Frequently Asked Questions
About Honors Performance Series
What is the Honors Performance Series?
The Honors Performance Series was established to showcase the most talented young musicians today on the world’s greatest stages, including the Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall, the highly regarded Ambassador Auditorium, world-renowned Sydney Opera House, the famed Musikverin, and prestigious Royal Festival Hall. Through a competitive nomination and selection process, international performers are brought together to comprise the Honors Ensembles. These individuals then rehearse under the direction of a distinguished conductor for several days in preparation for the performance of a lifetime.
What is the connection between the Honors Performance Series and WorldStrides?
The Honors Performance Series is a proud part of the WorldStrides organization. Click here for more information about our history and relationship with WorldStrides.
Who are the conductors?
All our conductors have received international acclaim for their work and have extensive experience in working with talented students, making them the perfect choices to lead our Honors Ensembles. Click here to learn more about our distinguished Honors Conductors.
What do Junior Finalists and Finalists do during the program?
The program was developed to challenge students to perform at their very best as they play and sing for concert-going patrons and other supporters. Though much of the students’ time is focused on performance preparation, the week also allows students to experience the best of the sights and the performance arts in the program’s host city.
Highlights of the program typically include (tentative and subject to change):
- Performing in the elite Honors Performances at a prestigious concert hall under the direction of renowned conductors
- Working with master conductors and building performing resume
- Rehearsing and interacting with other participants from across the world
- Commemorating accomplishments and spending time with new friends during the celebration event
- Visiting the host city’s famous landmarks
What ensembles will perform at the Honors Performances?
The Honors Performance Series traditionally features an Honors Band, Honors Orchestra, and Honors Concert Choir. Additional ensembles, such as a treble choir may be added to the program based on level of interest. Applicants are first accepted into the program and are then assigned to the appropriate ensemble based upon instrumentation and balance requirements. Please note, the Series cannot guarantee that, if accepted, applicants are placed into a specific ensemble.
How are Junior Finalists and Finalists selected?
- Music directors from across the world recognize and nominate their talented middle and high school musicians.
- Nominated students and self-nominating students are invited to apply individually for selection.
- Applicants submit a complete application and audition recording. Students who haven't received a teacher nomination may still apply and are required to submit the contact information for a teacher reference as part of the application process.
- All applications are reviewed by the Series’expert Selection Board of professional adjudicators. Applicants are first accepted into the program and are then assigned to an ensemble upon instrumentation and balance requirements. Please note that the Series cannot guarantee that, if accepted, applicants will be place into a specific ensemble.
- Each applicant receives a notification email to all address(es) listed on their application. This email will specify the student’s application results: Junior Finalist/Finalist (selected to perform), First Runner-up (waitlisted), or Deferred (not accepted and not waitlisted).
What are the application requirements?
The Honors Performance Series application requirements are as follows. Please see the How to Apply Middle School or How to Apply High School page for additional details.
- Online application form, nonrefundable application fee, and refundable participation deposit
- Performing Biography Form
- Teacher Reference
- Audition Recording (two minutes in length)
Applications are not considered until all required pieces are received. If an applicant fails to submit required portions, their deposit is forfeited.
What are the requirements of the audition recording?
Each applicant must electronically submit an audio-only MP3 or M4A audition recording. Please visit the How to Apply Middle School or How to Apply High School page for additional information.
May I apply for multiple ensembles?
Applications are automatically considered equally for all applicable ensembles, so if you wish to apply on only one instrument or voice part, you need submit only one application and audition recording to be considered for all applicable ensembles. Accepted applicants will be placed into an ensemble by the Series Selection Board based on balance and instrumentation requirements; students may not request a specific ensemble.
Additionally, you may audition on more than one instrument, and you may also audition as both an instrumentalist and a vocalist. In both cases, you only need to submit one application form, deposit, teacher reference, and Performing Biography, but you will need to submit multiple audition recordings.
Once I’ve applied, how long does it take for me to receive a decision?
Applicants will be notified by email of their application decision approximately six weeks from when they submit their complete application.
Program Experience
Is there a code of conduct for Junior Finalists and Finalists?
Yes, to ensure a positive experience for all, participants are required to sign a Participant Code of Conduct agreement before participating in the Honors Performance Series. Finalists who do not follow these guidelines can be removed from the program and will be sent home at the family's expense.
Where do participants stay?
For safety reasons, we do not share the name of our hotels except to accepted participants and the Responsible Parties listed on their accounts. All our hotels are nationally recognized, and each hotel has been chosen for its cleanliness, hospitality, and safe location. Our hotels are student-friendly and have been rated highly by students and families who have participated in our programs.
Do I get to choose my roommates?
All participants are automatically assigned to sleeping rooms with participants of the same gender identity from the same ensemble. Meeting new people and making new friends is a key element of the Honors Performance Series, and roommates enhance the entire experience.
We understand some students may feel more comfortable rooming with someone they know, and for this reason we do accept roommate requests. Only roommate requests where participants from the same ensemble have mutually requested to room together will be considered. Roommates can be requested after program acceptance on your my.honorsperformance.org page. While these arrangements cannot be guaranteed ahead of the program, we do our best to accommodate all requests.
Can family participate?
Parents, family members, and friends are welcome to join their Junior Finalist or Finalist by enrolling in one of our Family Programs or by purchasing individual tickets to the performance. This is a wonderful experience to share with family and friends. Please visit the Family Programs page for additional information.
Additionally, information on how to purchase tickets to the performance will be provided to accepted participants. Other than individual tickets to the Honors Performance, all hotels, activities, touring, and events are available only as a part of the Family Program and cannot be purchased individually.
How do you ensure participant safety?
The health, safety, and security of our student performers is our highest priority. Though all Junior Finalists and Finalists will be provided options to have family participate in a Family Program, we recognize that many students may be traveling to the program alone. We’re proud to say that the Honors Performance Series is produced and supported by organizations with more than 55 years of experience providing student-focused event and travel logistics. Every program element is designed so that music professionals, parents, and performers can rest easy and students can focus on their main reason for being at the program—performing at their very best on a world-renowned stage.
Program safety measures include:
- Greeting students at the designated program airport upon their arrival, providing shuttle service directly to the Series hotel, and providing shuttle service back to the airport on departure day*
- Maintaining a low student-to-staff ratio
- Chaperones to supervise performers outside of rehearsals and during activities
- Program staff experienced and trained in working with middle school and high school students
- Accommodations in student-friendly hotels with on-site staff (safe areas, interior corridors, etc.)
- Hotel night security on each occupied floor to ensure a restful night for performers
- 24-hour program staff available to handle any unexpected circumstances
- 24-hour access to Doctors on Call, our medical support through The George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates (GWMFA), during the program
- Extensive traveler insurance during the program
*There is an additional fee for shuttle service
Additionally, selected participants are expected to act with utmost professionalism and maturity during the program. Participants found to have violated the Series' behavior guidelines (as outlined in the Participant Code of Conduct signed by all participants) will be dismissed without a refund.
How are participants supervised?
To provide a safe and structured experience, all Junior Finalists and Finalists are assigned a program Chaperone. The Series invites educators—most of whom are music teachers and have nominated students for the program, and all of whom have demonstrated expertise working with middle school and high school musicians—to apply for selection as program Chaperones. All Chaperone applicants undergo a background check prior to selection and are trained on the Series safety policies and procedures. Participants will meet their Chaperone during on-site registration. They’ll be present in rehearsals, attend other program events, and facilitate group meals during free time.
Do I need to make my own travel arrangements?
Yes. Program tuition does not include transportation to and from your home and the program location. Because this is a selective program, we encourage you to refrain from booking airline tickets or other travel arrangements until you have received both your acceptance and the specified arrival/departure times and locations.
All participants are required to provide the Series with their travel plans no later than six weeks prior to the start of the program. This information must be submitted via the online Mandatory Travel Information Form found on your my.honorsperformance.org page.
Will someone meet me at the airport?
Junior Finalists/Finalists and Full Access Family Program participants will be provided with arrival and departure windows at a designated program airport. Staff will be available during the arrival window to greet participants at the airport, and a shuttle service to the Series hotel will be available for purchase. On departure day, an airport shuttle will be available for participants with flights departing during the provided departure window.
Participants arriving or departing outside of the program travel windows will be responsible for arranging their own transportation to or from the Series hotel.
There is an additional fee for shuttle service per Junior Finalist/Finalist per leg. Registered Family Program Participants may join their Junior Finalist/Finalist on the Series shuttle at no additional cost.
What if I am arriving at a different airport, or by train or car?
Participants arriving by train or car or flying into a different airport than the one designated by the Series, should proceed directly to the official program hotel for registration (details will be provided to participants following their acceptance).
Tuition & Program Expenses
If I apply, but am not accepted, will I get my deposit back?
Yes. Applicants who are not accepted will receive a refund of their $200 participation deposit within approximately four weeks of receiving their application decision. The $49 application fee is nonrefundable.
What is included in the program tuition?
The Honors Performance Series provides a hassle-free experience, so selected student performers can focus on their main reason for being at the Honors Performance Series—performing at their very best on a world-renowned stage. The Series tentatively includes:
- All rehearsal costs, including equipment and sheet music
- All production cost and services for the Series performance
- All shown activities, including sightseeing, celebration event, and more
- Ground transportation during the program
- Exposure to and learning from world-class conductors for the program duration
- Experienced chaperones, city touring guides, and program staff
- Lodging in highly rated, student-friendly hotels (two to a room with two double beds) with on-site staff
- Hotel night security on each occupied floor to ensure restful nights for performers
- 24-hour program staff available to handle any unexpected circumstances
- 24-hour access to Doctors on Call, our medical support through The George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates (GWMFA), during the program
- Extensive traveler insurance while on the program
- College credit through George Mason University (only available for High School programs)
- Commemorative digital recording of repertoire from rehearsal emailed to participants following the program
Please Note: Transportation to and from program host city and meals are not included in the program tuition. A set payment plan and partial scholarships are available.
Is transportation included in the program?
Transportation to and from the program host city is not included and is therefore the responsibility of each participant. Because this is a selective program, we encourage you to refrain from booking airline tickets or other travel arrangements until you have received both your acceptance and the specified arrival/departure times and locations.
Ground transportation during the program is included in program tuition. An airport shuttle service will be available on arrival day and departure day to participants arriving and departing with the provided windows. There is an additional fee for shuttle service per Junior Finalist/Finalist per leg. Registered Family Program Participants may join their Junior Finalist/Finalist on the Series shuttle at no additional cost.
Are meals included?
No, participants are responsible for purchasing their own meals during the program. At mealtimes, students are escorted by their Chaperones in small groups to nearby restaurants. The Series team advises Chaperones as to meal options that are suitable and affordable. We generally suggest participants plan to spend $65-$85 US per day on meals and souvenirs.
Are scholarships available?
The Honors Performance Series is dedicated to bringing together talented student performers across the world. Partial scholarships are available to qualified students based upon financial need, scholastic merit, and leadership achievement. Submission of a scholarship application is required to be considered for an award; however, you will only need to submit one application to be considered for all scholarships for which you are eligible.
Scholarship applications may be submitted prior to program acceptance, but funds cannot be applied until the applicant is accepted into the program.
The deadline to submit a scholarship application varies by program. Click here to learn more.
Do you offer travel insurance?
Yes, the Tuition and Travel Protection Plan is an optional policy designed exclusively for Junior Finalists/Finalists and Family Program participants. This policy is offered to protect the investment of participants and their families. Click here to review details about the Tuition and Travel Protection Plan.
We also offer the Full Refund Program (FRP) to help you protect your investment. To be eligible for this additional protection, your payment for the FRP fee must be received within 14 days of your initial deposit/payment, and your program must be cancelled 14 or more days before your departure date. The cost of FRP varies based on your program. Click here to review details about the Full Refund Program.
To whom do we make checks payable?
Please use the following instructions to make payment by check:
- Make out to: WorldStrides
- Note in memo line: “HPS” and your Student ID
- Mail to: Honors Performance Series by WorldStrides
ATTN: Enrollment Department
1919 Gallows Rd. Suite 700
Vienna, VA 22182
Please note: Checks sent to our New York address may take an additional 1-2 weeks to process.
What is the Honors Performance Series cancellation policy?
| U.S. Based Programs | |
| Cancellation Received 61 days or more from program start date |
Eligible Refund Tuition less program deposit & non-refundable fees |
| 60 days or less from program start date | No refund |
| Non-U.S. Based Programs | |
| Cancellation Received 75 days or more from program start date |
Eligible Refund Tuition less program deposit & non-refundable fees |
| 74 days or less from program start date | No refund |
Any cancellation request for refund must be submitted by calling 855-571-7082 or 703-584-9579 or in writing by email or mail, addressed to:
WorldStrides
ATTN: Enrollment Department
1919 Gallows Road, Suite 700, Vienna, VA 22182
The request must be submitted by the Primary Contact who signed and agreed to the terms and conditions of the original enrollment application.
More detailed information can be found on our Terms and Conditions provided at the time of application.
Our Finalists
Where do the students come from?
In 2025, we were pleased to have accepted over 750 outstanding performers from 48 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, Guam, Bermuda, China, and South Korea to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City and the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia.
How can I stay connected to the Honors Performance Series?
We highly encourage our students and their families to connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/honorsperformanceseries and Instagram @worldstridesperformingarts.
Many of our Junior Finalists and Finalists are offered the opportunity to join our Alumni Ambassador program.