What do Kyoto, Venice, Melbourne and Belfast have in common? These amazing destinations were all explored by BRT student travelers in the past year!
Our BRT International Team planned once-in-a-lifetime international adventures for nearly 4,000 students and adult community ensembles in the past 12 months. Today, we’re celebrating a year well-traveled – from the places we visited, to the experiences travelers loved. Let’s see where students had their passports stamped this year!
Europe
European destinations bring the history learned in the classroom into life-changing living color, as students walk ancient streets, gaze at iconic architecture and become immersed in new languages and cultures. This past year, our international groups discovered:
- Austria
- Croatia
- England
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Italy
- Scotland
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Switzerland
In every country we visited together, students performed for local audiences and independently explored cities, towns and countrysides, sharing moments with friends and making memories that will last long after they’ve returned home. A few student-loved experiences included:
- Cantus Festival in Salzburg – For four days in the month of July, the city of Salzburg, Austria, takes the spotlight as performers from all over the world gather to celebrate music.
- International Music Festival in Budapest – This international choir and orchestra festival celebrates performance groups of all ages in one of Europe’s most beautiful cities.
- Titanic Experience in Belfast – Hosted in the city where the Titanic was born and built, this self-guided experience gives students a unique perspective on the famous ship.
- Ghost Tour in Edinburgh – We’ve yet to meet a student who doesn’t love a good ghost tour, and the blend of history and the paranormal in Edinburgh was a perfect match.
In addition to our international trips this year, we also had the privilege of hosting eight Ambassadors of Music groups this summer, who each explored five countries over fifteen days.
Asia & Pacific
This past year, several of our international groups flew halfway around the world to explore stunning destinations in Japan and Australia. They experienced both vibrant urban streetscapes and vast wilderness, from futuristic Tokyo to bustling Sydney. Students were inspired by:
- Penguin Parade on Phillip Island
Every day at dusk, the world’s smallest species of penguin, the Little Penguin, makes it way from the ocean to its burrow home on Summerland Beach as crowds watch in anticipation. - Peace Memorial Park at Hiroshima
This moving memorial, dedicated to the victims of the 1945 bombing of Hiroshima, allows students to better understand both the depravity and perseverance of humanity.
We can’t wait for the world of adventures awaiting students in 2025, including new experiences in Greece and the United Kingdom. It’s our privilege to show students the world beyond their hometown, whether we’re crossing state lines or oceans to get there. Where are you dreaming of? Reach out today and one of our travel experts can start building the international trip of your dreams!