Day 1 - Tuesday, June 18
Welcome to Buenos Aires-Argentina's elegant capital and largest city! Built by Europeans, the "Paris of South America" is filled with old world cafés, colonial architecture, museums, galleries, and international restaurants. Chances are good that you will touch down at Ezeiza International Airport in the morning, as 90% of all international flights arrive at this time of day. Once you retrieve your baggage and go through customs, you will take a taxi into the heart of Buenos Aires and arrive at one of the two hotels CMS has selected for you. Although you may need to store your baggage with the porter (your room probably won't be ready if it's early), you will have time to peruse the shops that line Calle Florida, grab a much-needed coffee or perhaps an early lunch, and exchange currency. After you check in and receive conference materials from the CMS staff at the Marriott Plaza Hotel (our conference hotel), we will load buses mid-afternoon for a 3-hour guided orientation tour of Buenos Aires. The tour will give you a glimpse of famous landmarks, as well as an idea of where the major neighborhoods and sites of interest are located (you will likely note several places you will wish to explore further later in the week). In case you weren't able to check into your hotel room earlier in the day, you will have time to do so when our tour buses return to the Marriott. Conference participants will be take part in a festive welcome dinner in the evening which will include a stunning performance by the Orchestra of Indigenous Instruments & New Technologies, as well as a delicious dinner. Following dinner, you will probably be ready for a full night's sleep so we won't keep you awake too late this first night.
Day 2 - Wednesday, June 19
Today is a full day of CMS conference activity in two locations within close proximity of each other-the Marriott Plaza Hotel and the Centro Cultural Borges. CMS presenters will share paper, lecture-recital, and performance presentations on a variety of topics of interest to the music profession. Our first guest speaker, Dr. Ana Lucia Frega, of the Departamento de Artes Sonoras/IUNA, will provide an overview of Argentine music during her plenary session. Lunch and dinner are on your own, and the day will conclude with the first of two concerts of new music by CMS composers.
Day 3 - Thursday, June 20
CMS presenters will continue to share their research on topics related to the music profession and its interests throughout this morning, afternoon, and early evening. A highlight of this day will be a plenary lecture on the topic of tango-you are in Buenos Aires after all! Lunch and dinner are once again on your own and this will give you a chance to investigate any number of fantastic restaurants that give Buenos Aires a reputation as a food mecca. We have given you a free night tonight so that you can either catch up on your rest, network with colleagues, or experience the powerfully energetic nightlife that the city is known for.
Day 4 - Friday, June 21
We will take a break from conference presentations today in order to gain a stronger understanding of where we are in the world through a variety of cultural activities. After breakfast, we will divide into 3 groups and rotate among three special programs including a visit to the Museo de Arte Hispanoamericano, where we will examine silver works, furniture, ceramics, documents, and religious ornaments from the 16th through 19th centuries; a hands-on workshop where we will make some of the indigenous instruments heard during our welcome dinner; and-you guessed it-tango dance lessons! Be sure to wear comfortable shoes today so you can participate. Lunch is included in today's itinerary, and will help us keep on schedule as we transfer between activities. You are in for a special evening, as we take in dinner and a tango show at the world-famous Tango Porteño. Don't be fooled by the touristy environment-the musicians are top-rate and the dancers will amaze you with complex feats of grace and athleticism. Is it an authentic tango environment? No. Is it entertaining and mesmerizing? Most certainly!
Day 5 - Saturday, June 22
Because we kept you up quite late on the previous night, you'll have a little extra time to sleep in and enjoy breakfast. Later in the morning, we will load our coaches and transfer to the countryside to visit a 3,000 acre estancia-a working ranch and "must visit" destination for every newcomer to Argentina. Estancias are an important part of local culture and this trip will offer you a glimpse into a side of Argentine life very different from the city. During our time here, you will have the opportunity to ride a horse, enjoy an asado lunch (typical argentine barbecue), experience a performance of folk music and dance, and witness demonstrations of skill by equestrian gauchos. We will return to Buenos Aires refreshed, with plenty of evening left for you to spend dining with friends, seeking out a milonga to practice your tango steps, or discovering amazing Argentine wines.
Day 6 - Sunday, June 23
Today we will pay a visit to the grand and newly renovated Teatro Colón. This 105-year-old gem is considered to be one of the best theaters in the world and is renowned for its exceptional acoustics. Teatro Colón is home to opera, ballet, chamber music, and the Buenos Aires Philharmonic Orchestra. We will be privileged to hear a public performance in the main hall followed by a brief recital by superb faculty musicians from the Instituto Superior de Arte del Teatro Colón. A lunch reception will follow and then you will have a choice to make—either return to the hotel by bus or be dropped off in San Telmo and make your way back to the hotel at your leisure. Known for its bohemian charm, San Telmo is a quirky neighborhood famous for its Sunday market. Here you will find artisans, musicians, street performers, and antique vendors displaying their treasures and talents. If you need to buy souvenirs for family and friends, this is your moment! You can spend hours hunting, bargaining, and purchasing goods from artwork to clothing to jewelry. San Telmo is also filled with parrillas, cafés, bookstores, and galleries so it is convenient when it's time to take a break from shopping in order to lunch or refresh with a café con leche. This evening is free so take your time and enjoy the atmosphere.
Day 7 - Monday, June 24
This morning is dedicated to further scholarly discourse, as delegates share papers, lecture-recitals, demonstrations, and panel discussions in our conference hotel. In the afternoon, we will transfer to La Usina del Arte-an old power station in La Boca that has been recently converted into a unique cultural and performing arts center. We will share lunch and have a little time to tour this impressive urban renewal project. Moving to one of the recital halls within the facility, we will be treated to a lecture-recital on the music of Alberto Ginastera presented by his daughter, Georgina, partnered with legendary Argentinean pianist Luis Ascot. After a coffee break, our second concert of new music by CMS composers will take place and then we will return to the hotel for a little down time. To conclude our conference experience we will walk two blocks to the Centro Naval, an ornate building from the "Golden Age of Argentina," for our farewell dinner. Within its opulent walls we will celebrate our time together with a final group meal, wine, and Argentine music before saying our bittersweet goodbyes.
Day 8 - Tuesday, June 25
Unfortunately, it is time to check out of your hotel by noon today. You may have a little time to squeeze in some last-minute shopping or museum hopping since most international flights leave Buenos Aires in the evening (just check your bags with the porter). Those who have arranged post-conference excursions will depart in the morning. Safe travels and we look forward to seeing you once again in for the 2015 International Conference!
