Back in 2011 we took a group of our forums members (and in many cases, their significant other) on a tour of Germany and Austria.

Now we are planning a new tour, for the summer of 2019!



Our focus was on piano and music related sites.
We visited piano manufacturer's shops, composer's homes, Cathedrals and museums, plus so much more.

You can read about it all here:
European Piano Tour 2011

Here are a number of pictures of the 2011 tour on my Facebook page https://tinyurl.com/yaov4ce4

Since then we've been asked a number of times if we would consider organizing another tour.
The answer is, yes, of course.

European Piano Tour 2019? !!



But first we have to see how much real interest there is in joining us on the tour.
It will not be a duplicate of the previous tour, although there are a number of places on that tour I wouldn't mind seeing again.

For the 2011 tour we included a beautiful tour bus, a wonderful guide for the entire time, hotel, breakfast and dinner every day, plus admission where required. Once we get more details worked out we will indicate where we will all meet. Getting there and back is your responsibility.

We're just in the initial discussion phase right now. I'm thinking possibly of Austria and Italy this time, but we have to see
how this all develops.

Please take a few minutes to view the previous tour to get some idea of what is involved (and what was included).

Then let me know if you think you would be seriously interested in joining us.
It would be best to EMAIL me with Piano Tour in the subject line frank@pianoworld.com
We would be shooting for Summer 2019.

I will start posting a list of names once we get some responses (a few have already come in).

All the Best,
Frank & Kathy
Piano World

Hi Frank,

I'm very interested, but timing will matter as I've already been planning a different trip for next Summer. If I can fit in two, all the better! Keep us posted.

The previous tour looks fantastic. I am definitely interested in something like this. I've never been to Europe before and have been itching to visit.

However, I do have plans already on the 14-15th June 2019, so if the dates are before or after that I will be extremely interested to sign up.

Should you decide to make Austria your destination, feel free to give me a shout. I live in Vienna and am quite well connected within the piano scene of makers and technicians over here.

Interested!

Interested!

I am interested. More itinerary ddetails would certainly help. The 2011 tour looks wonderful—I would love to do that itinerary!

On an Austria/Italy tour, presumably Bösendorfer and Fazioli would be on the itinerary. There aren't any other piano manufacturers in those countries, are there? Well, maybe Brodmann counts as a partial manufacturer (mostly made in China).

Sure - very interested! Doing the St Goar trip this year but would love and excuse to get there again!

Wow !!! Extremely interested !!!

Don't know if a visit to a piano-hammer factory could be included

I am interested, and I would love to visit the Schimmel factory, but I'm open to other areas!

I don't know if we (Mr. Casinitaly and myself) would participate in the whole tour, but we would very likely join in for part of it. It would be great to hook up with you again!

I am potentially interested in participating with 1-2 others (dependent on timing). This trip caught my eye in 2011 - nice to have another chance at it.

Interested!

Dear Frank and Kathy,

It's me again. We asked, and you really listened ! Thank you so much for organizing a similar tour again !

Here I wish to write down some of my piano dreams. I know it's impossible to include them all in the 2019 tour or perhaps even one is unlikely possible, but it doesn't matter. I'm sure many other interesting places would be included in the tour. I just wish to share some ideas with all piano lovers here:

- Poland --> things about Chopin

- Russia --> many pianists come from Russia and I've heard that some pianos were made in USSR (don't know if they still produce pianos now), see if there are piano things to see in Russia.

- Renner factory visit (hammers and/ or action)

- A factory that manufactures piano parts (e.g. strings, hammers and the like)

- To see something about wood

- To see something about Schubert

- To see something about Liszt

- To see something about Bach

- To see something about Beethoven

- Schimmel factory

- Bechstein factory

- Bluthner factory

- Grotrian factory

- France --> things about Chopin and/ or Debussy. Don't know if there are still some Pleyel things in France now.

- As far as I know, this amazing instrument was invented in Italy. If we'll go to Fazioli, see if it's a good idea to include something about the provenance of piano.


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I have interest Frank.

Definitely interested, as is my husband, especially if Chopin and Debussy make it onto the itinerary...

Chris and I are interested!

Definitely interested.......,Will depend on the timing of the trip

Dear Forum Members, any update on the tour?

Interested.

What a great idea! I live in the USA and won't be able to attend, Can't commit that much time. Do it in about 18 years again when I retire and I will be part of it

Hi Frank and Kathy,
I’m interested, but as usual won’t be able to commit until closer to the date -say three months prior. Keep me posted.
I hope you’re both keeping welll, happy, and still smiling :-)
Cheers,
Cathryn in Darwin, Australia