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 currently serves as the adjunct University Concert Band conductor at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Shenberger holds a Bachelor of Music Education with instrumental and vocal certification from Southwest Baptist University, a Master of Music in instrumental conducting from Missouri State University, and more than 30 post-master’s hours in conducting and music education from the University of Central Missouri and Vandercook College of Music. In 2024, she received the St. Louis Suburban MMEA Merit Award for outstanding support of music education.
Her career extends far beyond the classroom. Shenberger maintains an active schedule as a clinician, adjudicator, presenter and honor band conductor. She served 12 seasons as co-conductor of the Alton Municipal Band in Alton, Illinois, and was a guest conductor for the Saint Louis Wind Symphony during its 25th season.
Before joining MTC, Shenberger worked as a part-time tour director with Horizons Travel early in her career, spent seven summers as a tour guide at Marvel Cave at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, and served 10 years on staff for the Missouri Ambassadors of Music European tours. She also traveled on three MTC trips as a client before becoming a tour director. As of January 2025, she has completed 11 tours with MTC and Educational Destinations.
Shenberger lives in St. Louis with her partner, Kristi Foster, and their two dogs, Jackson and Ollie. She enjoys traveling, relaxing at Table Rock Lake and spoiling her grandbabies. Between tour directing assignments, she volunteers as a wish-granter for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and serves on the literature committee for the Convergence Symphonic Band.
Q&A with Jen
Do you have any background in music, education or music education?
Having retired in 2024 after 31 years of teaching in the Missouri Public School Systems, which included 14 years teaching choir and band in the Reeds Spring School District and 17 years as the Brass Specialist for the School District of Clayton, I am currently serving as the adjunct University Concert Band Conductor at SIUE. I earned a BME with Instrumental/Vocal Certification from Southwest Baptist University, a MM Degree in Instrumental Conducting from Missouri State University, and have over 30 additional post-master’s hours in conducting and music education from the University of Central Missouri and Vandercook College of Music.
How did you get started tour directing?
I was a part-time tour director for groups traveling with Horizons Travel out of Southwest Missouri earlier in my career, a summer tour guide at Marvel Cave (Silver Dollar City) in Branson, MO, for seven years, and was on staff for the Missouri Ambassadors of Music for their European tours for 10 years. I traveled with MTC as a client on three trips before being hired as a TD.
As of January 2025, she has completed 11 trips so far.
What is the most challenging part of being a successful MTC Tour Director?
Always being one step ahead of the situation and coming up with viable solutions that meet not only the needs of the client but also the distinct personality of the groups, while keeping everyone safe.
What is the largest group you have tour directed?
Flower Mound HS Marching Band on eight coaches to Grand Nationals with Tom Young.
What is one fact you wish travelers knew before a trip departs?
Each trip offers unique opportunities with unique experiences and unique groups of people that have been carefully curated and planned, but never truly replicated again, so put down your devices, and ENJOY, SAVOR, and SOAK UP EACH and EVERY once-in-a-lifetime moment!
What is your proudest moment when your presence made a difference or significant impact on a trip?
Handling a bus breakdown in Salt Lake City on the side of the interstate on an overpass, with the help of Sarah Huffman as MOD [Manager on Duty] and the Utah State Police, I was able to work with the staff to get the Westridge HS girls’ group out of a dangerous situation and safely to the hotel.
What is your favorite place to travel or visit with & without groups?
Disney, of course! As well as new and interesting destinations with unique activities. My favorite place I have traveled personally was Iceland.
What does it take to be a successful MTC Tour Director?
Organization, Patience, Flexibility, and a Good Sense of Humor!
What are the benefits of having an MTC Tour Director at your side?
Having someone who has your back at all times is invaluable. A TD is there to make sure everything goes smoothly and is there to iron out the wrinkles in the best way imaginable when things do not go as planned. This takes the stress level for the director/teacher down and allows them to channel their energy and focus on their students. MTC also supports you throughout the entire process from trip design to post-trip feedback and that is why they can accurately claim the mantra “Unmistakably Different!
Any advice or tidbits you want to share with directors considering performance travel?
Performance travel is something you can give your students that they will remember for the rest of their lives. I have students who are in their 30s and 40s now, and when they see me or send me messages, they want to reminisce about the life-changing experiences they had on performance travel trips!
