Arizona Musicians Abroad | Trip Dashboard

Welcome to Arizona Musicians Abroad

Find the latest information on our Arizona trip below.

Your Next Trip is June 14-30, 2025

This international tour will be with a group from the great state of Arizona. Best known for the Grand Canyon, Arizona is the 14th most populous state. With much of the terrain desert, the state bird is the cactus wren and flower the saguaro cactus blossom. Famous for fry bread, chimichangas and Sonoran hot dogs, you’ll find plenty of good eats in the Grand Canyon State.

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Current itinerary for Arizona

Most Recent Itinerary Update: April 15, 2024

Saturday, June 14, 2025

Pre-Tour Camp

Check in at the school, meet new friends and begin rehearsals.

Sunday, June 15, 2025

Pre-Tour Camp

Arrive at the school and spend a full day in sectionals and rehearsals working on the performance literature.

Monday, June 16, 2025

Pre-Tour Camp – Bon Voyage Concert

An early morning and more rehearsal before the Bon Voyage concert for family and friends. Repack your suitcase before bed.

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Travel Day to London

Meet your group at the designated locations at airport this morning. Next stop, the United Kingdom!

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Arrive in London, London City Tour

Welcome to London! Pass through customs and grab your luggage for a panoramic bus tour of London. Sights include Buckingham Palace, Palace of Westminster with Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower of London and Tower Bridge. Check-in to your hotel and enjoy dinner in the area. Get some much needed sleep!

Thursday, June 19, 2025

Windsor Castle, Concert

You’ll be up early for breakfast and then we are off to an audio guided tour of Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. You’ll see the Castle Precincts, State Apartments, Ceremonial rooms, Moat Room, Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, St George’s Chapel and the Changing the Guard ceremony. The Concert Choir will perform.

Friday, June 20, 2025

Tower of London, Concert, West End Show

Standing guard by the River Thames, The Tower is an impressive London landmark. Discover the secrets that lie within its walls, marvel at the breathtaking Crown Jewels, stand on the site where three English queens were beheaded and explore the myths and legends that make a visit to The Tower a fantastic day out. The Concert Band will give an outdoor performance in Victoria Embankment Garden. Tonight, you will have free time to explore the area or see a Broadway show in the West End.

Saturday, June 21, 2025

Transfer to Paris

You’ll be up early to check out of the hotel as we make our way to France.

Sunday, June 22, 2025

Palace of Versailles, Concert

After breakfast, you’ll board the coaches to travel to Versailles Palace, the summer palace of Louis XIV. Admire the state apartments, Chapel and the Hall of Mirrors. There are numerous historical buildings in Versailles, including the one in which, on September 3, 1783, the Government of British King George III, by signing the Treaty of Versailles, recognized the independence of the 13 United States. Following the Concert Band performance, enjoy a dinner cruise on the Seine River.

Monday, June 23, 2025

Paris Sights, Concert, Montmartre

Paris is the city of light and offers many sights including Notre-Dame Cathedral, Arc de Triomphe and The Louvre Museum. Shopping and the excitement of the city abound. The Concert Choir will perform then we’re off to Montmartre. The charming hilltop Montmartre district, also known as La Butte, is a former artists' village once inhabited by Picasso and Dalí, and home to the domed Sacré-Cœur basilica. Scale the many steps up to Montmartre for an amazing view of the city and wonderful dinner.

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Travel to Lucerne, Swiss Folklore Dinner

Traditional Swiss customs and usages, with alphorns, cowbells, national costumes, flag throwing and yodeling will make your visit to the Stadtkeller an unforgettable experience with a unique combination of good food, music and fun.

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Walking Tour of Lucerne

Highlights of the tour include the medieval Altstadt (old town), Lion Monument and the covered Kapellbrücke Chapel Bridge from 1333. All ensembles will have performances today.

Thursday, June 26, 2025

Mount Pilatus, Liechtenstein, Travel to Oberammergau

Today will begin with the Pilatus Mountain Excursion. In Alpnachstad, you’ll board the steepest cogwheel railway in the world to reach the summit of 2,132 meters above sea level. The breathtaking panorama and view of the Alpine massif and its mountain range do their part to make your stay unforgettable. After some leisure time, glide down to Kriens on the aerial cableway Dragon Ride and on the Panorama gondolas. Following lunch, you’ll travel to Bavaria, including a stop at Vaduz. Vaduz is an alpine town and capital of Liechtenstein, a German speaking sovereign state situated in the Alps. When we arrive in Bavaria, check-in at your hotel and have a group dinner in Oberammergau, a village of noted wood carvers. Over 2,000 village residents perform a world-famous Passion Play every 10 years, fulfilling a promise made by the town in 1634, if God would spare it from the bubonic plague.

Friday, June 27, 2025

Munich, Dachau, Concerts

Just northwest of Munich lies KZ gedenkstaette Dachau, the infamous concentration camp that became the model for all other camps established by the Nazi regime across Europe. From its famous motto, inscribed in iron over the camp entrance, "Arbeit Macht Frei" (work makes (you) free), to its now-restored barracks, and to memories of its fine camp orchestra, a visit to Dachau gives insight into the horrors visited on political prisoners, Jews, Gypsies and others prior to and during the Second World War. While it was in operation, more than 200,000 prisoners from over 30 countries passed through Dachau's main gate. U.S. Forces liberated the camp in April of 1945. You'll have a chance to spend some time for lunch in the Munich city center today followed by our return to Oberammergau for a joint performance at the Ammergauerhaus and dinner.

Saturday, June 28, 2025

Neuschwanstein Castle, Innsbruck, Salzburg

It’s up early and on the road to Neuschwanstein Castle. Commissioned in 1868 by King Ludwig II of Bavaria as his personal retreat, Neuschwanstein's amazing towers and picture-perfect setting have been enchanting visitors and architects since its completion in 1886. Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle is modeled after this Bavarian masterpiece. After your visit, you’ll make a lunch stop in Innsbruck on the way to Salzburg.

Sunday, June 29, 2025

Walking Tour of Salzburg, Concerts, Farewell Dinner

Take a walking tour of the historic center of Salzburg with your local guide. Highlights of the tour include the Baroque Old Town, Hohensalzburg Fortress, Salzburg Cathedral, Mirabell Gardens, St Peter’s Catacombs and Cemetery and Mozart’s birthplace. All ensembles will have a performance today at Mirabell Gardens. Enjoy a special farewell dinner tonight to celebrate the end of your European adventure!

Monday, June 30, 2025

Flights Home

It’s the last morning of a magnificent tour filled with experiences that will stay with you forever. We’re off to Munich International Airport for departure. Today you will gain back the six hours you lost on your flight to London many days ago! We return to the U.S. excited, enthused and exhausted yet enriched.

Itinerary updated as of 04.15.24

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Parent and Student Meeting Schedule

In general, you should plan to attend the meeting nearest your home. If you can't make the meeting nearest your home, you may attend any other meeting that fits your schedule. We do encourage students and parents to take advantage of the earliest meeting date possible. Meetings will last approximately one hour. During the meeting, you will meet the music directors and local staff.

Friday, May 3, 2024
6:30 PM
Casa Grande Union HS
Auditorium
2730 N. Trekell Rd. Casa Grande, AZ 85122
Host: Martin Hebda

Saturday, May 4, 2024
6:30 PM
Corona del Sol HS
Cafeteria
Park near the Auditorium in the large lot off of Knox Rd.
1001 East Knox Rd. Tempe, AZ 85284
Host: David DuPlessis

Sunday, May 5, 2024
2:00 PM
Rincon University HS
Auditorium
421 N. Arcadia Ave. Tucson, AZ 85711 Host: Jeff Marchant

Friday, May 10, 2024
6:30 PM
Glendale HS
Cafeteria (Please park by the football stadium)
6216 W. Glendale Ave. Glendale, AZ 85301
Host: Julie Trent

Saturday, May 11, 2024
6:30 PM
Basha HS
Auditorium
5990 S. Val Vista Dr. Chandler, AZ 85249
Host: Shawn Schive

Monday, May 13, 2024
6:30 PM
Flagstaff HS
Band Room
400 W. Elm Ave. Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Host: Rick McEnaney

Tuesday, May 14, 2024
6:30 PM
Boulder Creek HS
Mini Auditorium
40404 N. Gavilan Peak Pkwy. Anthem, AZ 85086
Host: Kirk Douglas

Wednesday, May 15, 2024
6:30 PM
Catalina Foothills HS
Auditorium
4300 E Sunrise Dr, Tucson, AZ 85718
Host: Renee Shane-Boyd

Monday, May 20, 2024
6:30 PM
Mountain View HS
Auditorium
2700 E. Brown Rd. Mesa, AZ 85213
Host: Adam Risch

Meetings updated as of 04.30.24

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Our Office

Address: 5348 W. Vermont Street, Suite 200 Indianapolis, IN, 46224
Phone: 800.616.1112
Local: 317.637.0837
Contact

Meet Your State Organizers

Learn about your state's organizers and their roles in your upcoming trip.

Martin Hebda Co-Coordinator

View Martin Hebda's Bio

About Martin Hebda

Martin Hebda’s passion for music blossomed while growing up in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He began playing piano, then moving on to trumpet. He was constantly active in both school and community music programs. In 1992 and 1993 while in high school, he marched with the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps. Following high school, Martin studied music education at the University of Arizona where he participated in a variety of ensembles including small brass, vocal, jazz and wind ensemble. He also participated in marching band and pep band.

Martin has been teaching music for 25 years. He is currently in his 23rd year as band director at Casa Grande Union HS. Over those years he has enjoyed seeing the music program grow in both size and in quality. Martin feels it is important to stay involved with the professional organizations in Arizona. He served eight years on the WGAZ board serving as the AIA liaison, show host coordinator, and vice president. He also served as the Arizona Music Educators Association (AMEA) Southeast Regional Governor for four years. Martin is currently the AMEA member at large and the vice president of AzMBA. He is currently in his second year of being an ABODA new teacher mentor. Martin enjoys serving in all the different organizations that serve the students of Arizona. Because of his service in the state of Arizona, he was awarded the AMEA George C Wilson Leadership/Service Award. Also, in the spring of 2014 he was inducted in the WGAZ Hall of Fame.

Music is not his only love. Family is extremely important to Martin. His wife, Mercedes, taught the color guard for his marching band until they had their third child. Because she understands the long hours that a band director has, she has been endlessly supportive of Martin’s various time commitments to different organizations. Martin makes it a priority to balance family with the demands of his professional responsibilities.

Martin has traveled to Europe with performing ensembles seven times between the years of 2007-2019. He sees all the benefits this trip brings students and is dedicated to providing the best possible travel and music performance experience for everyone involved.

Jeff Marchant Co-Coordinator

View Jeff Marchant's Bio

About Jeff Marchant

Jeff Marchant fell in love with band at Buena HS (AZ) in Sierra Vista under the direction of Rick Klein. He attended the University of Arizona with a trombone and jazz scholarship. While a member of UA's Olive Street Stompers, the group was a finalist in the National Association of Jazz Educators Collegiate Dixieland Competition. Jeff earned his Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Arizona studying trombone with Tom Ervin. While there, he was fortunate enough to perform with such musicians as Dizzy Gillespie, Bill Watrous, Bobby Shew and Ladd McIntosh. After college he performed and recorded with the Itsy Bitsy Spiders, Calexico, Descarga, blues legend Sam Taylor and the In Your Face Horns and the Crawdaddy-O Brass band.

Mr. Marchant marched with the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps and was a staff member and director for the Sunset Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps in Tucson. He taught band and orchestra at Sabino HS in the Tucson Unified School District before accepting his current position as the Director of Bands at Rincon/University HS. Since moving in 2010, the program has grown steadily and won numerous awards for marching band, winning four Nunamaker awards in a five-year span at the University of Arizona Band Day. The program has also won high honors in concert band, jazz and winter drum line and color guards.

The Rincon/University HS Band was the inaugural champion of the Arizona Marching Band Association in 2015. The RUHS Jazz Ensemble has performed twice at the Arizona Music Educators Association (AMEA) conference and in Chicago at The Midwest Clinic in 2018. Marchant was awarded the O.M. Hartsell Excellence in Teaching Music Award in 2017 and is a frequent presenter at the AMEA conference. Mr. Marchant currently resides in Tucson with his wife and educator Donna, his youngest son Jack and his dog Maggie Fitzgerald.

Amanda Mitchell Choral Director

View Amanda Mitchell 's Bio

About Amanda Mitchell

Amanda Mitchell has been teaching music in the state of Arizona since 2006 and has been the Choral Director at Glendale HS since 2007. Under her leadership, the program has tripled in size with a focus on excellence, musicianship and camaraderie. Her students perform at state-wide and district choral festivals, professional sporting events and prepare a wide variety of music to present at each of their quarterly concerts.

Mrs. Mitchell has mentored numerous interns and student teachers from multiple colleges and universities and currently serves as GHS Fine Arts Department Chair. At the state level, Mrs. Mitchell held the office of Vice-President for Professional Development for the Arizona Music Educators Association (AMEA) and Conference Chair for the Arizona Choral Educators board from 2011 to 2017. In 2014, she was awarded the AMEA George C. Wilson Leadership/Service award. She was a staff member with the Arizona Ambassadors of Music from 2009-2019 and is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the AMEA, Arizona Choral Educators, Arizona Choral Directors of Arizona and the Glendale Union Education Association.

Mrs. Mitchell holds a bachelor's degree in Choral Music Education from Arizona State University and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Music Education from Kent State University.

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Arizona June 14-30, 2025