The American Music Abroad Silver Tour 2025 was a 20-day international performance and cultural experience designed for talented high school musicians. Under the leadership of Head Director Bret Mascaro and a team of distinguished musical directors, the Silver Tour continued AMA’s proud tradition of connecting students through music, travel, and performance.
From Italy’s opera halls to Austria’s alpine towns, each destination offered the chance to perform in the most prestigious and breathtaking settings. Since 1975, American Music Abroad has guided more than 43,000 young musicians on performance tours that unite artistry, education, and cultural understanding.
The Silver Tour 2025 brought together dedicated student musicians for a summer of music, friendship, and discovery. The tour was supported by a distinguished team of musical leaders, including Jason Morehouse, Paul McGarr, Matthew and Sarah Topping, and Mandy Funderburk. After three days of intensive rehearsals and orientation at Millersville University in Pennsylvania, participants performed a Farewell Concert before departing for Europe.
Once overseas, the ensemble journeyed through five countries, including Italy, Austria, Germany, France, and Luxembourg. They performed across Europe in venues like Abano Terme’s Piazza Todeschini, St. Sebald Church in Nuremberg, and Rothenburg’s Kirchplatz. Students also visited historic landmarks such as Teatro alla Scala, Venice’s canals, the Dachau
Tour Dates: June 28 – July 17, 2025
Head Director: Bret Mascaro
Contact: staff@americanmusicabroad.com
AMA Office: (610) 431-3311
The Silver Tour began in Milan, where students stepped into one of the world’s most celebrated cultural capitals. After arriving at Teatro alla Scala, they toured its legendary opera house and museum, an inspiring introduction to Italy’s artistic legacy.
From Milan, the ensemble traveled to Sirmione, a picturesque lakeside town surrounded by the calm of Lake Garda. The journey continued to Abano Terme, where musicians performed their first European concert in Piazza Todeschini.
In Venice, they crossed the lagoon by charter boat to St. Mark’s Square, surrounded by gondolas, cathedrals, and music echoing through narrow streets. Later, in Bologna, students explored the city before returning to Abano Terme for an evening of local performances and camaraderie.
From Italy, the tour crossed the Alps into Austria. The group arrived in Westendorf, a charming Tyrolean village, and joined fellow AMA musicians for a Tyrolean Folkloric Evening filled with song, dance, and laughter.
The next day brought a visit to Rattenberg, known for its intricate glassblowing craftsmanship, followed by a gondola ride to the glaciers, where alpine views offered a moment of reflection. That evening, the ensemble performed at the Mayrhofen Musikpavillon, surrounded by mountain peaks and community spirit.
In Westendorf, students gave another remarkable concert inside the Alpenrosenhalle.
Germany offered a powerful blend of remembrance and performance. The ensemble began with a solemn visit to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial, a moving experience that reminded students of music’s power to honor and heal.
In Nuremberg, participants explored the city before performing inside St. Sebald Church, one of Germany’s most renowned Gothic cathedrals. Later, they traveled to Ansbach for sightseeing before arriving in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a perfectly preserved medieval town.
The Rothenburg Kirchplatz concert filled the cobblestone square with music and applause, marking one of the tour’s most memorable evenings. The journey continued to Heidelberg, where the ensemble admired the city’s riverside charm before traveling onward to France.
In Strasbourg, students marveled at the architectural grandeur of the Strasbourg Cathedral, illuminated by its breathtaking sound and light show. The next day brought a visit to Königsbourg Castle, followed by time in Riquewihr, a colorful Alsatian village surrounded by vineyards.
The evening concert at the Church of Saints Nazaire & Celse in Gambsheim was another standout performance, uniting the ensemble’s diverse voices in one harmonious sound. Each note resonated with AMA’s values of unity, artistry, and connection.
The final days carried the tour into Luxembourg, where students visited the General Patton Memorial Museum, honoring the history of liberation in Europe. From there, the group traveled to Wiesbaden and then along the scenic Rhine River.
A Rhine River Cruise between St. Goarshausen and Rüdesheim offered a picturesque farewell, with castles and vineyards lining the waterway. The last evening in Frankfurt featured a festive Farewell Dinner, a moment to celebrate everything accomplished together.
The American Music Abroad Silver Tour 2025 brought together high school musicians for a three-week experience that combined performance, travel, and connection. Each rehearsal, concert, and cultural visit helped students strengthen their skills while learning from the people and places they encountered across Europe.
The friendships and cultural awareness built on this tour will continue to guide these young musicians long after the applause fades.
The tour began with rehearsals at Millersville University in Pennsylvania before departing for a 17-day concert tour through five European countries.
Concerts took place in Abano Terme, Mayrhofen, Westendorf, Nuremberg, Rothenburg, and Gambsheim, with additional performances and cultural experiences throughout.
