The American Music Abroad Empire–Liberty Tour 2025 offered an extraordinary opportunity for high school musicians to perform, travel, and grow through a shared international experience. Over 20 days, students represented their communities across Europe, performing in cities filled with music, history, and heart.
Led by Christine and Richard Riederer alongside Marni and Michael Conte, the tour embodied AMA’s long-standing mission: connecting people through music and cultural understanding.
Each destination offered a new stage, from Germany’s historic cathedrals to Italy’s open-air piazzas. The ensemble’s journey blended artistry and education, offering young performers the rare chance to share music in world-class venues while discovering Europe’s rich cultural history.
The Empire–Liberty Tour 2025 began with three days of rehearsals and orientation at the State University of New York at Fredonia. Students refined their musicianship, learned tour repertoire, and bonded as one ensemble before their farewell concert at King Concert Hall.
Once in Europe, the group performed in historic towns and iconic landmarks across Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Italy. Each stop balanced concerts with guided tours, reflection, and cultural immersion, from the solemn memorial at Mauthausen to the grandeur of Vienna’s Konzerthaus.
Tour Dates: July 10 – July 29, 2025
Head Directors: Christine Riederer, Richard Riederer, Marni Conte, Michael Conte
Contact: staff@americanmusicabroad.com
Office: (610) 431-3311
The tour began in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a medieval gem filled with charm and history. Students explored cobblestone streets and enjoyed a guided walking tour before presenting their first European concert at Rothenburg Kirchplatz. Performing in this storybook town set the tone for the musical journey ahead.
In Dresden, students visited the VW Transparent Factory, took part in a photo walk, and discovered the city’s baroque beauty during a guided tour. Their concert at the Kinderschutzbund Zentrum courtyard brought local families together for an evening of music and camaraderie.
Leipzig followed with a walking tour and a visit to the Bach Archives. The choir’s performance at St. Thomas Church, where Bach once served as music director, was a moving tribute to one of history’s greatest composers. The evening concluded with dinner at the historic Auerbachskeller and a nighttime stroll through the heart of the city.
Crossing into the Czech Republic, the ensemble performed in Karlovy Vary, a spa town known for its elegant colonnades and mineral springs. The Mill Colonnade concert filled the air with energy and applause, echoing through the 19th-century arches that framed the stage.
In Prague, students toured the Old Town and performed at the Ládví Culture House before sharing a dinner cruise on the Vltava River. As the city’s lights reflected on the water, the evening became a celebration of friendship, music, and connection.
The next day, the group stopped in Telč, where free time allowed for exploring the pastel-colored Renaissance square before traveling on to Vienna.
Vienna greeted the tour with its deep musical roots. Students visited the Cemetery of Composers, where Brahms and Beethoven rest, before attending a short choir performance at St. Stephen’s Cathedral. A guided city tour included a visit to the Konzerthaus and Schönbrunn Palace, followed by dinner at Heuriger Wolff with live Viennese music and traditional dancers.
From Vienna, the tour continued to Kirchberg in Tirol, surrounded by the Tyrolean Alps. Students attended a lively Folkloric Evening and performed at the Alpenrosenhalle in Westendorf.
Later visits included Rattenberg’s glassblowing exhibition and an excursion to the glacier above the Zillertal Valley. That night’s concert at the Ried Musikpavillon was filled with applause, marking another proud milestone in the ensemble’s journey.
The final days brought the ensemble into Italy, where every moment blended artistry with discovery. After a scenic drive through the Alps, students arrived in Abano Terme for their final concert at Piazza Todeschini. Performing under the evening sky, they celebrated the unity and growth that had defined their time together.
The next day in Verona, students visited Juliet’s House and Piazza delle Erbe before attending Aida at the legendary Arena di Verona.
The journey closed in Venice, where the ensemble took a charter boat to St. Mark’s Square and explored its canals and landmarks. The farewell meeting in Abano Terme that evening brought laughter, gratitude, and heartfelt goodbyes, marking the end of an extraordinary summer of music and friendship.
The Empire–Liberty Tour 2025 offered students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform across Europe’s most inspiring settings. From historic cathedrals to concert halls, each performance reflected both artistry and ambition.
As they traveled through Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Italy, participants experienced the prestige of international performance and the lasting connection that music creates across cultures.
The tour welcomed high school musicians from across the U.S. who joined individually to form one ensemble.
The Empire–Liberty Tour 2025 lasted 20 days. It began with rehearsals and a farewell concert at the State University of New York at Fredonia before traveling through Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Italy.
Notable performances included concerts in Rothenburg, Dresden, Karlovy Vary, Prague, Westendorf, Ried, and Abano Terme, with special moments at St. Thomas Church and St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
