Your Student Travel Specialists
Underwood Travel Associates employs 38 agents, with four operating Choice Music Tours, our specialized school travel program for groups. Some large travel companies employ as many as 6 Executive Officers, 14 Sales Managers, 7 Tour Managers, 6 Reservationists, and an Office and Finance Staff of 10 who pass your trip requests from one department to another. At Choice Music Tours, all aspects of your customized student trip are handled one agent.
Peg Anderson
As the wife of a band director and a past band parent, Peg brings varied experiences to her job as a student group coordinator. For the past thirteen years, Peg has arranged travel for student band, orchestra, and choir groups and is familiar with hotels, restaurants and attractions in favorite festival locations throughout the United States. She has traveled extensively with her husband, Jack, Director of Bands at the University of Pittsburgh. Peg holds a BA Degree in English from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master in Education from Edinboro University.
Jim Falvo
PMEA Citation of Excellence winner Jim Falvo brings 40 years of travel experience to Choice Music Tours. Noted for his organizational skills along with his Superior rated bands at Canon-McMillan High School, Jim has organized over 80 student trips including Los Angeles, Myrtle Beach, Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, Chicago, New York City and Orlando among others in the United States and to Montreal, Toronto and Mexico City. Jim is a Past President of PMEA District 1 and serves as a PMEA Adjudicator. Jim received both his Bachelor and Masters of Music Education Degrees from the Creative Arts Center of West Virginia University.
Bill Galvin
Also a PMEA Citation of Excellence winner and a National Band Association Citation of Excellence recipient, Bill Galvin brings 38 years of education and travel experience to Choice Music Tours. Bill is skilled at planning, budgeting, teacher training and student and parent relations. His Trinity High School groups performed at the MENC Eastern Conference and four PMEA In-service Conferences. The Trinity High School Band placed first eight consecutive years in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Marching Band Association Championships and his concert groups received twenty-six PMEA Superior Ratings. He has organized trips to Orlando, Atlanta, Buckhannon, Louisville, Toronto, Virginia Beach, Washington, DC, Detroit, and Philadelphia. Bill, a Past President of PMEA District 5, has hosted many PMEA Regional and District Festivals and is presently the District 1 Festival Coordinator. Bill holds degrees from Morehead State University and Duquesne University. Bill performs with and serves on the Board of Directors of the Washington Symphony Orchestra.
Harding “Corky” Whitacre
We are also pleased with the addition of Corky Whitacre to the Choice Music Tours staff. With his 35 years of experience at the Butler Area School District where he participated in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, Macy’s Parade in New York City, the Kentucky Derby Classic and many others, along with his recent travel company experience, Corky joins Jeff Underwood, Peg Anderson, Jim Falvo and Bill Galvin for a total of over 160 years of planning and escorting high school band, orchestra, choir, dance and club groups to numerous locations throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe. Corky is noted for his past continued participation in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association. He served two terms as President of District 5, hosted many PMEA Regional and District Festivals and is presently the District 5 Festival Coordinator.
Corky has degrees from the University of Cincinnati and Duquesne University. He continues to perform with the Butler County Symphony, Jack Bowman Jazz Band, and Slippery Rock Musicians Concert Band and is a freelance musician for local musicals. He is also a member of the Pennsylvania Federation of Contest Judges and has served as Guest Conductor at County Festivals in Armstrong, Clarion and Huntingdon counties. Corky was recently selected, for the second time, to participate in the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra adult Side By Side Concert.