Travel With Purpose Through Music.
Sing. Travel. Connect.
“One of the best trips I have taken because it combined my favourite things — making music, spending time on the ocean, and mingling with locals.”
The NICW Experience
International
Community
Sing and travel with wonderful people.
Artistic
Excellence
Prepare, rehearse, and perform at a high level.
Cultural
Connection
Meet, collaborate, and sing with people internationally.
Extraordinary
Places
Colonial cities, Pacific beaches, volcanoes, forests, and more.
Travel with
Purpose
Explore with intention. Engage with open hearts.
What is NICW?
NICW brings together singers and adventurous travellers through three essential elements:
Inspiring Music Making
Workshops, performances, and collaboration with local musicians.
Travel With Purpose
Experience a country through its people, landscapes, culture, and communities.
Community & Connection
Friendships built through shared discovery.
NICW distinguishes itself by integrating collaborative music-making, bringing Canadian and Nicaraguan musicians together to rehearse and perform. Joining voices in this way creates unique and memorable musical experiences while lending authenticity and purpose to the journey.
As much a musical retreat as a choral workshop, the programme blends singing with time to relax and unwind, along with excursions to extraordinary places in one of Central America’s most remarkable and beautiful countries.
NICW’s mission is to create an experience of personal growth and renewal, broaden cultural horizons, foster mutual learning, and strengthen human connection.
DISCOVERING NICARAGUA
Compared with neighbouring countries, Nicaragua’s lower population density, strong reputation for traveller safety, relaxed pace of daily life, genuine hospitality, and wealth of things to do help visitors quickly feel at ease and at home.
Nicaragua’s strong tradition of choral singing, deep appreciation for music, and welcoming culture create exceptional opportunities for artistic collaboration and exchange.
Nicaragua is much more than the setting for NICW—it is its natural home.
“People are friendly and welcoming, and it is not overrun by tourists—you get to see how people live in Nicaragua.”
upcoming Tour
NICW 27: Handel's Messiah
Following an official invitation from the Rubén Darío National Theatre, Canadian participants will join professional instrumentalists, singers, and soloists for historic performances of highlights from Handel’s Messiah in Managua, the musical centerpiece of the tour.
Across sixteen unforgettable days, participants will make music, explore Nicaragua, and enjoy time in San Juan del Sur, León, Managua, Granada, and beyond.
Handel’s Messiah
16 Day Retreat
Incredible destinations
Canadian–Nicaraguan collaboration
For experienced choral singers
“Additional experiences forthcoming — stay tuned”
past Experiences
NICW 2026
January–February 2026
NICW 2024
February 2024
Participant Reflections
Hear how past participants describe their NICW experience.
— Michael
— Tonia
— John
— Mary
BUILDING ON PAST WORKSHOPS
From an idea to an international musical community
2024
2026
2027
Singing in — or on top of — cathedrals, and on beaches and boats made this a unique and unforgettable trip.”
Artistic Director
Roland Graham
As founder of NICW, he brings together his experience in conducting, education, international collaboration, and travel to create musical experiences that connect people through a shared artistic purpose.
Past participants praise his energetic leadership, clear teaching, organization, and ability to create memorable musical and travel experiences.
Look at my personal achievements →
Why Nicaragua?
A Country Waiting to be Discovered
Nicaragua is one of Central America’s most remarkable and unexpected destinations—a country of dramatic landscapes, colonial cities, vibrant traditions, and extraordinarily warm and welcoming people.
From the colourful streets of Granada and the shores of Lake Nicaragua to volcanoes, cloud forests, Pacific beaches, howler monkeys, and infinitely more, Nicaragua offers the rare opportunity to experience a place that still feels authentic: unspoilt, personal, and deeply connected to its culture.
Safe for tourists, affordable, and rewarding for travellers of all ages, Nicaragua remains one of North America’s best-kept travel secrets.
“People are friendly and welcoming and it is not overrun by tourists — you get to see how people live in Nicaragua.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can participate in NICW programs?
NICW welcomes singers, musicians, and culturally curious travelers from around the world. Programs are designed for participants who enjoy music, exploration, and meaningful cultural experiences.
Do I need professional singing experience?
What is included in the experience?
Can I travel alone?
Why is Nicaragua the host destination?
How long are the workshops?
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to visit Nicaragua?
November through April is the dry season and the ideal window. Days are warm and clear, evenings are comfortable, and the coast is at its best. NICW workshops run in January and February for this reason.
Is Nicaragua safe for travellers?
Yes. Nicaragua has a strong regional reputation for traveller safety, particularly in the colonial cities and coastal areas NICW visits. Standard travel awareness applies. Past NICW participants, many of whom travelled independently for the first time in years, consistently describe feeling at ease throughout the trip.
Do I need to speak Spanish to travel in Nicaragua?
No. NICW workshops are run in English, and enough English is spoken in the places we visit that travellers manage comfortably. Any Spanish you bring will be welcomed.
What level of singing experience do I need to join NICW?
NICW is designed for experienced choral singers. Comfort reading music, singing in parts, and holding your own line in ensemble rehearsal is what matters most. If you sing regularly in a choir at home, you are the singer we have in mind.
What repertoire will NICW 27 perform?
NICW 27 centres on highlights from Handel’s Messiah, performed at the Rubén Darío National Theatre in Managua alongside Nicaraguan professional instrumentalists, singers, and soloists. Additional repertoire drawn from Canadian and Nicaraguan traditions is prepared and performed across the sixteen days.
Can I visit Nicaragua without joining a NICW workshop?
Yes, and many independent travellers do. If you are drawn specifically to the combination of serious choral music, cultural exchange, and travel that NICW offers, the next opportunity is NICW 27.
Can non-singing partners join a NICW trip?
This is worth asking directly. Reach out through the contact page and Roland will respond personally with the current answer.
Can I visit Nicaragua without joining a NICW workshop?
Yes, and many independent travellers do. If you are drawn specifically to the combination of serious choral music, cultural exchange, and travel that NICW offers, the next opportunity is NICW 27.
Explore NICW 27
