Tours

Touring with Youth Symphony of Kansas City

A World-Class Experience

YSKC offers students in its orchestras the opportunity to participate in tours, providing meaningful experiences that foster musical growth, independence, and cultural exploration.

YSKC ensembles have performed throughout the United States and abroad, with past tours including Austria, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and most recently, England in 2025. These experiences have taken students to some of the world’s most respected stages, including a 2023 performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Upcoming travel opportunities will continue this tradition, including an educational tour to Chicago and an international tour to Austria and Germany.

In addition to touring, YSKC musicians have been featured in prestigious national events, including a 2014 performance at the Midwest Clinic—one of the world’s leading conferences for music educators and performers—highlighting the program’s long-standing commitment to excellence and high-level ensemble training.

Through these opportunities, students gain not only performance experience, but also a deeper understanding of music within a global and professional context. Please note that participation in touring opportunities requires travel at select times throughout the year and involves an additional cost.

Senior School Tour: Germany & Austria

On June 4, 2027, YSKC students and families will travel to Germany and Austria for an extraordinary cultural milestone: the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s death. This once-in-a-lifetime bicentennial commemoration will be celebrated around the world only once, making this tour a truly historic opportunity. Beethoven is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of all time — not only because of the power and beauty of his music, but because of the extraordinary human story behind it. Even as he faced profound personal adversity, including the devastating loss of his hearing, Beethoven refused to surrender his artistic voice. Instead, he created works of unmatched courage, struggle, and triumph that continue to inspire humanity. His life is a testament to perseverance, transformation, and the belief that greatness can emerge through challenge, a message that speaks directly to YSKC’s own motto of “Growth Through Music.”

Tour Brochure

Senior School Tour: Beethoven @ 200, Germany & Austria

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Junior School Tour: Chicago, IL

Get ready for an unforgettable adventure to one of America’s greatest music cities! In March 2027, YSKC Junior School students in Grades 2-9 will travel to Chicago for the National Festival of the States — a trip filled with music, learning, and exciting sightseeing. The tour begins with an afternoon arrival in Chicago, where students will meet their Tour Manager and explore the city together with a guided tour of the Historic Downtown and the Loop. After checking into the hotel, the group will enjoy dinner at a local restaurant — the perfect start to a weekend of shared experiences, laughter, and making memories with fellow YSKC musicians.

One of the most special parts of this tour is the chance for students to grow closer as an orchestra family. Traveling together, exploring museums, and sharing meals creates incredible bonding time and lasting friendships built around a shared love of music. The biggest musical highlight is an extraordinary orchestra workshop with coaching from musicians connected to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, giving students the rare opportunity to learn directly from world-class professionals. Students will also attend a live performance by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, hearing inspiring music in one of the nation’s most famous concert halls. Beyond the music, the trip includes unforgettable group adventures: visiting major museums like the Shedd Aquarium or Field Museum, walking through beautiful Millennium Park to see Cloud Gate (“The Bean”), enjoying skyline views from 360 Chicago at the John Hancock Building, and spending fun free time together at Navy Pier. This tour is more than a trip — it’s a chance to deepen friendships, feel the joy of belonging to YSKC, and make lifelong connections through classical music.

Tour Brochure