Music Education

Music Travel Consultants is honored to be Music for All’s Official Travel Partner. Music for All is one of the largest and most influential national music education organizations, actively involved in support of active music-making, Music for All uniquely combines national level programming and awareness campaigns, research and advocacy. Bands of America, Orchestra America and BOA Summer Symposium are three of Music for All’s best-known programs. Music Travel Consultants is also honored to be a part of the Indiana State Fair Band Band competition and Music Travel Consultants is also honored to be a charter member of SYTA (Student & Youth Travel Association), founded in 1997 to protect travelers younger than 26 years of age, Music Travel endorses and complies with SYTA’s strict code of ethics. In addition, Music Travel meets SYTA’s requirement that members have tour protection coverage of $200,000 more than that offered by NTA’s Consumer Protection Plan.

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...
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...
Center Grove HS (IN)

BOA 2026: Fall Travel Planning Starts Here

As an official travel partner of Bands of America, Music Travel Consultants supports ensembles preparing for the fall 2026 BOA competitive season. With early-season planning underway, now is the perfect time for us to help you ensure better hotel availability, smoother transportation options and a more predictable budget. For directors, boosters and administrators, the goal is simple: keep the focus on the performers while we handle every detail behind the scenes.   Why Programs Trust Music Travel Consultants When your season involves...

The Top 5 Destinations for Student Music Travel

Every year, student musicians across the country step beyond their rehearsal rooms to perform, learn and grow through travel. While every program’s goals are different, one thing is clear: some destinations consistently rise to the top. Based on Music Travel Consultants’ 2025 trips, these five destinations stood out as the most popular choices for bands, choirs and orchestras. From cultural hubs to performance-packed cities, here’s our countdown of the Top 5 destinations for student music travel, starting at No. 5...
Orchestra and choir on stage for Disney's Candlelight Processional
Wide shot image of entire stage performance of Disney's Candlelight processional featuring a mass choir and orchestra

Carmel HS Choir and Terre Haute North Vigo HS Choir Take the Stage at EPCOT’s Candlelight Processional

In late December 2025, two Indiana choirs stepped into one of Walt Disney World’s most meaningful holiday traditions: EPCOT’s Candlelight Processional. Carmel High School Choir, directed by Katie Kouns, performed Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, followed by Terre Haute North Vigo Choir, directed by Michelle Azar, on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. Both groups performed once, but the experience carried the weight of a career highlight. Candlelight is not a typical theme park performance. It is a full-scale concert presentation of the Christmas...

First-Ever Show Choir Performs in Philly Thanksgiving Day Parade

The Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade has never featured a show choir - until this year. So when Todd Marcocci contacted Pendleton Heights HS (IN) Choir Director Erin Archer with the opportunity, it was too important to pass up. Pendleton Heights delivered a magical performance on national television, proving that show choirs deserve a lasting place in the lineup. Preparation for parade day began months in advance, beginning at the choir's July summer camp. "We learned the vocals and most of the...

4,000 Miles – Kenai Central Band’s Historic Journey to BOA Grand Nationals

In November, the Kenai Central Band from Kenai, Alaska, stepped onto the field of one of the biggest events in marching band: the Bands of America (BOA) Grand National Championships. Many in the stadium had been following their travels from Alaska to Indianapolis: Kenai was the second band from Alaska in BOA history to ever make the trek. For the director, students and parents, this moment was a dream long in the making. For the first step of...
Overhead view of bands lined up on the field of Lucas Oil Stadium before Grand National Championships finals awards

Behind the Scenes at Bands of America Grand National Championships

In November, over 100 bands competed at the Bands of America Grand National Championships, many of which are long-standing clients of the Music Travel Consultants family of brands. This recap highlights the event and the role our team plays in supporting their experience. Bentonville HS (AR) What Is Bands of America Grand Nationals? Each November, high school marching bands from across the country converge on Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for Music for All’s Bands of America Grand National Championships,...