AC Academy Warwick & Scholars: Vienna Concert Tour

Written by Nathan Cole

Director of Operations and Outreach, Armonico Consort

AC Academy Warwick and Scholars took part in a brilliant concert tour of Vienna between 18 and 21 July 2026. We wanted to stretch the musical ability of the group, but also give them new experiences in culture, history, education and independence. Eighteen young people participated. The tour was organised in conjunction with Rayburn Tours.

Our aim was to give the singers the opportunity to perform in exceptional venues in one of the world’s most important musical cities, while also creating time for them to explore, socialise and grow together as a group. The programme included three performances in Peterskirche, Stephansdom and Kapuzinerkirche, alongside visits to Schönbrunn, central Vienna, the Prater and Haus der Musik.

All three concert programmes were performed a cappella, with piano support used in only one or two items. This placed the responsibility firmly on the singers to listen, blend and support one another. The repertoire travelled across centuries, languages and musical styles: from Górecki’s Totus Tuus, Allegri’s Miserere Mei, Deus and Philip Stopford’s Lully, Lulla, Lullay, to Ola Gjeilo’s Northern Lights, Sir Karl Jenkins’ Adiemus and Christopher Tin’s Baba Yetu. Alongside these were the Welsh folk song Lisa Lân, Rolf Løvland and Brendan Graham’s Sleepsong, and two Billy Joel songs: And So It Goes, arranged by Bob Chilcott, and She’s Got a Way, arranged by Jonathan Sampson.

The programme also gave individual singers important moments to step forward. Rebecca featured in Lisa Lân, Elise in Lully, Lulla, Lullay, Emily and Anna in Allegri’s Miserere, Harrison in Northern Lights, and Jaya and Ruby in Sleepsong. At the final concert, Emily and Maame performed Delibes’ beautiful Flower Duet from Lakmé. It was an ambitious and varied programme, and the solo features showed the depth of talent within the group. The singers had to respond to three very different buildings and acoustics, including performing without a rehearsal at Stephansdom. Just as importantly, the tour gave young people of different ages proper time together beyond weekly rehearsals. Tours create friendships and memories in a way that ordinary rehearsals cannot, and this was clear from the very first day.

Day 1 – Saturday 18 July

After a long day of travelling, we arrived at the Garten- und Kunsthotel Gabriel, checked in and enjoyed pizza together. The choir then gathered in the hotel garden (pictured below) for their first rehearsal, an unusual but lovely setting in which to begin the musical work of the tour. Despite the long day, Christopher put the singers through their paces, and they responded with impressive focus, energy and good humour. As their voices filled the garden, it felt as though the Vienna tour had truly begun.

Throughout our time in Vienna we used the city’s transport system, including trams and trains. This was genuinely exciting for many of the children. Learning to read the signs, stay together, know when to get on and off, and move confidently around an unfamiliar European city gave them a real taste of independence. It was practical learning, but also an important part of their growing confidence.

Day 2 – Sunday 19 July

After breakfast, the choir travelled to Schönbrunn Palace (pictured below). We split into smaller groups and walked through the beautiful gardens, taking time to appreciate the architecture and scale of the palace. It was a relaxed and enjoyable way to experience one of Vienna’s most famous locations, while also giving the young people some appropriate independence within their groups.

We then travelled into the historic centre before meeting at Peterskirche. Peterskirche (pictured below) is one of Vienna’s most beautiful Baroque churches, with an ornate interior and an impressive acoustic. The rehearsal allowed the choir to understand how the sound moved around the building and to make the final musical adjustments needed for the afternoon performance.

The first concert began at 3pm. Performing a programme almost entirely a cappella in such a remarkable building immediately raised expectations, but the choir rose to the occasion and sang extremely well. They listened carefully to one another and did Armonico proud.

Soloists were given the opportunity to step forward, and one participant later described finishing their solo without making a mistake as the moment they felt most proud. Another identified Peterskirche itself as the venue they “would never forget”.

The audience included visitors from around the world who had entered the church during their time in central Vienna. The setting, the acoustic and the quality of the singing created a memorable opening performance. Every young person who completed the post-tour survey awarded the venues the highest possible score, and rated the performances either four or five out of five. These results reflected the pride the singers took in presenting their work in spaces of such musical and historical importance

Following the concert, the group travelled to the Prater theme park (pictured left). The rollercoasters appear several times in the young people’s feedback as some of the best moments of the whole tour! After the concentration of the concert, it was wonderful to see them enjoying themselves, sharing rides, food and jokes. The free time was as valuable socially as the concert had been musically, and friendships continued to develop across age groups and choir sections.

Day 3 – Monday 20 July

Monday began early, with the group travelling to Stephansdom . Singing at St Stephen’s Cathedral was one of the major highlights of the tour. There was no opportunity to rehearse inside beforehand, so the choir had to arrive ready to sing and trust the preparation they had already done. Only a handful of people were present: some were praying and others simply stopped to listen. This made the performance feel very intimate. The enormous cathedral, the quiet audience and the unaccompanied voices created an atmosphere that was genuinely unforgettable.

The singers handled this challenge extremely well. One young person was proud to complete the performance while looking at their music far less than before. Others spoke about projecting their voices more confidently, reaching notes they had not thought possible and introducing pieces to the audience. The performance at Stephansdom became the defining memory for several singers. One simply wrote: “The moment I’ll never forget was singing in St Stephen’s.”

It was clear that the musical challenge had made a difference. Participants said they felt more confident performing and believed the tour had made them a better musician. Others said they had become more confident overall, kept going when things were difficult and worked better as part of a team. One participant summed it up perfectly: “I am capable of more than I thought.”

On Monday afternoon we spent a couple of hours in Burggarten Park. The group saw the famous Mozart statue and it gave everyone space to sit, talk and relax before the evening concert. Those quieter periods are very precious on a tour. Conversations happen naturally, younger and older members mix, and friendships have time to become something more meaningful than simply knowing one another at rehearsal.

The final concert took place at 7pm. Kapuzinerkirche provided another beautiful and historic setting. The singers had already adapted to the acoustic at Peterskirche and faced the challenge of performing without rehearsal at Stephansdom. They were now able to bring together everything they had learned across the tour.

The choir sang superbly, with confidence and commitment. The programme was again almost entirely a cappella and there was a strong sense of collective achievement as the final notes came to an end. The performance was a fitting culmination of the musical journey and showed how quickly a young ensemble can develop when trusted with demanding opportunities.

Afterwards we went to Le Burger for our final meal together. The food was fantastic, but the occasion mattered just as much. It gave us time to sit together, talk about the tour and enjoy one another’s company before the long travelling day ahead. It was a warm and happy end to a very special day.

This tour also marks the end of an AC Academy journey for Maame, Anna and Fleur, as they give their final performances as Scholars. We are incredibly proud of all three and everything they have brought to AC Academy, and wish them every success for the future. We hope to see them again very soon!

Day 4 – Tuesday 21 July

The final morning came all too quickly. After breakfast, Christopher delivered one of his famous quizzes! This was very much a highlight for the group and was mentioned in the feedback afterwards. The questions were suitably random, the competition was lively and it provided plenty of laughter before we checked out and travelled to Haus der Musik. The interactive museum was a fun final cultural and educational experience, allowing the singers to explore Vienna’s musical history through sound, technology and practical activities.

We then began the journey home. It was clear that the group returning to Warwick was more connected and self-assured than the one that had set out only four days earlier.

The friendships behind the performances

The tour was about much more than the concerts. Travelling on Vienna’s trams and trains, sharing meals, visiting the parks, playing cards and simply spending time together helped the group form stronger relationships. One singer wrote that they returned with “many, many new friendships”; another said they now felt more confident with the choir because they knew people outside the rehearsal room.

What families noticed

Parents and carers saw the impact when the young people arrived home. One child talked throughout the car journey, eager to share everything that had happened. Another had been so settled while away that they no longer needed to keep messaging their family. Parents described stronger friendships, increased confidence with peers, a deeper connection to the Scholars group and a renewed enthusiasm for singing and future musical opportunities.

For one young person, the friendships formed in Vienna had an effect beyond the choir. Their parent explained that the experience helped them recognise that being themselves, including being different from others, was something positive. When they later encountered unkind behaviour elsewhere, they were able to draw confidence from the friendships made on tour and remember that they were likeable and belonged.

For another young person who had experienced an exceptionally difficult period before the tour, their parent described the difference AC Academy had made as transformational. They felt that being part of the group had helped their child rediscover confidence, friendship, enjoyment and a sense of belonging. At the final concert, they told us simply that AC Academy had “given them everything back”.

Summary

This was a brilliant experience for everyone involved. The standard of musicianship was high, the cultural and educational experiences were enriching, and the social impact was obvious. The three venues stretched the singers in different ways and required concentration, stamina, flexibility and courage. They responded magnificently and should be very proud of what they achieved.

The time together away from the concert platform was just as important as the music. The young people gained confidence using the trams and trains, learned to manage themselves in an unfamiliar city and supported one another through a very busy programme. The older and more experienced singers naturally helped the younger members, and friendships developed across ages and voice parts. This is why tours matter. Musical development, independence,
confidence and belonging all happen together.

The staffing arrangement worked extremely well. I led the tour, with Niki Marklew and Jamie Nash providing excellent chaperone support throughout. This meant Christopher could focus on the singers and the music, which is exactly where his attention needed to be. The young people were well supported, responded positively to the boundaries in place and were a credit to Armonico.

What the feedback told us

The feedback strongly reflected what we observed throughout the tour. The young people returned home proud of what they had achieved, more confident as performers and inspired to continue developing their singing. Performing an ambitious programme almost entirely a cappella strengthened their listening, blend, projection, concentration and musical independence. Several were particularly proud of completing solos, reaching new notes, introducing pieces and performing with less reliance on their music.

The tour helped the young people become more confident and independent, persevere through challenges and form stronger friendships. One young person with ADHD and dyslexia said the experience helped them feel less anxious, happier, more confident and that they belonged.

Key findings included:

100% rated the performances highly and gave the concert venues the top score.
83% felt they had become better musicians and more confident performers.
83% felt inspired to continue improving musically.
100% reported greater confidence, independence, teamwork and resilience.
100% made new friendships and felt welcomed, included and supported.
100% returned with lasting memories and wanted more opportunities like this.
100% of parents said their child spoke positively about Vienna and felt proud of what they had achieved.
78% of parents noticed increased confidence and motivation to sing or practise.
89% believed the experience would encourage their child to continue singing and take part in future musical
opportunities.
83% rated the organisation of the tour as very good or excellent, while 100% felt well supported or extremely
well supported by the AC team.
100% of parents would recommend a future AC Academy tour.
All 18 young people benefited from financial support, with AC subsidising the overall cost of participation for
every singer.
Additional targeted financial support was provided according to need, including three young people receiving
a 50% subsidised rate and one receiving an almost fully funded place.
This support helped reduce financial barriers to participation, making an international performance
opportunity more accessible to AC Academy families.

We are particularly grateful to Warwick Music Live and the Albert and Elizabeth Clarke Trust for supporting subsidised places. Their generosity helped us reduce financial barriers to participation and ensure that cost did not prevent young people from accessing this opportunity.

We are very grateful to Rayburn Tours for their organisation and to everyone who supported this tour. Your investment enabled 18 young people to perform in exceptional venues, develop as musicians and return home with greater confidence, independence, stronger friendships and renewed belief in what they can achieve together.

Thank you!

Nathan Cole
Director of Operations and Outreach, Armonico Consort