Music Education

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...
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...
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...
colorful mural of Black artists in Washington, D.C.

Exploring Black History in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., is home to some of the nation’s most important landmarks honoring Black history, culture and leadership. For students, the city offers a powerful look at the people and stories that shaped American history. From the arts and political activism to community spaces and cultural institutions, here are some of our favorite places for groups to experience during Black History Month and throughout the year. U Street: A Historic Black Cultural District Known in its prime as “Black Broadway,” the U...

Musicians Abroad Presented by MTC

Music Travel Consultants is excited to provide the travel and planning services for Musicians Abroad. The inaugural European tour will be for the state of Indiana in June of 2023. Imagine meeting new friends from throughout your state, all with incredible talents and, like you, a love of music. Imagine spending three days working diligently to hone your abilities while learning to perform with your peers. Imagine a 14-day adventure to eight countries, performing in state-of-the-art venues. Imagine...

Taylor Marching Titans Band Trip to Cleveland

Early mornings, water slides, coasters, baseball and rock and roll lead to a busy, fun-filled weekend for the Taylor HS (IN) marching band. Jump on board as MTC Trip Journalist Chloey Johnson recalls the ups and downs of her band trip to Cleveland. Taylor HS Band (IN) records the national anthem in Progressive Field The first day began before the sun even rose. We started the morning off with Dans Donuts and a bunch of tired teenagers waiting to fall asleep on...
Marty strutting his stuff on the trumpet Conducting

Meet MTC Tour Director Martin Becker

Meet MTC Tour Director Martin Becker, a man for all seasons and one of our most accomplished Tour Directors! Wide-ranging travel experience, creative thinking, and a drive to go beyond the call of duty make Marty one of MTC's very best Tour Directors.  Successful and talented in many areas, he is ready to cope with any contingency and a person whose behavior is always appropriate to every occasion. When problems arise on a trip, he has a knack for thinking outside the box...and the room....
The Franklin Community Blue Regiment Marching Band performing in the Festival of Fantasy Parade at Walt Disney World.

Featured Destination: A Disney Marching Band Trip to Walt Disney World

The Franklin Music Department, hailing from Franklin, Indiana, loves to travel and perform.  After its second trip to New York City with Music Travel Consultants,  which featured the Choir at Carnegie Hall, a clinic with Dr. Rollo Dilworth, and an earlier performance by the Blue Regiment Marching Band on the deck of the U.S.S. Intrepid, the staff called on Music Travel to design a trip south that would feature awesome shows, great meals, spectacular sights and shopping, just like they...
Marching Band Safety with Music Travel Consultants

Marching Band Travel Safety Tips

It is important that Music Travel Consultants’ clients and travelers know that their safety and security is our uppermost concern as we fulfill our mission to provide them positively life-changing travel experiences around the world. Music Travel Consultants works hard to ensure the safest and smoothest trip possible for each of its traveling groups. Nonetheless, problems and emergencies can occur.  If they do, your trip's MTC Tour Director, who accompanies your group 24/7, can make all the difference. Please notify...
Music Travel Consultants Tour Director John Hilmer.

Meet MTC Tour Director John “The Big Smoothie” Hilmer

John Hilmer is not only a committed Music Travel Consultants Tour Director and student music educator, but he has brought much more to Music Travel Consultants. John's former students Andrew Moran and of course, his son, Ben Hilmer are all part of the Music Travel Consultants family. John's relationship with Music Travel Consultants started when John was a Music Director himself. Mark Harting took his band and orchestra...