So many topics inspire the creation of music. Including Mom, of course! With our favorite performing division in mind this Mother’s Day, here are some classical pieces written in honor of Mom. Antonín Dvořák – Songs My Mother Taught Me This piece also uses text from previously written poems, ... Read More

France has long been considered a cultural destination. At WorldStrides, we give performance groups the opportunity of a lifetime in the cities and countryside of France. Students are able to perform in spectacular cathedrals and venues, and take in the historic sights. First, stop in Normandy, wher... Read More

Meet Laura Mulligan Thomas. She’s the driving force behind her award-winning Charlottesville High School orchestra. She’s also a big believer in international travel. Thirty years ago, Laura was proud to count eight students in her fledgling music program. Last year, she took 140 eager student m... Read More

We’re in the spirit of the Halloween season at WorldStrides, and have already shared haunted performance venues in North America. Now, we’re going global! Here are five haunted performance venues from around the world that famously boast a specter or two. Huguang Guild Hall – Beijing ... Read More

Planning a festival should be a fun and rewarding experience. At WorldStrides OnStage, we take care of every single detail so our directors can focus on the most important part – the music! Adjudicated festival performance can feel intimidating, so we talked to several of our adjudicators to get t... Read More

You’re preparing for your festival, but your students – maybe even you! – are starting to feel the effects of stage fright! Simply put, stage fright is performance anxiety. Those with performance anxiety will often focus on the worst case scenarios, worry about failure, and engage in social co... Read More

If you have been daydreaming of performing at the renowned Sydney Opera House in Australia, here’s your chance! The High School Honors Performance Series at Sydney Opera House builds upon the heritage of the Carnegie Hall Series and challenges accomplished 9th-12th grade musicians at one of ... Read More

We are thrilled to provide students the opportunity to work with some of the highest caliber music professionals. But there’s one guy we’ve not had the pleasure of working with… One name missing from our adjudicator list? Darth Vader. Hear us out. Darth Vader may have been a conduc... Read More

You’re ready to take your students to your WorldStrides OnStage program! You’re excited and the kids are pumped. For many teachers, it is also important to gain the support of their  booster organization, parent group, and/or administration! Here are a few tips on how to get your administratio... Read More

Does this scene look familiar? If your musical ensemble started out like this at the beginning of the school year, hopefully you’ve found a way to encourage the Barneys of your group to be more in-tune. If your ensemble is still at the “Barney stage” (so to speak), rest assured, you’re not a... Read More