Each year Langley’s orchestras participate in a Spring Break Trip and perform in a competition and/or clinic and enjoy sightseeing with orchestra friends.
March 27-April 3, 2026 – Salzburg, Vienna, and Prague
The Langley Orchestra traveled to Central Europe for an educational and musical performance tour. Over the course of the eight-day trip, students explored the musical heritage of Salzburg, Vienna, and Prague and performed music from the Tale of Three Cities concert. Following their return, students had the magnificent opportunity to earn three college credits by completing academic assignments based on their experience.
Start of the Journey
Amidst a couple flight delays, Langley Orchestra spent the night together at the airport, waiting for their 4:00 AM takeoff. The overnight flight landed in Munich, Germany, where the orchestra boarded a bus to travel across the border to Salzburg, Austria. Upon arrival in the evening, the students met their tour director, Nina. The group concluded the long travel day with freshly delivered pizza at the hotel.
Exploring Salzburg
The first full day of sightseeing focused on Salzburg’s deep connections to musical history and cinema. The students embarked on a guided Sound of Music sightseeing tour. Then, they transitioned to a walking tour of the city center, which featured stops at the Salzburg Cathedral and Nonnberg Abbey. Furthermore, the orchestra visited Mozart’s birthplace, the preserved childhood home of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, where students learned about his early life and compositions.
Travels to Vienna via Melk
The next day, Langley Orchestra departed Salzburg for Vienna, making a midday stop in the small, historic town of Melk. In the evening, the students attended a professional classical music performance featuring repertoire which included Vivaldi’s “Spring” from The Four Seasons and Brahms’s “Hungarian Dance.”
Vienna Landmarks and Cultural History
The following day was dedicated to a comprehensive cultural and historical tour of Austria’s capital. Students began at the Haus der Musik, an interactive discovery museum where they engaged with acoustic displays and historical exhibits on the Vienna Philharmonic. The day continued with a guided sightseeing tour of the city that included viewings of the Schönbrunn Palace and the world-renowned State Opera House. The group also visited the Vienna Central Cemetery to pay respects at the gravesites of monumental composers like Beethoven, Brahms, and Schubert.
Travel to Prague
The tour moved from Austria to the Czech Republic the following day. En route to Prague, the group stopped to explore the town of Telc, known for its well-preserved Italian Renaissance architecture. After arriving in Prague, the students took a guided city walk that passed by the historic Jewish Quarter. The afternoon concluded with designated free time, allowing students to explore the cobblestone streets independently, shop, and sample local Czech cuisine.
The Prague Performance and Return
The musical highlight of the trip occurred on the final full day in Czechia, as Doc and the students performed a live concert for local residents. This performance served as the capstone event of the tour, combining months of preparation with the inspiration of playing in an authentic European concert setting, while allowing them to build lasting memories together. The following morning, the orchestra traveled to the airport and boarded their return flight back to Washington, DC.
Thank you to parent Bonnie Myshrall, all of the trip chaperones, and Doc for making this adventure possible and leading our group throughout the entire trip.
Photos from the trip can be accessed HERE.
Kristen Han
Photo Credits: Kylie Guo, Farid Homayounmehr, Bonnie Myshrall