Tour: Argentina — Paraguay

Explore music and culture across Argentina and Paraguay

June 2027 International Tour


At EYSO, we don’t just train students artistically and technically; we prepare them for a future of complex ideas, creative risk-taking, and leadership as global citizens. While EYSO has historically toured to Scotland (2006), Gettysburg (2012) and Boston & New York (2023), we have not had a regular tradition of touring.

In 2027, we aim to start a new chapter with a tour of Argentina and Paraguay, making cultural exchange a regular part of the EYSO Difference. EYSO students will have the opportunity to learn from local professional musicians while exploring the interplay between music, folklore, myth, and indigenous tradition. With once-in-a-lifetime performances and experiences they’ll never forget, students will create lifelong memories and forge lasting friendships.

Itinerary Overview

10 days, 7 nights

  • 4 days in Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Explore colonial and immigrant history and the cultural intermixing it fostered
    • Savor the birthplace of tango
    • Perform two concerts at venues such as the Usina del Arte Teatro Argentino de La Plata, and participate in a workshop with local musicians
  • Iguaçu Falls – 2 days
    • Discover the breathtaking landscape and rushing water of the Iguaçu Falls, the world’s largest waterfall system and a sacred site for the indigenous Guarani people
    • Immerse yourself the myths and legends that contribute to the power of the Falls
  • 3 days in Asunción, Paraguay
    • Participate in a side-by-side with musicians of the National Symphony Orchestra of Paraguay
    • See the legends of the Guarani people come to life in the Mythical Museum Ramón Elías.
    • Experience a Paraguay estancia and the life of Gauchos
    • Take in the sweeping views of the Mbatoví Valley and Lake Ypacaraí
    • Perform in the Teatro Municipal de Asunción

Itinerary Overview

10 days, 7 nights

  • 4 days in Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Explore colonial and immigrant history and the cultural intermixing it fostered
    • Savor the birthplace of tango
    • Perform two concerts at venues such as the Usina del Arte and Teatro Argentino de La Plata (to be confirmed), and participate in a workshop with local musicians
  • Iguaçu Falls – 2 days
    • Discover the breathtaking landscape and rushing water of the Iguaçu Falls, the world’s largest waterfall system and a sacred site for the indigenous Guarani people
    • Immerse yourself in the myths and legends that contribute to the power of the Falls
  • 3 days in Asunción, Paraguay
    • Perform side-by-side with musicians of the National Symphony Orchestra of Paraguay
    • See the legends of the Guarani people come to life in the Mythical Museum Ramón Elías
    • Experience a Paraguayan estancia and the life of gauchos
    • Take in the sweeping views of the Mbatoví Valley and Lake Ypacaraí
    • Perform in the Teatro Municipal de Asunción

Performances

Students will perform in three concerts while on tour, as well as a side-by-side with the National Symphony Orchestra of Paraguay. Possible venues include:

  • Teatro Argentino de La Plata
  • Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción
  • Palacio Libertad, Centro Cultural Domingo Faustino Sarmiento
  • Usina del Arte cultural center
  • Teatro Municipal Ignacio A. Pane
  • Teatro Municipal de Asunción

Tour Partner

After a competitive search, we’ve selected Classic Movements, a company with more than three decades of experience leading orchestral tours around the globe, including to South America, as our tour partner.

Classical Movements has worked with leading professional, collegiate, and youth orchestras from across the country, including the Atlanta, Baltimore, and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestras; Minnesota, Philadelphia, and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestras; Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra, Julliard 415, Rice University Orchestra, St. Olaf College Orchestra, and youth orchestras from Boston, L.A., Dallas, Miami, New York, and Philadelphia.

Classical Movements specializes in fostering cultural diplomacy through immersive experiences and reciprocal musical exchanges, making them the perfect partner for the EYSO Difference.

Registration and Fees

Registration is open to all 2026-2027 Youth Symphony students. Select other musicians and alumni may be invited to join the tour based on instrumentation needs. Eligible students should register by July 7, 2026 by completing the online form on their member page and submitting a $500 deposit. Fees may increase for students registering after July 7.
Registration Fee
$5,016*

Tuition assistance is available by request. Funds are limited, and all requests will be evaluated beginning June 7, 2026. Families will be notified of TA decisions by July 6, 2026.

Tour fees include:

  • Airfare and ground transportation, including transportation to Iguaçu Falls

  • 7 nights accommodations in 3+ star hotels

  • 14 group meals (breakfast and lunch or dinner); other meals are independent

  • All sightseeing and tour fees

  • 3 concerts

  • 1 performance workshop

*Final fees subject to change based on airfare rates. Additional fees may apply based on individual travel adjustments.

Tuition assistance is available by request. Funds are limited, and all requests will be evaluated beginning June 7, 2026. Families will be notified of TA decisions by July 6, 2026.

  • March 2026Registration Opens

  • Spring 2026Departure and Return dates confirmed

  • July 7, 2026Deposits Due

  • Fall 2026Itinerary Confirmed

  • October 30, 20262nd Payment Due

  • January 8, 20273rd Payment Due

  • March 5, 2027Final Payment Due

  • May 2027Pre-tour Meeting

  • June 2027Departure!

Interested in joining the tour but not in Youth Symphony?

If there is enough interest, we may host a companion tour for family members and students who are not in Youth Symphony. If you are interested in joining the Youth Symphony on a companion tour, please let us know by completing this form.

Share Your Interest

Fee Schedule

  • Tuesday, July 7 — $500 non-refundable deposit due
  • Friday, October 30 — $1,500 payment due
  • Friday, January 8 — $1,500 payment due
  • Friday, March 5 — Final payment due (total may fluctuate based on final airfare costs)

Confirmed participants may request a monthly payment plan in 8 installments (August through March) of $575.

Cancellation & Refund Policy

When you register to go on tour and make your deposit, we begin making plans around your participation, including repertoire. We expect you will make every effort to maintain your plans.

However, we understand life sometimes brings the unexpected. Participants who cancel following the July 7 deposit deadline will forfeit all fees subject to the following schedule:

  • Before July 7 — all fees refunded

  • July 7–October 29 — $500 non-refundable; all other payments refunded

  • October 30–January 7 — $1,500 non-refundable; all other payments refunded

  • January 8–March 4 — $3,000 non-refundable; all other payments refunded

  • After March 4 — full trip cost is non-refundable

Students and families are encouraged to purchase travel insurance to protect them from unexpected cancellations. Our travel partner, Classical Movements, refers clients to Travel Insured and Travelex.

Frequently Asked Questions

1When is the tour?
The 2027 tour to Argentina and Paraguay is planned for June 2027. Final departure and return dates will be set in the spring of 2026. The duration of the tour will be 10 days with 7 nights’ accommodations and two overnight flights.
2Who is Eligible
Registration is open to all 2026-2027 Youth Symphony students. Select other musicians and alumni may be invited to join the tour based on instrumentation needs.
3What is the total cost of the tour?
The total cost of the tour is estimated to be $5,016. Final costs are subject to change based on airfare rates (airfare becomes available approximately 11 months prior to departure). For more information, please see “Registration and Fees” above.
4Can I get help paying for the tour?
Yes, tuition assistance is available by request. Funds are limited, and all requests will be evaluated beginning June 7, 2026. Families will be notified of TA decisions by July 6, 2026.
5How many chaperones will be on the tour?
We will have 8 chaperones, or approximately 1 for every 10 student, accompany the orchestra on tour.
6What is the refund policy if I have to cancel?
When you register to go on tour and make your deposit, we begin making plans around your participation, including repertoire. We expect you will make every effort to maintain your plans. However, we understand life sometimes brings the unexpected. Participants who cancel following the July 7 deposit deadline will forfeit all fees subject to the following schedule:
  • Before July 7 — all fees refunded
  • July 7–October 29 — $500 non-refundable; all other payments refunded
  • October 30–January 7 — $1,500 non-refundable; all other payments refunded
  • January 8–March 4 — $3,000 non-refundable; all other payments refunded
  • After March 4 — full trip cost is non-refundable
7I'm a parent. Can I accompany my child on tour?
Yes! You may sign up to chaperone the tour by emailing office@eyso.org. Chaperones are subject to the same travel fees as students.
8Can students not in Youth Symphony participate?
We are exploring the potential for a companion tour for students and family members who are not in Youth Symphony. If you are interested in joining the Youth Symphony on a companion tour, please let us know by completing this form.
9Are Paraguay and Argentina Safe?

The U.S. State Department’s Travel Advisory program lists both Paraguay and Argentina at Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Other potential destinations we considered in Europe have a Level 2 travel advisory. After receiving multiple proposals for destinations in both Europe and South America, Paraguay and Argentina were selected for the unique pedagogical experiences they will offer to EYSO students.

South America is a large continent. Regardless of the State Department’s advisory level, we continue to be mindful of and monitor geopolitical conditions in South America. Paraguay and Argentina are more than 2,500 miles from Venezuela — further than the distance from Chicago to Mexico City. However, should conditions it Paraguay and Argentina become unsafe for travel, we will work with our tour partners at Classical Movements to arrange an alternative tour.
10Who is organizing the tour?
International concert tour management company Classical Movements is our travel and production partner for this tour. Classical Movements has more than three decades of experience leading domestic and international tours with many of the world’s leading professional, collegiate, and youth orchestras.