HOUSING, REGISTRATION,

& TRAVEL INFORMATION

High School Honors Performance Series

Important Contact Information
For any questions you have before or after the Need to contact us on Arrival Day? Use the contact
program, please contact the Office of Admissions information for the Program Helpline found on the
by phone or email. Important Information for Arrival Day link.

Office of Admissions: The times included throughout this document reflect the
800-503-0807 (toll-free) program location’s time zone.
Email: honors@honorsperformance.org

As always, the well-being of our students and staff is our priority. We implement first-rate health, safety, and
risk-management protocols into all our programs, based on recommendations from our Health & Safety Team
and medical advisors. We’re also committed to evolving our policies and protocols to reflect our program partners’
requirements, public policy, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. To see our current
standards, visit honorsperformance.org/health-safety.

Key Reminders for Travel

On-Site Registration Time: 4 p.m.– 8 p.m. ET

On-Site Departure Time: 9 a.m. ET

Finalists traveling by air: The program shuttle only runs to/from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Refer
to the Important Information for Arrival Day link on your my.honorsperformance.org page for the Designated Program
Airport and Flight Windows.
Only registered participants (Finalists and registered Family Program participant(s) may ride the airport shuttles.

Family Program Information

The Series proudly offers two Family Program packages to allow family members, friends, and educators to share in the
Honors Performance Series experience. These packages are designed to enable supporters to stay in New York and attend
many exclusive program events only available to Finalists and Family Program participants.
For sample itinerary details and inclusions: honorsperformance.org/carnegie-hall-family-programs.

Registration
Refer to the Important Information for your Arrival Day link for registration location and other valuable information. We will
continue to update the Important Information for Arrival Day link up to 48 hours prior to Arrival Day. Continue to reference
this link, and do not print the information provided there more than 48 hours before Arrival Day.

Accommodations*
At the Sheraton Times Square, Finalists are housed two to a room, with each room featuring two beds. Each room will
include standard bed linens, blankets, pillows, towels and standard room amenities.

Rooming and Group Assignments*

All Finalists are automatically assigned to sleeping rooms with Finalists of the same gender from the same ensemble.
We understand some Finalists may feel more comfortable rooming with someone they know, and for this reason
we do accept roommate requests. Only roommate requests where Finalists from the same ensemble have mutually
requested to room together will be considered. Roommates can be requested using the Roommate Request Application at
my.honorsperformance.org.

1
Due to health and safety considerations as well as the nature of the program to encourage connection with other Finalists
as well as foster independence, all Finalists are required to room with other Finalists. Finalists will not be able to elect to
room with registered Family Program participants.

Family Program participants will similarly be assigned rooms with other registered Family Program participants of their
family unit, or with another Family Program participant of the same gender. Mutually requested Family Program roommate
requests will also be considered and can be submitted using the Family Program Attendee Information and Rooming Form.

*Please contact the Series if you would like to request a medical exception to the rooming policy. Medical exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Meals and Dietary Needs

In advance of the program start, we provide our program Chaperones with a comprehensive list of their assigned Finalists’
dietary restrictions and food allergies to assist with offsite meal selection during the program. Please note that all meals
during the program are the responsibility of the performer. If you have any food allergies, medical restrictions, or other
special dietary needs, please be sure to note these requirements when you complete the required Performer Information
Form on your my.honorsperformance.org page. For life-threatening allergies, call the Office of Admissions.

Broadway Shows
We are excited to share that Finalists will have the opportunity to attend a Broadway show! Registered Full Access Family
program participants are matched with their Finalist for the show and seated together.

Finalists are able to rank their Broadway Show preference on their Broadway Preference Form (please refer to deadline on
your my.honorsperformance.org page). Tickets for each show are limited, and preference will be prioritized in the order in
which the Forms are received. The Series team will do our best to honor all preferences submitted, but due to the number
of participants and requests, we cannot guarantee placement for any specific show.

Director Chaperones
Music teachers are invited to apply to be a Series Chaperone. If your music director is interested in participating in the
Series as a Chaperone, they may get details and apply online on our website at honorsperformance.org/chaperone.
PLEASE NOTE: Applications from parents, family, and friends who are NOT music professionals will NOT be considered. We
know many parents are boosters and chaperone school trips, but due to the nature of the program, we depend upon the
music expertise of our Chaperones to assist with music education in New York.

If you wish to request a specific Chaperone, please indicate their name under “Chaperone Preference” on the Broadway and
Chaperone Preference Form prior to the deadline.

Finalists Traveling by Air

Finalists (and Family Program participants, only if selecting the Full Access program) should schedule their flights to
arrive and depart from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in order to take advantage of the complimentary Series
airport transportation. Only registered participants (Finalists and registered Family Program participants) may ride the
complimentary airport shuttles.

Airport Arrival Window: Flights should arrive between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. ET
Airport Departure Window: Flights should depart for home after 12:30 p.m. ET. Shuttles will depart from the hotel for
JFK airport on departure day from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. ET

Participants arriving or departing outside of these windows (on these two specific days) or at a different location will be
responsible for arranging their own transportation to or from the hotel at their own expense. All participants will be required to
share their travel arrangements with the Series.

Check with your airline and destination for specific restrictions or travel advisories.

2
Meeting Our Team at the Airport
For all airports, Finalists should first retrieve their luggage and go through customs, if applicable, and then make their
way to the designated meeting area. WorldStrides team members will be wearing name badges and blue vests.

Our team will be located at the designated meeting area (found on the Important Information for Arrival Day link) from
3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET.

If you are traveling as a registered Unaccompanied Minor with your airline, please review the airline’s procedures and
policies so we can best prepare for your arrival. This designation is only for those who have paid an additional fee to
be enrolled in the airline’s Unaccompanied Minor program. As policies vary, it is important to check with each airline
about their unaccompanied minor designation before booking your flight.

Series Airport Shuttle Service

For your convenience, a registered-program-participant-only complimentary shuttle service between the designated
airport and the Series hotel is provided for registered participants (Finalists and registered Family Program participants)
arriving by plane.

Arrival Day: The first shuttles on Arrival Day will depart from the airport to the housing site at approximately 3:30 p.m. ET
and, thereafter, will run continuously. Shuttles depart according to the rate of participant arrivals, which may result in a
wait period at the airport before boarding the shuttle. Many participants use this time as an opportunity to enjoy a snack
and to meet other participants.

Departure Day: On Departure Day, the first shuttle departs the housing site at approximately 9 a.m. ET. You may arrive
several hours before your flight. Staff will be available at the airport until 12 p.m. ET. After 12 p.m. ET, staff may be
reached via the Program Helpline. Finalists are responsible for getting themselves through security and to their assigned
airline gate.

Please note: We will be unable to transport participants for flights outside of our travel window (found on the Important
Information for Arrival Day link). Program participants who book flights outside of the travel window will be responsible
for making their own travel arrangements and for any additional travel expenses incurred. The parent/guardian
acknowledges and agrees that program staff are not responsible for the Finalist after departure from the program site
when taking self-arranged transportation without program staff accompaniment. SuperShuttle can be contacted at
SuperShuttle.com or 800-258-3826.

Regardless of travel method, all Finalists are required to provide us with their travel plans no later than three (3) weeks
prior to the start of the program. This information must be submitted via the online Mandatory Travel Form found on your
my.honorsperformance.org page.

Self-Arranged Travel (Including Train or Bus)

If you are traveling by train or bus, you are responsible for arranging your own transportation to the program site, such as
a taxi. We recommend that you confirm the cost of the trip with the driver before departing from the train or bus station
and obtain a receipt for your records upon your arrival to the program site. If you experience any difficulties once you
arrive at the train or bus station, please call the Program Helpline, and we will be happy to assist you.

Performers Traveling by Private Vehicle

Refer to the Important Information for Arrival Day link on your my.honorsperformance.org page for specific updates
regarding Finalist check-in procedures, parking, and program desk hours.

Parking: Upon arrival to the program site, look for the posted signs that will guide you to the registration location. Parking
may not be available on-site and/or may require a fee.

Due to the nature of the program and limited parking options, Finalists are discouraged from driving to the program.
Finalists driving themselves to the program must first contact the Office of Admissions. Finalists are responsible for any
parking fees (if applicable) and are required to turn in their car keys to a senior Series team member upon arrival. Keys
will be returned upon completion of the program. The Honors Performance Series is not responsible for any parking fees or
lost, stolen, or damaged property.

Regardless of travel method, all Finalists are required to provide us with their travel plans no later than three (3) weeks
prior to the start of their session. This information must be submitted via the online Mandatory Travel Form found on your
my.honorsperformance.org page.
3
Departure
Program departures will take place beginning 9 a.m. ET and must conclude by 12 p.m. ET on the last day of the program
session. Parents or guardians authorized to pick up a Finalist must have a government-issued photo ID to check-out
Finalists on Departure Day.

For Finalists departing the program via the designated program airport, our airport shuttle service is available to
transport Finalists to the airport in time to meet any flights scheduled to leave within our travel window (found on the
Important Information for Arrival Day link).

Finalists may call the Program Helpline (found on the Important Information for Arrival Day link) if any difficulties arise, and
help is needed. The last shuttle for the airport departs the program site by approximately 12 p.m. ET.

The Honors Performance Series can assume no responsibility for any Finalists who make their own departure
arrangements or leave the program site after the program concludes.

Refer to the Important Information for Arrival Day link on your my.honorsperformance.org page for specific updates
regarding performer checkout procedures.

Early Arrivals and Early or Late Departures

If you are arriving a day early or staying a day late, you must make your own arrangements with a hotel. Keep in mind
that our complimentary shuttle service is only available on the first and last day of the program and that our program
team will only be available and responsible for Finalists during the time of the program. Many hotels will not register
unaccompanied minors under the age of 18, so be sure to make any special arrangements in advance.

If your return flight home leaves before the start of our travel window (found on the Important Information for Arrival Day
link) on Departure Day you must sign out with your Chaperone before departing.

Flight Delays and Travel Updates

If you have any difficulty meeting our WorldStrides team, please call the Program Helpline and we will be happy to direct
you. This number will be active starting on Arrival Day through Departure Day. If you miss a flight or if your flight is
delayed or canceled, call the Program Helpline immediately. We will inform our airport personnel of your arrival status
and give you any necessary instructions on transportation information. If the person picking up the Finalist on Departure
Day changes from information submitted in the Mandatory Travel Form, call the Program Helpline at least 48 hours prior
to Departure Day. We must have travel changes authorized in advance by the legal guardian via both verbal and written
permission (example: phone and email).

Passport
All non-U.S. citizen Finalists traveling to the program must have a valid passport. If you currently have a valid passport,
it must be valid for at least six months after your scheduled return date. Finalists with U.S. citizenship do not need a
passport to attend the program, but must have a current photo ID: a driver’s license, learner’s permit, school ID, passport,
or government-issued ID.

If you need to acquire or renew your passport, remember that it is your sole responsibility as a participant to obtain
a passport. The program is not responsible for lost time or additional costs incurred by you due to improper travel
documentation. As it can take several months to receive your passport after beginning the application process, it is crucial
that you apply as soon as possible and that you have your passport no later than two weeks prior to your travel to the
program. Contact your country’s passport service office to learn about the passport application process.

Keep a photocopy of your passport at home and bring two copies with you while traveling, in the event that your passport
is lost or stolen.

Visas
Non-U.S. Citizens: Visa requirements for entering the United States vary from country to country, and acquiring a visa
is your sole responsibility. If visas are necessary to travel from your country to the United States and you have not yet
obtained one, please do so immediately, as it can take several months to secure an appointment to apply for a visa. The
program is not responsible for lost time or additional costs incurred due to improper travel documentation.

4
Tickets to the Honors Performance at Carnegie Hall
Please note that the Finalist program does not include a ticket to the Honors Performance for
friends or family members. While each loved one participating in an Honors Family Program
receives one Priority Seating ticket to the performance, we recognize that other family and
friends may want to purchase individual tickets or sit elsewhere in the hall. Individual, non-
priority tickets may be purchased through the Carnegie Hall Box Office. Tickets (as available)
will go on sale 60 days before the performance at carnegiehall.org/boxoffice. We are unable
to accommodate requests for individually purchased tickets to be seated in the Priority Seating
section, indicated on the Hall Seating Map to the left.

Preparation and Performance

Music Preparation: No later than 2 months prior to the program start, selected Finalists receive sheet music so you may
begin rehearsing. You will receive an email with links to PDFs of the sheet music online, as well as confirmation as to
which specific part to prepare for each piece. Vocalists are expected to arrive in New York prepared for a “memory check”
of the music. It is expected that each Finalist will arrive in New York having prepared each piece to the best of their ability.
To help you feel confident and ready, we will provide notes and suggestions from your conductor, but don’t wait to start
preparing!

Rehearsals: Because they are working sessions for the performance, all rehearsals are closed, except a designated day
when registered Family Program participants are allowed to observe during a designated time slot. Advance rehearsal
sign-ups will be available during the program.

Finalist Dress Code and Music Folders: Please review the Dress Code, Travel, and Planning Checklist for more information
about the dress codes and what Finalists should bring with them to rehearsals.

Instrument Rental Information

Finalists are expected to bring their instruments with them (exclusions: pianos and percussion instruments will be
provided). If two instruments are listed on your acceptance letter, please bring both. Music stands will be provided,
but Finalists are expected to bring their own bows, mutes, reeds, mallets, sticks, etc. The Honors Performance Series
encourages instrumentalists to bring their own instruments to New York. We have found that Finalists perform their
best when playing the instrument that they practice with year-round, which helps ensure the quality of the performance.
For additional information about traveling with your instrument, as well as a list of instrument rental companies
recommended by the Series, please visit honorsperformance.org/instruments.