Each participant of the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies (GTCYS)’ 2024 Tour to Southern France and Barcelona is responsible and accountable for his/her/their actions and behavior. Each student is expected to strictly observe GTCYS’ Code of Conduct as follows. These rules are essential for the safety of the group, the right of each participant to benefit from and enjoy the travel opportunity, and the ability of the orchestra to perform to its full potential.
Violations of the code of conduct policy may result in missing tour activities, confiscation of phones, disqualification from Symphony concerts, financial penalties, and being sent home at personal expense. See Disciplinary Actions section below.
GENERAL CONDUCT: GTCYS students are traveling as a group, not as individuals. As ambassadors of GTCYS and the United States, each participant’s conduct reflects upon the whole group. It is necessary to respect host organizers, public hotels and transportation, and patrons, and to remember that we are guests of another country and another culture. Because this Code of Conduct cannot detail every possible situation, we count on all participants to use common sense in avoiding situations and behavior that would put themselves or anyone else at risk.
STAYING WITH THE GROUP: Everyone is expected to travel and stay with the student group throughout the duration of the tour. GTCYS members are responsible for always informing their chaperones of their whereabouts and obtaining permission to leave in smaller groups if permitted during free time.
BUDDY SYSTEM: On tour, the "buddy system" is always in effect. Members must stay in groups of at least 3 students when not with the full group and no student is allowed to leave the group alone. Any travel deviations or visits with family while on tour must be requested in writing by parents before leaving on the tour and cannot conflict with the orchestra’s obligations.
PROMPTNESS: The success of the tour depends on each participant’s personal accountability to be on time for every departure and activity. Students are expected to read and follow the itinerary carefully, be mindful of the time, and arrive promptly at each designated activity. Tardiness will not be tolerated given the impact on the entire group’s schedule.
BULLYING & HARASSMENT: GTCYS expects students to be kind and to respect fellow students and GTCYS’ adults. GTCYS strictly prohibits bullying or harassment of any kind. Students who have been bullied or harassed, or individuals who have witnessed another student being bullied or harassed, should immediately inform a GTCYS adult. GTCYS will investigate, respond to, remediate, and discipline any reported acts of bullying.
HEALTH & WELLNESS: Tours can be fatiguing for students, especially with jetlag and a full schedule. We ask students to prioritize their individual health and wellness: get as much sleep as possible, stay hydrated, eat on schedule, and follow any health protocols in place at the time of the tour.
FREE TIME: Students will have designated free time periodically throughout the tour in small groups using the buddy system. By undertaking any activity during free time, each student certifies that they are able to participate in that activity and that they are aware that such participation presents certain risks including the risk of personal injury. Each student who participates in any such activity is willing to assume responsibility for those risks.
HOTEL ROOMS: Students may ONLY visit other students’ rooms until curfew each night. After curfew, all students must remain in their own assigned rooms until the next morning’s call time.
CURFEW: Curfew is when all students must be in their own rooms for the night. Curfew times will be determined and announced by GTCYS staff and chaperones each evening and must be observed by all students. Chaperones will check in with students at curfew each night.
CHAPERONES: Each staff member and chaperone has disciplinary authority over any and all students. Students are expected to respond quickly and respectfully to any request from a chaperone and/or staff member.
MUSIC & VIDEOS: When viewing videos or playing music on devices, students must use headphones and a modest volume level so as not to disrupt others.
SWIMMING: On this tour, students may have the opportunity to swim in a hotel pool or the sea (in groups using the buddy system) where lifeguards will not be present. Students are expected to assess their own skill and comfort levels in deciding whether or not to swim.
PUBLIC CONDUCT: When in public places – especially airports, airplanes, buses, boats, cultural sites, and concert venues – students should demonstrate great respect to others by avoiding loud and distracting behavior.
PROPERTY: A student’s parent or legal guardian assumes financial responsibility for any damage to personal, private, or public property caused by actions of the student, whether intentional or accidental, and any student causing such damage will be subject to disciplinary action.
DRUGS: The use of illegal drugs is not permitted and will not be tolerated. Any student caught using or in possession of any illegal drugs, prescription drugs not prescribed by a doctor, or drug paraphernalia will be subject to the disciplinary consequences outlined below as well as possible legal ramifications in our destination country.
ALCOHOL: The consumption or possession of alcohol by students is not permitted and will not be tolerated regardless of age or local customs. Any student caught consuming or in possession of alcohol will be subject to the disciplinary consequences outlined below.
SMOKING: Smoking substances of any kind is not permitted and will not be tolerated regardless of age or local customs. Any student caught smoking or in possession of cigarettes of any kind will be subject to the disciplinary consequences outlined below.
DISCIPLINARY ACTION: Failure to abide by the details outlined in this Code of Conduct will result in varying degrees of disciplinary action at the discretion of the executive and artistic directors, and may include:
Parental contact: parents/guardians will be informed about the students’ behavior and violation of the Code of Conduct.
Grounded: students will not be allowed to participate in group activities for a specified period; they will be isolated from the group and required to stay with a GTCYS adult on the bus or at the hotel.
Loss of phone privileges: students’ cell phones will be confiscated by staff for a specified period.
Loss of performing privileges and family fine: students will be disqualified from performing in the tour concerts. Their parents/guardians will be charged a fee to hire professional musicians to perform in their student’s place (average $500 per concert).
Sent home: students will be sent home on the next flight from Europe at parents’ full expense.
Expulsion from GTCYS: students will not be allowed to participate in GTCYS again.