The American Music Abroad Bronze Tour 2025 was a 19-day performance and cultural experience created for high school musicians who shared their talent across Switzerland, Italy, Austria, and Germany. Led by Dr. James Capolupo, the Bronze Tour carried forward AMA’s five-decade tradition of connecting people through music and travel.
AMA ensembles turned Europe’s cathedrals, castles, and city squares into living classrooms where music brought people together across languages and generations. Since 1975, more than 43,000 musicians have traveled with American Music Abroad. The Bronze Tour continued that legacy, giving young performers the chance to grow as artists and global citizens while performing on Europe’s most inspiring stages.
The Bronze Tour was a three-week performance program across four European countries. Participants gave six concerts in historic venues known for their beauty, community spirit, and remarkable acoustics.
The tour began in Pennsylvania with three days of rehearsal and orientation at Albright College, where students prepared to perform as one unified ensemble. Once in Europe, the journey unfolded through lakes, mountains, and cultural capitals, offering moments of discovery, friendship, and reflection.
Tour Dates: June 21 – July 10, 2025
Head Director: Dr. James Capolupo
Contact: staff@americanmusicabroad.com
AMA Office: (610) 431-3311
The Bronze Tour began in Engelberg, a peaceful Swiss village surrounded by alpine peaks. Students were greeted with a traditional Alpine horn performance before taking a cable car up Mount Brunni for dinner overlooking the valley. It was a magical start to the tour.
The ensemble performed its first concert in Engelberg Kurpark, an open-air venue that captured the spirit of AMA’s mission: sharing music across cultures. In Lucerne, participants enjoyed free time before traveling on to Interlaken and Montreux.
A day trip to Zermatt and the Matterhorn brought unforgettable views from the Gornergrat Railway, connecting music, nature, and reflection in one breathtaking moment.
Crossing into Italy, students arrived in Milan, home to world-class art and design. They toured Teatro alla Scala, one of the most famous opera houses in the world, before performing in the nearby town of Crema.
The journey continued through Florence, where students visited the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo’s David and experienced the birthplace of the Renaissance. From there, a visit to Pisa brought the chance to stand before the iconic Leaning Tower. It was an image of wonder and history.
Each Italian evening was filled with good food, warm hospitality, and time to connect with fellow musicians. Whether dining at local trattorias or overlooking Florence from Piazza Michelangelo, students experienced the art of living as deeply as the art of performing.
In Westendorf, Austria, the mountains framed another stage for performance. Students enjoyed the rhythm of village life before performing at the Westendorf Musikpavillon.
Nearby, they visited Rattenberg to watch glassblowing artisans, then took a gondola to the Hintertux Glacier for alpine views that seemed painted in blue and white. The Hippach Musikpavillon concert followed, another proud moment shared with local communities.
The next day in Salzburg, the choir performed inside the Dom zu Salzburg, a sacred and historic venue that was filled with soaring voices. A visit to the Hallein Salt Mines and a festive Tyrolean Folkloric Evening completed this segment.
The final stage of the Bronze Tour invited reflection and celebration. In Dachau, students visited the World War II Concentration Camp Memorial, a meaningful educational experience that connected history to humanity.
From there, the ensemble performed in Gunzenhausen before arriving in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval towns. The open-air concert in Rothenburg Marktplatz, surrounded by half-timbered houses and cathedral bells, stood as one of the tour’s most memorable performances.
The journey concluded with a stop at Rheinfalls, Europe’s largest waterfall, and a final evening in Winterthur, Switzerland. It was a fitting farewell to a summer of learning, performing, and friendship.
The American Music Abroad Bronze Tour 2025 was a life-changing experience for young musicians. On this tour, students grew in skill, confidence, and perspective while discovering the world through the power of music.
From the Alps of Switzerland to the cathedrals of Austria, from the piazzas of Italy to the villages of Germany, the Bronze Tour 2025 became an unforgettable celebration of culture, connection, and performance.
The Bronze Tour was open to individual high-school musicians. Students rehearsed together, formed an ensemble, and performed across Europe.
The Bronze Tour focused on both performance and learning. Students played in historic venues, visited cultural landmarks, and took part in activities that deepened their understanding of music and history.
The program began with three days of rehearsal and orientation at Albright College in Pennsylvania, followed by sixteen days of concerts and travel through four European countries.
Students performed in Engelberg, Crema, Hippach, Westendorf, Gunzenhausen, and Rothenburg, with additional ensemble moments in Salzburg and other towns.
