Tour Information

The Davidson College Symphony Orchestra and Davidson College Jazz Ensemble go on tour together during the last week of winter break before the spring semester begins.

Fast Facts

  • Tour destinations rotate each year, so over any student's four-year tenure, s/he will never have played in the same place twice.
  • Tours within the U.S. are almost completely subsidized. Transportation, lodging, special outings, and several meals are covered by the Music Department.
  • Tours to international locations, such as the "cruise" tour, will incur a fee. Those fees are heavily subsidized by the Music Department to make them as affordable for the students as possible.
  • Venues include churches, high schools, and performance halls at other colleges.
  • Many concert locations are in the hometowns of students in the DCSO and Jazz Ensemble.
  • Davidson alumni are also a significant portion of the audiences, many serve as overnight hosts for students.

Free Time

Ensembles typically have two free days in the destination city and can venture out into the city, see shows or concerts, visit museums, etc. Overnight lodging consists of home-stays with hosts from each venue, as well as two nights in a centrally located hotel while in the destination city.

Tour Departure

Students arrive back at Davidson either the day before or on the day that tour begins in order to have one rehearsal before departure. The tour is a fantastic way to travel and perform outside of Davidson. In past years, the tour concerts have been quite successful, and students are strongly encouraged to participate.

Upcoming Tour

Due to the current pandemic situation, there will be no 2021 tour.

Past Tours

2024 - Destination Nashville, Tenn.
Knoxville, Tenn.
Asheville, N.C.

2020 - Destination New Orleans, La.

2019 - Destination Caribbean on the Royal Caribbean Oasis

2018 - Destination Orlando
Charleston, S.C.
St. Simons, Ga.
Jacksonville, Fla.
Lake Mary, Fla.

2017 - Destination New York
Charlottesville, Va.
Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Arlington, Va.
Newark, Del.

2016 - Destination New Orleans
Greenville, S.C.
Birmingham, Ala.
Jackson, Miss.

2015 - Destination Caribbean
Roatan, Honduras
Belize City, Belize
Cozumel, Mexico
Costa Maya, Mexico

2014 - Destination Florida
St. Simons Island, Ga.
Tampa, Fla.
Melbourne, Fla.
Savannah, Ga.
Columbia, S.C.

2013 - Destination New York
Richmond, Va.
Covington, Va.
Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Wilmington, Del.
Roanoke Rapids, N.C.

2012 - Destination New Orleans
Knoxville, Tenn.
Columbus, Miss.
Jackson, Miss.
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Taylorsville, N.C.

2011 - Destination Chicago
Louisville, Ky.
Indianapolis, Ind.
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Morganton, N.C.