Performance travel is not always covered in music education coursework but is something that can have a profound impact on your students and program. These ventures can be life-changing for students, so approaching with a philosophy that reflects your teaching goals is vital to the success of your program. We'll discuss developing a philosophy, avoiding pitfalls, and setting yourself up for success.
Tom Merrill
- Biographical Information
With over 20 years of experience as a travel planner and festival organizer and 10 years as a high school music educator in Iowa and Colorado, Tom Merrill possesses a view of performance travel from multiple perspectives. While a band director, his ensembles performed in Washington, D.C. and the Walt Disney Resort in Orlando. He has planned travel for groups participating in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Tournament of Roses Parade, numerous Bands of America championships, and performances at Carnegie Hall. He is currently a Travel Consultant for Bob Rogers Travel, and has previously held positions at Festivals of Music, Manhattan Concert Productions, and New Horizons Tour and Travel. He has a Masters in Conducting and Clarinet Performance from Illinois
State University, a Bachelors of Music Education from South Dakota State
University, and has remained an active musician throughout his adult life in
church choirs and community wind ensembles. He is a contributing writer to both School Band & Orchestra and Choral Director magazines, as well as a live commentator for wind band webcasts on banddirector.com. He shares his insights on the life-changing effects of performance travel with college music education students several times per year.