hall of the Vicars Choral, and a Tower House. Cashel also has Ireland’s only surviving Romanesque fresco in the old chapel. To get to know the old Ireland, this is the place to do it.

Interior of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland

Another historic site in Ireland is perfect for ensembles. Performing in Ireland offers incredibly access to venues like the historic St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. Like its name suggests, this cathedral is said to be the site where Saint Patrick baptized people to Christianity and is the oldest Christian site in Ireland. Not every ensemble gets to perform here, so it’s a special place.

In Belfast, there are the beautiful St. Anne’s Cathedral and the Belfast City Hall. In the center of the city, St. Anne’s Cathedral is a beautiful piece of Irish history that is still used today. Growing and changing with the city, this stunning cathedral has undergone renovations for most of the 20^th century, but when you see the final product, a hundred years was worth it! Belfast City Hall is one of the cities most recognizable buildings. Built in 1906, this building is still the seat of government in Belfast, and visitors get to learn about the city’s history since 1613.

Ireland’s Belfast City Hall

If you’re a history buff, then the Belfast interactive Titanic experience is a must see. Located where the Titanic was built and launched, you’ll learn not only about the ship, but the city and people that made it. You also can tour the SS Nomadic, the tender ship of the Titanic and the last White Star Line ship.

Natural Wonders of Ireland

Ireland has beautiful and unique natural sites. Sometimes called the Emerald Isle, Ireland truly looks like no place you’ve ever seen. For instance, as one of Ireland’s most popular sites, it’s no wonder the Cliffs of Moher are a must see. Connected by bridges and trails, this UNESCO Geopark site offers travelers a chance to explore this beautiful natural wonder. Reaching heights of 700 feet tall, these limestone cliffs have been a tourist destination since the 18^th century and the site of many Irish myths. Look out over luscious green fields and hear the crash of the ocean below and discover why there is no place in the world quite like this.

Another natural wonder in Belfast, the Giant’s Causeway is a surreal spot to witness. Caused from a volcanic eruption over 60 million years ago, this UNESCO Heritage site looks like a huge road directly into the sea. Hexagonal shaped stones of basalt make this site look exactly like the cobblestone path of giant!

A little more inland is Wicklow County. Called the ‘Garden of Ireland,’ Wicklow County holds the best gardens in Ireland, including the Powerscout Garden, the third best garden in the world. This 47-acre destination features over 200 different trees, flowers, and shrubs. The central mansion features Irish food and crafts.

The Irish Culture

Since the Emerald Isle is so unique, cultural immersion opportunities are a must. Performing with an exchange choir or seeing live music and dance are a great way to meet and connect with the wonderful people of Ireland. Take an Irish Dance workshop to discover the fun of Riverdance and learn how dance has connected the Irish people for centuries, or have a meal with live music and learn traditional Irish folk songs like “Whiskey in a Jar,” “The Rose of Traulee,” and “Rocky Road to Dublin.”

One of the best ways to connect with people in Ireland is through the food. Whoever you meet, ask them what their recipe is for soda bread. Everyone has a different recipe and each bread has a different taste, whether sweet or salty, but it will always be topped with lots of butter. If you’re lucky, you’ll have your own new recipe to take back. On the seaside, try fresh smoked salmon, oysters, and shellfish in delicious seafood chowder. And of course, get ready for boxty, farl, champ, and Colcannon, the best potato dishes of Ireland.

No matter where you end up in Ireland, there is something for everyone. From the gorgeous landscape to the rich history, Ireland is truly like no other place in the world. So, when you find yourself in the realm of whimsy, be ready for an experience like no other. And don’t forget to try the shepherd’s pie!

To book your tour to Ireland contact us here

For festivals in Ireland look here

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How Choir Festivals Bring Us Together

Posted on August 9, 2022August 24, 2022 by dcadmin

Here is how our 2022 choir festivals created collaboration and connection this past summer in London, Prague, and Dublin.

Choir Festivals Like No Other

International festivals are especially unique because there is so much to explore as an ensemble. Working with a new conductor and other choirs brings your ensemble to new heights. Our choir festivals are led by renowned directors who offer innovative approaches to performing and working as a group. On equal footing, every choir is learning and growing together as one. The world of choir becomes bigger with every connection you make abroad. Making these unique bonds with other choirs is an exceptional way to grow your ensemble’s artistic reach.

Highlights from KI’s 2022 Choir Festivals

London

The Kyle Fleming Festival Ensembles Rehearsing for their Concert!

In June, London welcomed the Dr. Kyle Fleming Choir Festival. Fleming is currently based in the Denver, Colorado area and is the Director of Choral Activities at Regis University. Many ensembles are excited about performing again after the pandemic, and Fleming was just as excited for this opportunity, “Most importantly, choral singing will continue because we know this to be undeniably true: music and singing are an intrinsic part of what it means to be human. With this in mind, let’s look ahead with zeal and expectancy as we make plans to raise our voices together in London.” As an artistic director, Fleming understood how important group music is to the human experience and how essential it is for ensembles to perform together.

The ensembles in London performed with an exchange choir in the beautiful St James Church in Piccadilly Circus. Performers enjoyed tours around London, visiting sites like Big Ben, the Tower of London, and St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Prague

One of our most recent choir festivals in July was with renowned Director Dr. Rollo Dilworth in Prague. As associate professor of choral music education at Temple University, Dilworth has directed various choirs throughout his career. Dr. Dilworth works to incorporate a culturally immersive experience in his festivals.

The Rollo Dilworth Choir Festival Performs at Dvořák Hall

At the beautiful Dvořák Hall in Prague, Dilworth excelled in giving the citizens of Prague a choir festival performance like nothing else, choosing a repertoire best suited for all groups participating. Working with a total of five different ensembles, Dilworth directed the New York City Children’s Chorus, Florida Singing Sons, Princeton Boychoir, Children’s Chorus of Washington, and the Peninsula Music Arts Association. Coming from all over the country, these ensembles performed together as if they had been one group all along.

The performers toured around Prague, getting to see the Astronomical Clock, Charles Bridge, and the Prague Castle. Additionally, the New York City Children’s Chorus performed an individual concert at the historic St Nicholas’ Church Old Town.

Dublin

Craig Hella Johnson delivered a beautiful festival in Dublin. The founding director of the Grammy winning group Conspirare, Johnson has conducted and directed ensembles for over 20 years.

Working with seven different ensembles, the audience at St. Patrick’s Cathedral received a powerful performance. According to Craig Hella Johnson, “Ireland has its own whimsy, proud history, language, choral traditions, stories and warmth. Our festival will radiate this and more as we unite in one voice lovingly to do our part in uniting humanity and people of goodwill everywhere!” Johnson’s repertoire made for two unforgettable gala concerts that connected the ensembles and the people of Ireland.

The Craig Hella Johnson Choir Festival Performance at St. Patrick’s Cathedral

The ensembles performed in the historic St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the oldest Christian site in Dublin. Their second gala concert was hosted in Ulster Hall in Belfast. Performers also enjoyed dinner with live Irish music, saw the seaside town of Howth, and even visited the ‘Garden of Ireland’ in Wicklow County.

Choir festivals are great experiences for any ensemble, as they bring the world of music together in one room. With an exceptional artistic director and conductor, you can experience the joy of what it means to perform and create music with others.

For a list of KI Concerts Festivals, look here.

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