Meet Music Travel Consultants Tour Director Tracee Lentz

A Michigan native, Tracee Lentz blends her passion for education, music and student travel in her role as a tour director with Music Travel Consultants (MTC). Lentz joined MTC following an exceptional 30-year career teaching vocal music and other subjects at Tawas Area Schools. She earned her bachelor’s degree in education with a concentration in vocal music and a minor in English literature from Central Michigan University. As both a student and through postgraduate experiences, Lentz had the opportunity...
choir students singing with an ornate background

Celebrate Choral Excellence at We Are Singing Music Festivals and Competitions

We Are Singing (WAS) events bring choral music to life through unforgettable festivals and competitions held at stunning international venues. Whether you're seeking the joy of celebrating your choir's artistry or aiming for excellence on a competitive stage, WAS offers an incredible experience for all who love music. About WAS Events These events are designed to unite choirs from across the globe, fostering connections through the language of music. With two unique formats: music festivals and music competitions, participants can choose a...

Bands March in Ireland St. Patrick’s Day Festival Parade

Two high school bands recently experienced Ireland through performance, education and cultural exchange, highlighting the value of international travel for student musicians. In March, the South Jones Band of Braves from Mississippi and the Pendleton Heights Marching Arabians from Indiana, joined by students from Frankton-Lapel HS, traveled to Ireland with Music Travel Consultants. Their itinerary culminated in participation in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, one of the country’s most visible cultural celebrations. Walking Through...
interior of Carnegie Hall

The Carnegie Hall Experience: 2027 Student Music Festivals

For generations of musicians, performing at Carnegie Hall has symbolized the highest level of artistic achievement. The iconic New York venue has welcomed legendary performers since opening its doors in 1891. For student ensembles, stepping onto that stage is both an educational milestone and an unforgettable moment. Music educators often look for experiences that combine musical growth with inspiration: Carnegie Hall performance festivals offer both. Students rehearse with respected conductors, collaborate with peers from across the country and...
Music in Our Schools Month graphic that reads "United Through Music"

March Is Music In Our Schools Month

March 2026 Marks the 41st Observance of Music In Our Schools Month® This Year’s MIOSM® Theme Continues as “United Through Music” HERNDON, VA (February 23, 2026)— For more than 40 years, March has been designated by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) as Music In Our Schools Month® (MIOSM®). Ensuring equitable access to music education for the youngest members of our society—students—is paramount. This March, music educators and music students once again are celebrating music education in their school communities demonstrating how the...
Wide shot image of entire stage performance of Disney's Candlelight processional featuring a mass choir and orchestra

EPCOT’s Candlelight Processional with Your High School Choir

Every December, one of the most meaningful holiday traditions at Walt Disney World Resort comes to life at EPCOT's Candlelight Processional. Staged at the America Gardens Theatre during EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays, Candlelight is more than a seasonal concert. It is a full-scale presentation of the Christmas story, combining live orchestra, massed choir and celebrity narration in a setting that feels both intimate and grand. For student groups, it represents a rare opportunity to...
New Castle HS marching band marching down Main Street in downtown Disney World

Disney World Through the Eyes of a Trojan Marching Band Student

Read a first-person account of the New Castle HS (IN) Walt Disney World adventure, written by band student Teagan Swift. The Trojan Marching Band (TMB) had a great time at Disney. From hanging out in the hotel to exploring the parks, we definitely endured many adventures. And after a long bus ride there, we showed up ready for action in our first park of the week, Animal Kingdom!   Animal Kingdom This park was like stepping into a Safari. The decor...

Meet Music Travel Consultants Tour Director Cody Groves

Cody Groves brings nearly 20 years of marching arts experience to his role as a tour director with Music Travel Consultants. Groves joined Music Travel Consultants as a tour director in 2024, bringing nearly two decades of experience in the marching arts. A salesperson by day and a passionate marching band instructor and designer by night, Groves helps shape programs and support students through performance, instruction and design work. Outside of tour directing, he enjoys traveling to Disney, playing hockey and spending...
Jen Shenberger smiling under a blossoming tree

Meet Music Travel Consultants Tour Director Jen Shenberger

A longtime Missouri music educator, Jennifer Shenberger now shares her passion for student travel as a tour director with Music Travel Consultants. Jennifer Shenberger joined Music Travel Consultants as a tour director in 2024 following a distinguished 31-year career in the Missouri public schools. Her teaching experience includes 14 years directing choir and band in the Reeds Spring School District and 17 years as the Brass Specialist for the School District of Clayton. She retired from public education in 2024 and...
Ornate Chinese boat on the water

Expanding Global Opportunities: Exploring Student Travel in China

Educational Destinations (MTC's educational travel division) Travel Designer Mary Godley shares her recent experience exploring exciting student travel opportunities throughout China. Her takeaway? China is the ideal destination for a wide range of student arts, education and performance trips. I had the immense joy and honor to join an eight-night professional tour in China with the Student and Youth Travel Association and the Chinese National Tourist Office of New York. Our mission was to explore student educational tourism....