Music. Meaning. Normandy.
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When: August 2026 (First program is Aug 3-10)
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Length: CDG pickup → 6 nights in Normandy → CDG return
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Location: Sainte-Mère-Église, Normandy France
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Experience: Fully catered, concierge-led, private guides. Three concerts from world-class concert musicians.
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Lodging: Multiple lodging options for different budgets.
Listen, and remember—on sacred ground.
The Week-at-a-Glance
Pick up from CDG in Paris. Travel by coach to Sainte Mere Eglise on the western side of the Cotentin Peninsula. Welcome dinner.
Day 01
Tour western US sector. Apero at Frank's House and dinner at Les Ecuries. Concert in 90 year old church in town center made famous by John Steele hanging from the roof by his parachute the night before D-Day.
Day 02
Tour the American Cemetery above Omaha Beach and eastern American sector. See Pointe du Hoc and feel the completely different enrgy present at the German cemetery at La Cambe. Also, you will have the best ice cream of your life today in Isigny-sur-mer.
Day 03
Explore Cherbourg in the morning. See the fort above the city and see where The Umbrellas of Cherbourg was filmed. Journey to the western side of the peninsula and visit a famous Biscuitrie on the way back to Frank's House. French BBQ and a home concert in the beautiful backyard at Frank's House in the evening.
Day 04
Early trip to St. Malo in Brittany. Explore the city walls and have crepes by the sea in the setting for All the Light You Cannot See. Dinner back at Frank's House, and an opportunity for a midnight walk through the hedgerows.
Day 05
Final day in Normandy - some free time to pack and prepare, followed by a picnic and a private garden concert. Farewell dinner and presentation.
Day 06
Why This Retreat
Normandy is one of the few places left that still carries real weight. When you’re here, you feel it; quietly, immediately, and in a way that doesn’t fade when you get back home.
This retreat is designed for individuals who wants the rare combination: beauty, meaning, and zero friction. Your days move between private performances by master musicians, exceptional meals, and guided D-Day history delivered with depth and respect, not crowds, not gift shops, not a checklist.
DLA curates the week the way serious people prefer to travel: the right pace, the right access, the right standards. You don’t come to be entertained. You come to be moved—by the music, by the story of Normandy, and by the privilege of experiencing both with intention.
If you’ve been everywhere, this is different.
The Experience
This week is built around three things done at the highest level: music, dining, and history—with enough breathing room to actually feel it.
Private Music, Up Close
Expect intimate performances in remarkable settings—music played by masters, close enough to hear the breath, the bow, the touch. Select sessions include brief context from the musicians so you understand what you’re hearing without turning it into a lecture.
Dining That Feels Like a Reward
Meals are not an afterthought. Think long tables, exceptional local ingredients, and the kind of pacing that turns dinner into an experience—paired thoughtfully, hosted well, and never rushed.
D-Day History With Depth
DLA brings you into Normandy’s story with private, expert-led sessions focused on clarity and meaning—not tourism. You’ll visit key locations, hear the human decisions behind the dates, and walk away with a deeper understanding of what happened and why it matters.
Concierge-Level Flow
Transportation, timing, reservations, and logistics are handled. Your only job is to show up, lean in, and enjoy the week.
Evenings You’ll Remember
After dinner: a final performance, a fireside conversation, or quiet time together—built into the schedule on purpose.
Our Creative Artists.
These retreats are anchored by musicians who have earned their reputations the hard way, through craft, standards, and countless hours on stage. Each artist brings a distinct voice and a rare level of mastery, creating performances that feel intimate, personal, and unforgettable in Normandy.
Flute
Brooke Ferguson
Brook Ferguson is the principal flutist of the Colorado Symphony, known for brilliant virtuosity and major solo appearances, including winning the 2009 National Flute Association Young Artist Competition.
Guitar
Masakazu Ito
Masakazu Ito is a world acclaimed classical guitarist and musical director at Colorado School of Mines, known for prizewinning international performances and concerto appearances including Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez.
Accompanying Vocals
Jake Schroeder
Jake Schroeder is a Colorado based vocalist and frontman of Denver funk rock band Opie Gone Bad, known for his work with D Day Leadership Academy and bringing local music to wider audiences.
Signature Moments
An intimate concert curated for the room and the audience. No stage distance. No distractions. Mastery within reach.
A private performance the way it is meant to be heard
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Chef driven meals featuring the best of the region, paced slowly and paired thoughtfully, because this week should feel like a reward.
A Normandy table set like a celebration
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Guided D Day sessions that go beyond dates and talking points, focused on decisions, leadership, and the human cost, delivered with reverence.
History with access not crowds
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Music, a meaningful site session, a long lunch, and time to breathe, planned so the week never feels rushed or over programmed.
A day built on perfect rhythm
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Time carved out intentionally. Walking the lanes. Watching the light change. Sitting with what you learned. Space most trips never give you.
A moment of quiet where it counts
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After dinner, a final musical set or a small group conversation, intimate, intelligent, and optional when you want silence instead.
Evening salons and conversation
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Signature Moments
Select locations experienced at low crowd times with a guide who can move you through the story with clarity and respect, without the noise and chaos of peak hours.
Private access at the right moments
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A final performance and farewell dinner designed to land the week. Beautiful music, a table worth lingering at, and a finish that feels complete rather than simply over.
A closing night that feels definitive
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What Is Included
Included
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Private performances by master musicians across the week
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Chef driven dining and hosted meals designed as experiences
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Curated wine pairings when appropriate
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Private guided D Day history sessions and key site access
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Ground transportation in Normandy
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Concierge led scheduling and coordination
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Local hosting and on the ground support throughout
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All standard admissions and planned experiences tied to the itinerary
Not Included
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International airfare to and from France
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Travel insurance
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Personal purchases and shopping
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Any optional add ons not listed in your final itinerary
The Standard
This is built to feel seamless. You should never be solving problems on this trip.
The Experiance
A private performance, the way it’s meant to be heard
An intimate concert curated for the room and the audience, no stage distance, no distractions, just mastery within reach.
A Normandy table set like a celebration
Chef-driven meals featuring the best of the region, paced slowly and paired thoughtfully, because this week should feel like a reward.
Guided D-Day sessions that go beyond dates and talking points, focused on decisions, leadership, and the human cost, delivered with reverence.
A day built on perfect rhythm
Music, a meaningful site session, a long lunch, and time to breathe, planned so the week never feels rushed or over-programmed.
A moment of quiet where it counts
Time carved out intentionally: walking the lanes, watching the light change, sitting with what you’ve learned, space most trips never give you.
Evening salons and conversation
After dinner, a final musical set or a small group discussion, intimate, intelligent, and optional when you want silence instead.