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Music Tours to Lake Garda

The picturesque setting of Lake Garda – famed for being the largest lake in Italy – is situated roughly halfway between Milan and Venice. The lake itself is surrounded by plenty of quaint villages and rustic towns, and boasts an impressive events programme all year round.

Live musical performances are encouraged by the local tourist board as a perfect accompaniment to the stunning landscape. This makes Lake Garda a top destination for schools looking to guarantee appreciative audiences for a music school trip or tour.

An experienced Concert Assistant will meet you at your venues, take care of concert organisation and any issues which may arise, so that you and your group can concentrate solely on preparing for your performance. Your group also has the option to request an experienced NST Music Tour Manager, always on hand to ensure your school trip to Lake Garda runs like clockwork. 

Keen to find out more? Take a look at our most popular options below or get in touch with one of our expert travel advisors today for more information and free advice.

Music school tours to Lake Garda 

​This, the largest lake in Italy, offers a wide variety of performance options from world-renowned churches and castle courtyards to town squares and hotels. The dramatic mountains and crystal clear waters make the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable music tour.

Lake Garda highlights - our music groups love...

St Mark’s Basilica, Venice

St Mark’s Basilica, Venice

Sacred choirs may travel to Venice for the day to sing at mass in this world renowned venue.

Town Squares

Town Squares

The ‘piazzas’ in the towns and villages surrounding Lake Garda are great performance venues. Concerts during the summer months are offered by the local town halls of the region including Sirmione, Garda, Riva del Garda and Bardolino.

The relaxed atmosphere of these towns and squares provide groups with an enjoyable platform to share music with the local community.

Chiesa Parrocchiale Di Malcesine

Chiesa Parrocchiale Di Malcesine

Groups may apply to perform in this parish church that is well-known to both locals and tourists.

Opera at Verona

Opera at Verona

Held at the Arena di Verona, a Roman amphitheatre, one of the best preserved ancient structures of its kind, which is internationally famous for its large-scale operatic performances.

Gardaland Theme Park

Gardaland Theme Park

The largest theme park in Italy, attracting over two million visitors a year, with various rides and themed entertainments suitable for all ages.

Lake Garda Boat Cruise

Lake Garda Boat Cruise

Groups can take a leisurely cruise on Lake Garda and soak up the sun in stunning surroundings.

On-tour support in Lake Garda

From teacher feedback we know that on-tour support is important to you. 

In Lake Garda we offer Concert Assistants and Tour Assistants to give you all the support you need on the ground whilst you’re away. 

In addition, we can offer support from a Tour Manager who will assist you throughout the duration of your tour in Lake Garda including at your concerts where they will be on-hand to provide extra support. 

Planning your first school trip?

If you're planning your first school trip, our essential guide will take you through each step of the process.

 

  • Choosing your destination
  • Gaining approval from your Local Authority and/or your Head
  • Promoting your tour in school
  • Confirming your booking
  • Tailor-make your tour
  • Completing your risk assessments (including a sample risk assessment)
  • Quick reference timeline
  • Pre-tour checklist

Additional support, resources & information 

Concert organisation & tour planning service 

Concert organisation & tour planning service 

With NST, you’ll get your own dedicated music team who’ll work with you from start to finish. You’ll benefit from their unrivalled destination knowledge, and their experience gained from spending every day organising concerts for school groups. 

They’ll tailor-make your itinerary from scratch and take care of everything for you: 

  • Matching the most appropriate concert venus to suit your group's ability 
  • Pulling together a performance schedule and itinerary that runs smoothly
  • Planning the right balance of concerts and visits every day with realistic timings
  • Pre-arranging and pre-booking your visits, entrance tickets, passes and meals 

 

You’ll receive your final itinerary a full 4-weeks before you travel too.

Promoting your concerts

Promoting your concerts

We’ll go the extra mile in promoting your concerts for you too. We’ll:

  • Select venues that regularly attract good audiences, and we’ll schedule your concerts at the best times to maximise audience potential.
  • Locate A-board posters outside your venue, distribute promotional posters and leaflets ahead of your performances, plus promote your concerts in the local press, ‘what’s on’ guides, social media, and on radio where possible.
  • Invite local youth and cultural groups to your concert (where appropriate) and, where possible, we’ll organise joint concerts and festival participations to attract the largest possible audiences.

FREE music tour promotion pack 

FREE music tour promotion pack 

We’ll support you and provide everything you need to advertise your music tour around school and to parents. Our free promotion pack consists of: 

  • Parents’ letter & permission slip template for you to complete 
  • A3 posters to promote your trip around school
  • PowerPoint presentation templates which you can tailor to your own needs 
  • Parents’ leaflets covering how NST manage safety, financial protection and details of our travel insurance
  • Online parents’ video which showcases the benefits of taking a music trip

 

For selected destinations, we’ll provide a trip launch web page using video footage and imagery.  This web page is provided by a weblink and can be shared with pupils and parents in many ways. 

Risk assessment support including preview visits 

Risk assessment support including preview visits 

Risk assessment plays a vitally important part in the planning and organisation on any music tour. 

Our risk assessment guide aims to help you understand more about your obligations and how you can more effectively manage group safety on your next music tour and provide you with risk assessments for your trip. 

Planning first music trip

Planning first music trip

Organising your first tour can appear to be a daunting process. 

If you're planning your first school trip, our guide will help to take you through each step of the planning process, answering frequently asked questions and providing tips and support along the way. 

Our helpful guide covers the following: 

  • Choosing your destination 
  • Gaining approval from your Local Authority and/or your Head 
  • Promoting your tour in school 
  • Confirming your booking 
  • Tailor-make your tour 
  • Completing your risk assessments (including a sample risk assessment) 
  • Quick reference timeline 
  • Pre-tour checklist 

 

View our essential guide to a successful trip here.

Get live updates on your group's tour location

Get live updates on your group's tour location

Locate My Trip uses GPS technology and is the easy, convenient way for your school to follow your location whilst on tour. Specifically designed to provide reassurance to both parents and teachers, NST will know where your group are 24/7. If your schedule needs to change, we’ll put plans in place to keep your tour on track. 

With Locate My Trip your group can also share photos and videos with the school and parents, via a secure link, to keep them updated on your experience whilst you’re away.

Watch our short Locate My Trip video here.

Your online school trip organiser - My Tour Manager 

Your online school trip organiser - My Tour Manager

Save time and stay on track with your school trip admin with our online organiser - designed to help busy teachers like you. 

With My Tour Manager, you'll be able to download FREE resources and access trip paperwork online and in one place. Your personalised checklist details what you need to do and by when, plus you'll receive fortnightly reminders too. 

What's more, you can take all your trip documents on the go whilst on your tour with our app, My Tour Manager-On-the-Go

Find out more and watch out short My Tour Manager video here.

FREE music resources 

Free music resources

We've created a range of free music resources and educational posters to brighten up your classroom! 

Take a look at our downloadable posters here.

Brexit & your school trip

Brexit & your school trip

How will Brexit affect my school trip?

Following the end of the transition period there are several changes that will affect groups travelling with us to the EU.

For more information on these changes, visit our dedicated Brexit page here.

If you're travelling with NST and have any specific questions. please contact your Educational Travel Advisor.

Speak to one of our music tour team

At NST, our dedicated team of music specialists work hard to make your tour a magical and unforgettable experience. From planning and promoting your performances, through to making all your arrangements, you’ll be in good hands with NST.

Why choose NST...

Here's why thousands of teachers choose NST each year...

  • Dedicated music tour team

With fantastic first-hand knowledge of our Lake Garda destinations and concert venues, our music team will match the most appropriate options to suit your group's ability and requirements. 

  • On-tour support

We offer Concert Assistants, Tour Assistants and Tour Managers to give you all the support you need on the ground whilst you’re away.

  • Promoting your concerts

We’ll go the extra mile in promoting your concerts for you, selecting venues that regularly attract good audiences and advertising your concerts in the local area. 

  • Making it easier for you 

With our online school trip organiser, travel app, FREE classroom posters and trip launch resources to support your in-school promotion.

  • Offsetting carbon emissions

For every trip taken, we'll plant a Maya nut tree in Peru to support reforestation, local communities & biodiversity. Plus, we'll offset an additional tonne of CO2 to guarantee carbon emission reductions. 

  • Risk assessment guidance 

Our risk assessment guidance will help you to manage group safety on your next educational trip. 

  • FREE group leader inspection visits

We offer a free inspection visit to your chosen destination to support your risk assessment planning. 

  • Value for money

We’re committed to bringing you the best possible value trips to help make every penny count.

  • Peace of mind

Your group’s location can be followed with our trip tracking device - Locate My Trip - plus you’ll have 24/7 support from us whilst you’re away.

  • More than 50 years’ experience

With over 50 years’ experience, with NST you can rest assured that your group is in safe hands.

Looking for protection on your next school trip? 

Booking with a school travel company is the best way for you to protect parents’ money and give yourself peace of mind.  

 

Don’t forget – if your school arranges transport, accommodation and other services directly, you’ll be liable under the Package Travel Regulations – meaning you’ll have all the responsibilities of a travel company, both legal and financial. 

 

Financial protection from the moment you book

NST are fully bonded:

  • ABTA
  • ATOL
  • IATA

Managing safety on school trips

For your protection, NST's independently audited Safety Management System covers:

  • 24-hour emergency cover
  • Audited accommodation & transport
  • Excursions & school visit assessment
  • Group leader preview visits to assist with risk assessment planning

We're LOtC Council’s Quality Badge assured

The Department for Education advises schools to always look for the LOtC Quality Badge when choosing a school travel provider.