We are very excited to announce that the Harrison School of Music and New City School of Music are going on tour during Spring Break 2023 to the birthplace of Jazz, New Orleans, Louisiana on Sunday April 2nd, 2023.
The Toulouse Theatre is a venue that has hosted many rock icons including Green Day and Arcade Fire.
The Harrison School of Music and the New City School of Music are excited to continue our yearly tradition of bringing students to top music venues and cities for 2023 and we only have room for30 performers.
As always, we’ll be making the good times roll and taking care of all of the details so that you can have peace of mind knowing that the day of the performance will go smoothly and that your appearance at the Toulouse Theatre will be positive and memorable. Imagine the transformation that your student will go through by preparing for and participating in this event. Big events like this are known to bring out the best in performers – abilities that have always been there, but just hadn’t been uncovered yet! You’ll be able to tell your friends, family and neighbors that your child had the opportunity as well as the confidence to play at the birthplace of Jazz – New Orleans! Not to mention the credibility of being able to add the performance to your child’s resume and college applications!
Please read below for more information on registration, what is included in your registration fee, as well as travel information.
Everything was well planned..If not for these events, I don’t think my son would be able to perform in these popular places. The back up band was excellent and the staff was very helpful and keep us we’ll informed with everything. looking forward for more. – Junje Limsiaco
The plane ride went smoothly, the hotel was exceptionally good, and the event was amazing. It went far beyond my expectations; the performers were amazing, I could really tell that they were prepared. Lastly, the energy produced from everyone there was astronomical. I just cannot wait for the next recital! – Jacqueline McIntosh
The New City School of Music and the Harrison School of Music have once again put together a once in a life time experience for their students to perform at such an amazing venue and have the students families be a part of that very special event. It is something they will cherish for the rest if their lives. – Ray Terjeson
The event was an experience of a lifetime for both children and their parents – it’s not every day you can perform in Elvis’s house. – Joann Robison
This event was fantastic and was a great confidence booster as well as a skill building event. The camaraderie developed with peers and teachers was priceless. – Kris Hansen
This recital has been, by far, the highlight of my son’s experiences at Harrison. Not only the ability for my wife and I to attend with him, but also all of our family and friends that were able to see how much Nathan has learned in just one year via the live stream. This experience has given Nathan the feel of what a true on-stage band performance would be like. It has helped him confront his fear of performing to a crowd. And most of all, it has provided him a new goal for improving his drumming skills and stage presence. – Mabel & Juan Calderon
The Graceland Destination Recital is another showcasing of the performer’s abilities and accomplishments. Every year, we look forward to the stage performance at their Destination Recital from Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio to Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. Director Sam and his staff worked really hard, going above & beyond, and the results are there for you all to see. It is a pleasure to listen to all the instruments, in varying degrees of proficiency as the students perform. The caliber of the music teachers, as well as their general cheerful demeanor, have left a lasting impression on us. Director Sam and his team have been incredibly engaged and focused on ensuring that students are not only learning but also enjoying the journey of musical exploration. – Evelyn Celis
The New City School of Music made the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME experience amazing for all of the students that participated. Performing at such a prestige setting enhanced my son’s confidence and provided an experience that will never be forgotten! – Ralph Lopez
The New City school of music has made my daughters dreams come true! Leah has been going to the school for four years learning to play the violin was a dream of hers since she was three years old. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame experience was truly an amazing experience she was smiling from beginning to end and she is still talking about it! It pushed her to practice and get better at her craft. Sam and the band was amazing they made her feel so comfortable, I have never seen her so happy and in her element. My husband and I were filled with so much emotion and joy watching her perform it was such a beautiful experience and all the children were amazing. A truly once in a lifetime experience! Thank you to Sam, the band, Miss Ruby and all of the New City music school family. – Nicole Fabrizi
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Please read the following carefully to ensure a smooth registration process.
All participants in the New Orleans performance will have the opportunity to perform with a backing band of professional musicians comprised of teachers from the schools. Imagine if you are a guitar or vocal student, and you get to rock out on stage in front of an adoring audience with full drums, bass, guitar, keyboards and vocals backing YOU up with a full concert sound system! There’s no better way to feel like a rock star! Acoustic drums, piano, keyboard, bass amps, guitar amps, lighting and full PA system will be provided. We will also provide professional photos and professional videos of the event.
NOTE: Unlike our previous Destination Recitals, there will be no ticket purchases required for the audience. Your performance fee allows participants to bring as many family and friends as they like for the performance at no additional cost! We will need a final guest head count 1 month prior to the performance.
IMPORTANT NOTE!
THIS WILL BE THE LAST DESTINATION RECITAL WITH A FULL BACKING BAND for at least 2 years! Our 2024 Destination Recital will NOT have a backing band. If you are interested in performing and getting the full rock star experience, this is your only opportunity for at least 2 years!
Stay on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter – the Heart of New Orleans!
We’ve secured a limited number of discount rooms at a hotel right on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, only 1.5 blocks from the Toulouse Theatre, and 2 blocks from Jackson Ssquare. In one of the oldest cities in America, Bourbon Street is rich with historic venues, social tales and iconic buildings. The street dates back to 1718, when New Orleans was founded by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville. French engineer Adrien de Pauger laid out the streets of New Orleans in 1721 and chose one to carry the name of the French royal family ruling at the time, Rue Bourbon. This monumental street is in the heart of the French Quarter extending 13 blocks from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue before meandering through the Marigny neighborhood.
Kick Off Dinner Cruise on the Mississippi River on Saturday April 1st, 2023
Enjoy a kick-off dinner cruise on the Mississippi River with our performers and their families the night before the performance. Step back into the glamour and romance of the riverboat era with a cruise aboard the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen! Experience the lively sounds of traditional New Orleans music while enjoying a lavish Creole Buffet in the elegantly appointed dining room. After dinner, and maybe a little dancing, enjoy a classic New Orleans cocktail and sweet Mississippi River breezes on our promenade deck as the city skyline slips by under a canopy of stars. This nighttime cruise is pure New Orleans.
Dinner Menu:
Cajun Caesar Salad (D,W,S,E)
Chicken & Andouille Sausage Gumbo (D,S,W)
Louisiana Creole Jambalaya (S,W,D)
Cajun Baked Chicken (W,D)
Roast Beef Debris
Garlic Mashed Potatoes (D)
Cajun Seafood Pasta (D,S,W,F)
Red Beans & Rice (S)
Corn Mac Choux (D,S)
Fresh Roasted Vegetables
Paddlewheeler White Chocolate Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce – Best in New Orleans!(D,E,S,W)
We have reserved a group dining reservation on the Dinner Cruise specifically for our group. There is an extra fee for the dinner cruise. $74 per adult, $40 per child aged 6-12. The dinner cruise lasts approximately 2 hours, and attendees need to be at the dock at 6:15pm. The dinner cruise will be booked directly with the river boat company individually by our performing families under our group name
Registration for the New Orleans performance will be on a first come, first served basis beginning Saturday June 25th, 2022 at 12:00pm. Please complete the online form which will be texted and emailed out beginning at 12:00pm on Saturday June 25th 2022 to reserve your space. Once we have 30 students signed up, registration will be closed, and a waiting list will be started.
Registration is open to ALL Students, regardless of instrument.
Performers must be currently enrolled students at the school, and continuously enrolled through the performance date.
A completed Registration Form (emailed and texted) must be completed and performance fee must be paid to secure your registration.
Performers and their families are responsible for securing their travel and lodging. Families are welcome to stay anywhere they like in New Orleans. Once registered, you will receive a link to our hotel for discounted rates. Our hotel is located on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, and is only 1.5 blocks from the Toulouse Theatre.
Ben Jaffe, the creative director of New Orleans’s Preservation Hall reopened the theatre with his wife Jeanette and another local couple, Clayton and Boo Randle, along with the help of “several unnamed music industry investors,” according toNOLA.com, a group that collectively purchased the building at 615 Toulouse St. in late 2020. (NOLA.com’s report notes a rumor that the unnamed music industry investors include famed drummer Dave Grohl, an apparent friend of Jaffe’s, but says there are nondisclosure agreements regarding the behind-the-scenes investors.) The Toulouse Theatre has hosted sold out shows by Arcade Fire, as well as held pre-tour rehearsals for Green Day.
