Meet Music Travel Consultants Tour Director Cathy Benford
A veteran Texas music educator and executive director of the Happiness Happens Arts Foundation, Cathy Benford shares her passion for student travel as a tour director with Music Travel Consultants.
Cathy Benford joined Music Travel Consultants as a tour director in 2022, but her road experience reaches back to 1993, when she handled logistics for her first student trip as an undergraduate. A music educator since 2000, she has taught everything from kindergarten through college and has been a musician since age three.
Benford earned her Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Texas State University, then Southwest Texas State University, and her Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting from Sam Houston State University. While at Texas State, she performed with the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensembles, Athletics Bands and the Panorama Steel Drum Band. At Sam Houston State, she conducted the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band and Jazz Lab Band, directed the Concert Band and Angry Orange Brass Band, taught music education courses and worked with the Bearkat Marching Band.
Her school positions include Associate Band Director at Round Rock High School, Director of Instrumental Music at Sci-Tech Preparatory School, where she was named a Champion For Children in her district, Director of Bands at Tascosa High School in Amarillo, Assistant Band Director and Director of Jazz Studies at Stony Point High School and Music Specialist at Robertson Elementary. She is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Jazz Educators Association, Jazz Education Network, College Band Directors National Association, World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, College Music Society, Marquis Who’s Who of American Women, Sigma Alpha Iota and Tau Beta Sigma.
Today, Benford serves as executive director of the Happiness Happens Arts Foundation. Her first MTC trip was to New York City in 2022, and she estimates she has tour directed more than 100 trips since 1993, including a high school music department trip with more than 300 passengers across band, choir and orchestra.
Q&A with Cathy
Do you have any background in music, education or music education?
I’ve been a music educator since 2000, teaching everything from kindergarten through college, and a musician since I was 3 years old.
How did you get started tour directing?
I was an undergraduate student working as the administrative assistant to the director of bands. I was scheduled to go with the percussionists to PASIC as a helper or roadie. About a week before the trip, the director of bands told me he couldn’t go, but I’d prepared the trip, so I’d know how to run it. Off we went, my first tour directing gig!
What is the most challenging part of being a successful MTC Tour Director?
I’ve worked in a lot of situations where I didn’t have a lot of support from a home office. Working as a tour director with all the support I get from the office and other tour directors has been an absolute dream!
What is the largest group you have tour directed?
I worked with a large high school music department, and the group traveled with more than 300 passengers across band, choir and orchestra.
What is one fact you wish travelers knew before a trip departs?
I hope travelers and their parents know that when MTC is hired for a trip, they’ve hired pros who know all the ins and outs of the trip they’re on, so they don’t have to worry about the nitty-gritty. Be on time, enjoy the trip and do your best when performing!
What is your proudest moment when your presence made a difference or significant impact on a trip?
When a director calls me back to tour direct for them again, I know I’ve done my best and I’ve earned their trust.
What is your favorite place to travel or visit with & without groups?
I don’t know that I’ve been to a place I wouldn’t want to return to. New York City, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Japan, Ireland, England and Inner Mexico are the first places that come to mind.
What does it take to be a successful MTC Tour Director?
Organization and attention to detail are very important in being a successful MTC Tour Director.
What are the benefits of having an MTC Tour Director at your side?
The amount of support I get from everyone in the office is amazing!
Any advice you want to share with directors considering performance travel?
Anyone can put together a decent trip for their students. I’ve done it a bunch of times myself. Hiring a professional to handle those logistics and details is going to allow you to do what you love: make music with your ensemble! Hire a professional, experienced travel team to handle your travel logistics so you can make music with your group and have the best time.
