Dates
Overview
Discover this city’s rich history, culture, and musical legacy when you bring your ensemble to perform at the New Orleans Heritage Festival. Students will grow as performers through instruction and feedback from expert adjudicators. Your musicians can also look forward to taking a cruise on an authentic steamboat, touring the cypress swamp on an airboat, and dancing the night away at the masquerade ball-themed awards ceremony.
Itinerary
Day 1
Travel to New Orleans, LA
AIM Experience Master Class (optional)
Start the weekend off on the right note with your own customized master class—the AIM Experience. Spend 60-90 minutes with a professional clinician perfecting your festival performance, fine-tuning your skills, and reaffirming your classroom teachings.
Natchez River Cruise (optional)
Cruise from the heart of the French Quarter aboard a New Orleans’ authentic Steamboat. The Natchez is one of only two true steam powered sternwheelers plying the Mississippi today.
Day 2
First day of festival performances
After arriving at the concert venue, your group will warm up in a private rehearsal room. Each ensemble will have 30-35 minutes on stage. A panel of three adjudicators will provide written and recorded feedback for each performance. Following your performance, a select adjudicator will conduct a mini-clinic on stage with your group, providing valuable feedback and reinforcement for your classroom teachings. Groups will also have the opportunity to participate as an audience for other groups competing—giving your ensemble exposure to their peers.
Cemetery & Gris-Gris Walking Tour (optional)
Tour one of New Orleans most famous features, the above ground cemetery. Make a wish or cast a spell at the tomb of Marie Leveau, the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans. Get your own Gris-Gris Bag!
Day 3
Continue festival performances
Festival performances will continue throughout the day. Your performance time will be given to you weeks before your event, so you can plan your day accordingly.
Airboat Swamp Tours (optional)
Join your captain on a high-speed Airboat Ride! You’ll be touring a large tract of tidewater cypress swamp. During your tour, you’ll have opportunities to see alligators, snakes, turtles, egrets, herons and ibis, and sometimes see hawks, owls and bald eagles.
Masquerade Ball Awards Ceremony, Dinner, & Dance
Get dressed up and dance the night away at the exclusive Masquerade Ball themed awards ceremony!
Day 4
More sightseeing or optional activities
Depart for home
Already Included
Performance in a national festival
Adjudication by a panel of three renowned music professionals
Onstage clinic
Hotel accommodations
Exclusive awards ceremony
Meals and activities (details in itinerary)
Accident & medical insurance coverage under WorldStrides' industry-leading policy
Free high school credit for students who choose to complete WorldStrides free online coursework post-program
Scenes from New Orleans
Health & Safety
WorldStrides has been tackling the unprecedented for the last 55 years. Our experienced team is leading the way, constantly evolving to meet the ever-changing landscape for student travel. In addition, we have an extensive network in place to ensure the health and safety of all our participants.
Doctors on Call
An exclusive relationship with the George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates that grants our travelers 24/7 access to medical care through telehealth consultations.
Name Badges
WorldStrides-branded lanyards provide clear identification and easy access to our WorldAssist phone number, should your student need help.
AXA Mental Health Services
For added peace-of-mind, all travelers have confidential access to a behavioral health care specialist while on tour should the need arise.
WorldAssist
WorldStrides staff members available 24/7/365 should your group need extra help.
Accident & Medical Insurance
For added protection, all travelers are automatically covered under WorldStrides' industry best accident, illness, and accident-related dental insurance.
Additional health and safety measures may be available within your respective destination. Refer to your program-specific materials for complete details.
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance
WorldStrides provides over $2.5 million in financial assistance each year to thousands of families. Families with annual adjusted gross incomes of less than $85,000 may qualify. One simple call to Customer Service and you’ll know how much may be available for your trip even before signing up. Please note: financial assistance is given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Payment Plans
Advantage Payment Plan
At program sign-up you can opt to pay in full, or break up the cost of your trip with the Advantage Payment Plan. This plan allows you to pay a small initial deposit, then have your remaining payments spread out into affordable monthly amounts.
EZPay
We offer an EZPay option, which is a simple way to pay for your WorldStrides program by scheduling hassle-free, automatic drafts from your checking account. With EZPay, you'll never be late or miss an installment.
Fundraising Tools
Our easy-to-use tools put students in the driver's seat of their own fundraising efforts. Students can send e-cards, share links on social media, and even send out printed letters through WorldStrides' Gift of Education program. In one click friends and family members can make a direct donation to the trip - with 100% of the money raised going to offset their trip price. Thousands of students pay for their entire trip each year through the Gift of Education.
Also, WorldStrides makes program-specific scholarships available as well as other scholarship resources. Ask your Account Manager for more information about scholarships and fundraising tools.