Author - Chris Frick

WGI Completes Record-Breaking Season

Seven full days of incredible performances, record crowds and record-breaking scores made the Winter Guard International (WGI) Sport of the Arts World Championships one for the history books. Color Guard World Championships week started out windy and brisk but Mother Nature wasn't done. Rains moved in during prelims and never left throughout the event. What used to be a sweltering hot UD Arena, where hand fans were in the air like moths near a flame, this championship required...

Robin Harting Develops Cutting-Edge Systems

Designing and implementing a client software program, traveler app and standard-setting contribution collection process makes Robin Harting a driving force in keeping MTC running efficiently for both the client and staff. Robin Harting, Senior System Designer and Project Analyst for the Music Travel Consultants Family of Brands, is a highly impactful Woman in Group Travel. Robin's keen analytic skills, intuitive grasp of what's needed and what works, combined with her persuasive involvement of stakeholders and management has resulted in the creation...

Lyndee Moran Brings Empathy to Multiple Roles

Keeping the MTC Family of Brands running smoothly sometimes takes wild turns. Lyndee Moran has been making those turns for over seven years. It was the day after Christmas. Lyndee and her boyfriend Andrew were in Texas visiting her sister’s family for the holidays. Little did she know that her parents were also in the area waiting for Andrew to propose. The proposal and engagement went off without a hitch however, what happened in the coming days made for an increasingly...

City Museum Student Trips

City Museum Student Trips: The Ultimate Hands-On Learning Adventure When planning a school trip, educators and trip organizers seek destinations that blend education with excitement. If you're looking for an interactive, engaging and unforgettable experience, City Museum student trips offer the perfect mix of creativity, exploration and hands-on learning. Located in St. Louis, Missouri, City Museum is not your typical museum. Built inside the old International Shoe Company, this one-of-a-kind attraction is an artist-designed playground filled with slides, tunnels,...

Grand Nationals Showcases Best and Brightest

Lucas Oil Stadium is still echoing after three days of incredible performances by some of the best and brightest student performers in the nation. Bands of America Grand Nationals last month was the largest event in BOA history. “We are thrilled to have hosted the largest Grand National Championships to date," said Laura Blake, Senior Director of Events. "We thank all of the participating bands for sharing their time and talents and look forward to our 50th anniversary...

Student Percussion Group Encourages Teamwork

What do you do when you find some instruments in a storage closet at a local elementary school? If you’re Diane Downs, you create The Louisville Leopard Percussionists. The Louisville Leopard Percussionists is a nonprofit organization offering comprehensive music education to students in grades K-12 from schools around Louisville, Kentucky. Using percussion instruments, the faculty strives to inspire creativity, discipline and teamwork in young musicians. The Leopards began as The Fabulous Leopard Percussionists in 1993 after some instruments were...

MTC Donates to Show Choirs for Thirst

Music Travel Consultants is proud to partner with Heart of America. HOA will celebrate their 10th Anniversary season in 2025. As part of our relationship with HOA, we continue to support the Thirst Foundation and Show Choirs for Thirst. The mission of Thirst Project is simple: Build a socially conscious generation of young people who END the global water crisis. To do this, we must educate people about the crisis and activate them to rock...
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Travel Like a Pro

Attending a Bands of America event will be one of the most memorable and rewarding trips your students will take. It's also survival of the fittest in the parking lot jungle, with performances in a venue filled with exuberant fans. As with any challenge, the hill looks taller from the bottom than it does after the climb. As Ted Lasso said, “Taking on a challenge is a lot like riding a horse, isn’t it? If you’re comfortable...

SYTA Scholarships Available

As a member of the Student Youth Travel Association (SYTA), Music Travel Consultants is excited to announce several financial scholarships and offerings related to travel for students and small groups. Check out all of these great opportunities. Road Scholarship The SYTA Youth Foundation Road Scholarship was established to award funds to youth who are unable to afford the cost of student group travel. The application period is open through March 29, 2024. Award announcements will be released the week...

Meet Music Travel Consultants Tour Director Robert Gibson

With the love of music in his veins, Robert Gibson thrives as an MTC tour director. Robert Gibson has directed band since 1980, from elementary school to college. In June, 2018, he retired from the education field after spending 34 years involved with school music programs, the last 18 years with the Dublin City Schools in Dublin, Ohio. During that tenure, Gibson directed bands in Ohio and Maine. In addition to his work in education, he served four years with The...