The European Festivals Experience unites three major European festivals to create an extensive programme of quality symphonic concerts, musical activities and cultural exchange in France, Italy and Latvia for youth orchestras and young musicians from all over Europe. The three festivals involved are the Floraisons Musicales in Provence (FR); the International Festival of European Youth Orchestras in Tuscany (IT) and the Latvia Schools Song and Dance and Riga City Festivals, Latvia. The project will build upon and increase the range and quality of projects already achieved in recent collaborations between the partners.Ten youth orchestras from different European countries will be invited to perform in two of the festivals over the 18-month period; each will be selected according to their musical ability and priority will be given to those who do not normally have the financial means or organisational capacity to travel or who come from European countries previously under-represented in the festivals concerned. The project will be launched with a celebratory international concert for schools and young musicians in London, and will culminate in a total of 35 concerts throughout Italy, France and Latvia, bringing together artists and cultures from north, south, east and west Europe. Each Festival will offer something extra different and unique from a musical, cultural and educational standpoint, in a programme of cultural activities and exchange opportunities which will include professional masterclasses, joint concerts with other participating orchestras, commissioned works by local composers and concerts with guest soloists and conductors. Such activities will guarantee professional and technical development, increased familiarity with and appreciation of different musical styles and interpretations, trans-mobility of artists and works, intercultural dialogue and exchange and the promotion of quality classical music in hard-to-reach areas and target groups.