Greetings Virginia Glee Club Alumni,
My name is Fabrizzio “Pyro” Espinoza, and I am the current Vice President of the Virginia Glee Club. I am excited to announce that the Virginia Glee Club will be traveling to South Africa in March 2027 for what promises to be an unforgettable international tour.
This tour holds special significance, as it will be Frank Albinder’s final tour before his retirement in May 2027. Throughout his years with the Glee Club, Frank has touched the lives of countless singers and alumni, and we hope many of you will join us in celebrating his remarkable legacy on this final adventure. You are welcome to just travel with us, or perform some (or all) of the music with us! And feel free to bring a partner, spouse, or friend.
The tour will run from March 5-15, 2027, with flights departing and returning from Washington Dulles International Airport on the 5 and 15, respectively. During our time in South Africa, we will perform four concerts, visit historic and cultural landmarks, experience a safari in Pilanesberg National Park, and explore the vibrant cities of Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Cape Town. A tentative itinerary is included below. While some details may change, the overall structure of the tour is expected to remain similar.
If you are interested in joining us, please contact Frank at fsalbinder@gmail.com.
Tour cost and payment schedule
The total cost of the tour is $5,180 per person and includes accommodations, ground transportation, group activities, select meals, concert arrangements, and round-trip airfare.
Payment installments are as follows:
- $1,500 due by September 15, 2026
- $2,000 due by October 15, 2026
- Final payment due by November 30, 2026
Payments may be made through the WeTravel platform.
- ACH transfers incur a 1% processing fee.
- Credit card payments incur a 2.9–3.9% processing fee.
*If you would prefer to use airline miles or arrange your own flights, the tour cost will be reduced to $3,460. If you plan to make your own flight arrangements, please contact Frank at fsalbinder@gmail.com before registering so your travel plans can be coordinated accordingly.
Important travel information
Before committing to the tour, please verify that the travel dates fit your schedule. All travelers must have a valid passport, and some travelers may require a visa depending on their citizenship status. If a visa is required, we recommend contacting the nearest South African embassy or consulate as early as possible to begin the application process.
Join Us!
To make this tour possible, we need a minimum of 25 participants. If you are interested in joining us, please contact Frank at fsalbinder@gmail.com. Registration will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis.
We hope you will consider joining us for this extraordinary opportunity to experience South Africa, reconnect with fellow alumni, and celebrate Frank’s final tour with the Virginia Glee Club. It would be a fitting tribute to the conductor who has meant so much to our organization and generations of singers.
Feel free to share this email with other alumni who may not have received this email. Please encourage them to join our mailing list.
Support Our Tour
We would greatly appreciate any donations to help bring our tour to life. International tour donations can be directed to the “Virginia Glee Club Tour Fund.”
Kind regards,
Fabrizzio Espinoza (Col class of ’27)
Vice President, Virginia Glee Club
Tentative Itinerary
- Friday, March 5: Depart from Washington Dulles International Airport
- Saturday, March 6
- Arrive in Johannesburg
- Transfer to Pretoria
- Check in to hotel
- Welcome dinner
- Overnight in Pretoria
- Sunday, March 7
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Visit Freedom Park
- Lunch on your own
- Visit Union Buildings and Mandela statue
- Rehearsal and sound check
- First concert – Located either at the University of Pretoria Musaion or a similar venue
- Group dinner
- Overnight in Pretoria
- Monday, March 8
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Visit Cradle of Humankind and Maropeng Museum (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Depart for Pilanesberg
- Lunch on your own en route
- Check in to safari lodge at Pilanesberg National Park
- Afternoon game drive
- Group dinner
- Overnight in Pilanesberg
- Tuesday, March 9
- Early morning game drive
- Breakfast at the game lodge
- Visit Lesedi Cultural Village
- Group lunch
- Exchange with local high school choir
- Check in to hotel
- Dinner on your own
- Overnight in Johannesburg
- Wednesday, March 10
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Soweto city tour
- Visit Mandela House and Hector Pieterson Memorial
- Lunch on your own
- Rehearsal and sound check
- Second concert – Located in township of Soweto with local host choirs
- Group dinner
- Overnight in Johannesburg
- Thursday, March 11
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Visit Apartheid Museum and Rosebank Art and Craft Market
- Fly to Cape Town
- Lunch on your own
- Check in to hotel
- Group dinner at GOLD Restaurant
- Overnight in Cape Town
- Friday, March 12
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Visit Robben Island
- Free time and lunch on your own at the V&A Waterfront
- Rehearsal and sound check
- Third concert at Hugo Lambrechts
- Group dinner
- Overnight in Cape Town
- Saturday, March 13
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Visit Cape Peninsula, Cape of Good Hope, Cape Point, and Boulders Beach penguin colony
- Lunch on your own
- Rehearsal and sound check
- Fourth and final concert in Cape Town – Located at City Hall or a similar venue
- Group dinner
- Overnight in Cape Town
- Sunday, March 14
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Check out of the hotel
- Visit Table Mountain and ride the cableway
- Farewell dinner
- Transfer to airport and depart to USA
- Monday, March 15: Arrive home