The American Music Abroad Gold Tour 2025 brought together talented high school musicians from across the United States for a prestigious European performance program. Over the course of three weeks, participants shared their music across Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Italy. Led by Dr. Keith Hodgson and a team of accomplished directors, the Gold Tour continued AMA’s fifty-year legacy of uniting young performers through music and cultural exchange.
Since 1975, American Music Abroad has guided more than 43,000 students in discovering the world through performance and travel. The 2025 Gold Tour built on that proud tradition and gave students the opportunity to grow as musicians, global citizens, and friends.
The Gold Tour 2025 was a 19-day international performance program designed for high school musicians. The experience began in Philadelphia with registration and orientation, followed by transatlantic flights to Europe. Once abroad, students rehearsed, performed, and explored across seven countries, combining music with cultural discovery.
Concerts were held in both intimate and grand venues, from mountain towns in Austria to the capital cities of Prague, Budapest, and Vienna. Students also visited historic landmarks, toured museums and castles, and enjoyed evenings filled with local music and shared laughter. Each destination added depth to their artistry and strengthened the bonds between performers who began as strangers and ended as family.
Tour Dates: July 2 – July 21, 2025
Head Director: Dr. Keith Hodgson
Contact: staff@americanmusicabroad.com
AMA Office: (610) 431-3311
The tour began in Westendorf, a picturesque Alpine village where students settled in for rehearsals and orientation. Surrounded by the mountains, the ensemble bonded over shared meals and local traditions, culminating in a Tyrolean Folkloric Fest filled with laughter, dance, and song.
On July 6, the group performed their first concert at the Alpenrosenhalle. Earlier that day, they visited the charming town of Rattenberg for a glass-blowing exhibition and took a gondola ride up to the glacier, where sweeping alpine views framed the moment. The next day, a day trip to Salzburg brought a short choir performance inside the majestic Dom Cathedral, followed by an educational visit to the Hallein Salt Mines, connecting history, nature, and music in one unforgettable day.
Later in the tour, they returned to Austria for a stay in Vienna, where students visited Schönbrunn Palace, the Vienna State Opera, and the Cemetery of Composers honoring Brahms, Beethoven, and Strauss. An evening dinner with live Viennese music and dancers celebrated the deep artistic legacy that continues to shape Western music.
After leaving Austria, the ensemble traveled north to Dachau, where they toured the World War II Memorial Site, a solemn reminder of resilience and remembrance. That evening, they performed in Wolframs-Eschenbach, filling the town square with music that reflected both hope and humanity.
In Dinkelsbühl, one of Germany’s most beautiful medieval towns, students explored the old streets during a guided walking tour before performing a concert in Stadtpark. Each note carried the excitement of cultural exchange and the warmth of local audiences.
The next destination was the Czech Republic, beginning with a dinner cruise along the Vltava River in Prague. The following day, students explored the Prague Castle area and St. Vitus Cathedral before their concert at the Novodvorska Culture Centre, one of the highlights of the tour. Performing in the heart of a city famous for its musical history gave students a sense of pride and connection to the classical greats who once called Prague home.
A stop in Český Krumlov followed. It was a storybook town where cobblestone streets offered a glimpse into medieval Europe before the journey continued to Vienna.
Crossing the border into Slovakia, the tour visited Bratislava, the charming capital city along the Danube. Students enjoyed free time exploring the historic Old Town before continuing toward Hungary. The day reflected the spirit of AMA, connecting across cultures and borders through shared artistry.
In Budapest, the ensemble immersed itself in one of Europe’s most picturesque cities. Highlights included a guided sightseeing tour and an evening concert at the UP Cultural Centre, followed by dinner at Záborszky Pince. Here, musicians experienced traditional Hungarian food and lively folk entertainment. The city’s architecture, bridges, and hospitality left a lasting impression on everyone.
The Gold Tour’s journey continued to Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital, where students discovered a city filled with charm and community. A funicular ride took them to Ljubljana Castle for sweeping views, and an evening concert at Cankarjev Trg in Škofja Loka drew a warm response from the local crowd. The following morning, a visit to the Postojna Caves offered an awe-inspiring look at one of Europe’s largest cave systems, an experience that blended nature and wonder.
The final stretch of the Gold Tour led to Italy, where students settled in Abano Terme for their final performances. After exploring Venice by charter boat, including St. Mark’s Square and the Doge’s Palace, the ensemble performed an outdoor concert in Piazza Todeschini, surrounded by evening lights and the sound of applause.
The group also toured Verona, where they visited the Arena di Verona, walked the historic streets, and celebrated their final night with a farewell dinner near Milan. It was a perfect closing chapter to weeks of shared music, growth, and friendship.
The American Music Abroad Gold Tour 2025 was a summer filled with music, learning, and connection. Students grew as musicians while discovering Europe’s history and culture firsthand. Each country added a new layer to its experience, from alpine melodies in Austria to elegant performances in Italy.
The tour ended, but its impact carried forward. Many students returned home with renewed passion for music, lifelong friendships, and memories that will stay with them forever.
The Gold Tour was open to high school musicians from across the United States who performed internationally as part of a large ensemble.
The program began with orientation in Philadelphia before flying to Munich. Over 19 days, the ensemble performed and traveled through Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Italy.
Concerts were held in Westendorf, Salzburg, Wolframs-Eschenbach, Dinkelsbühl, Prague, Škofja Loka, Abano Terme, and other European locations.
