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. Tour destinations rotate each year, so that over the course of a student’s four-year tenure at Davidson, they will never have played in the same place twice.

Venues have included 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 also make up a significant portion of the audiences at these concerts, and many offer to serve as overnight hosts for the students.

Tour is free! Transportation, lodging, and several meals are covered by the Music Department. Most breakfasts and dinners are covered by hosts. A student will only need to pay for meals during the two “free” days and a few lunches. The ensembles typically have two free days in the destination city. Without having to perform concerts on these days, students 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.

Repertoire for tour concerts consists of selections from concerts performed in the previous fall semester. Students arrive back at Davidson the day before tour begins in order to have one rehearsal before departure.

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

2013- Destination New York City

Past Tours

2012 - Destination New Orleans
Knoxville, Tennessee
Columbus, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Taylorsville, North Carolina 

2011 - Destination Chicago
Louisville, Kentucky 
Indianapolis, Indiana 
Murfreesboro, Tennessee  
Morganton, North Carolina 

2010 - Destnation Florida
Ocala, Florida  
Arcadia, Florida
Winter Park, Florida
Saint Simons Island, Georgia
Pittsboro, North Carolina 

2009 - Destination New York City
Richmond, Virginia 
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Greenville, Delaware
Greensboro, North Carolina 

2008 – Destination New Orleans 
Decatur, Georgia              
Chattanooga, Tennessee              
Jackson, Mississippi 
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Spartanburg, South Carolina 

2007 – Destination Chicago 
Knoxville, Tennessee              
Montgomery, Ohio
Libertyville, Illinois              
Louisville, Kentucky              
Asheville, North Carolina

2006 – Destination Florida 
Ocala, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
Winter Park, Florida
Columbia, South Carolina

2005 – Destination New York City 
Lexington, Virginia              
Lancaster, Pennsylvania              
Ellicott City, Maryland 
Durham, North Carolina

2004 – Destination New Orleans 
Norcross, Georgia
Mobile, Alabama
Cutoff, Lousiana              
Tuscaloosa, Alabama              
Lexington, South Carolina