Performing Arts Consultants

What Performing Arts Consultants does

Performing Arts Consultants (PAC) is a non-profit educational foundation founded in 1984 and headquartered in Brick Township, New Jersey. It specializes in organizing student travel and educational performance tours for school performing arts groups, including bands, choirs, orchestras, jazz ensembles, marching bands, and dance programs. The company operates across five core verticals: adjudicated music festivals (e.g., Big Apple Classic, Toronto Maple Leaf Classic), performance programs (notably Disney Imagination Campus), marching programs (including America's Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration), cruise programs under the Festivals at Sea sub-brand (Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian), and dance programs (Universe of Dance at Universal Studios Orlando).

The business model is service-based, generating revenue from per-person fees on travel packages (e.g., $175/student and $89/adult for Big Apple Classic festival-only packages), plus optional add-ons such as air, train, bus, and cruise components. Distribution is direct-to-customer via website quote forms, a toll-free line, and trade-show presence at conferences such as TNMEA 2026. The company holds long-tenured exclusive partnerships, including Disney Youth Programs Preferred Travel Planner status since 1989 and an exclusive appointment from the Virginia Arts Festival. It claims to be the largest student cruise operator in the country.

PAC is family-led under President Dr. Michael Mazzarisi, with family members in Vice President and General Manager roles. The staff is composed primarily of former music educators and degreed musicians, a positioning that supports credibility with K-12 and university music directors. The company has no proprietary technology platform, mobile app, or AI/ML capabilities; operations are human-coordinated. Customer concentration sits entirely within the US and Canadian education sector, with marquee accounts including the University of Alabama's Million Dollar Band, West Virginia University, and Interlochen Center for the Arts, alongside a long tail of K-12 schools.

Name

Performing Arts Consultants

Legal name

Performing Arts Consultants

Website

https://usafest.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Performing Arts Consultants is a US non-profit educational foundation, founded in 1984, that organizes student travel and adjudicated performance tours for K-12 and university music, marching, and dance programs across festivals, cruises, and theme-park partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Travel Services

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAKAGAH

Performing Arts, Music & Theatre Group Tours

Travel & Hospitality/Travel Agencies, Tour Operators & OTAs/Group Travel & Educational Travel Operators

SECONDARYMPAGABAM

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Theater, Broadway & Performing Arts

SECONDARYBPAGAHAB

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Arts, Culture & Heritage Nonprofits

SECONDARYHSACAHAA

Live Music Booking (Bands, Soloists, DJs)

Home & Personal Services/Event & Personal Concierge Services/Entertainment Booking & Talent Management

Keywords

• Student music travel
• Educational performance tours
• Music festival planning
• Performing arts trips
• Student group travel

Headquarters

HQ city

Brick

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Student Travel Services: Full-service student travel for performing arts groups including booking coordination, itinerary planning, festival arrangements, and transportation logistics. Revenue derived from service fees on travel packages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Performing Arts Consultants is a non-profit educational foundation that organizes student travel and educational performance tours for school music and dance groups (band, choir, orchestra, dance). The company coordinates end-to-end logistics including transportation, accommodations, performance venues, adjudicated feedback, sightseeing, and meals across five program categories: Music Festivals, Performance Programs, Marching Programs, Cruise Programs (Festivals at Sea), and Dance Programs.

Product overview

Performing Arts Consultants is a student travel company specializing in educational tours for performing arts groups (band, choir, orchestra, and dance). The company operates as a unified service offering five core program categories: Music Festivals (including Big Apple Classic and Toronto Maple Leaf Classic), Performance Programs (including Disney Imagination Campus), Marching Programs (including America's Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration), Cruise Programs through Festivals at Sea (the largest student cruise operator in the country on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian), and Dance Programs (including Universe of Dance at Universal Studios). Additional services include custom itinerary planning, Group Travel Videos for trip souvenirs, and various application processes for different program types. The company was established in 1984 and is headquartered in Brick Township, New Jersey.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Festivals at Sea: Cruise programs offering students a cruise experience aboard Carnival, Royal Caribbean International, and Norwegian Cruise Lines. The largest student cruise operator in the country for over 40 years.

Quantifiable outcome

• Established 1984 - over 40 years of continuous operation
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Walt Disney World CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1989PAC has been a member of The Walt Disney World Corporation's student advisory board since 1989, making them a Disney Youth Programs Preferred Travel Planner. Exclusive partnership for Disney Imagination Campus (formerly Disney Performing Arts OnStage) programs.
• CLIA - Cruise Lines International AssociationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCruise Lines International Association is the world's largest cruise association dedicated to promoting cruise industry growth. PAC leverages CLIA membership for industry credibility and cruise line relationships.
• Group Travel Videos (PhotoVision, Inc.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup Travel Videos creates high-quality souvenir DVDs from trip photos. Partnership provides memorable takeaways for student travelers.
• SYTA - Student & Youth Travel AssociationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSYTA is the premier association for student and youth travel businesses, establishing quality and safety standards. PAC membership provides industry credibility and networking.
• Virginia Arts FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAC holds exclusive appointment by the Virginia Arts Festival to operate the Virginia International Music Festival, providing adjudicated music festival experiences at venues like Chrysler Hall and the Roper Center for the Performing Arts.
• America's Hometown Thanksgiving CelebrationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive partnership to manage parade participation for performing groups. Event is televised on ABC in Boston/Plymouth, MA and ranks as #1 Thanksgiving parade in the nation.
• Carnival Cruise LinecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFestivals at Sea programs operate aboard Carnival ships including Carnival Freedom, Carnival Glory, Carnival Liberty, and Carnival Breeze. PAC is the largest student cruise operator in the country.
• Royal Caribbean InternationalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFestivals at Sea programs available aboard Royal Caribbean vessels including Grandeur of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, and Allure of the Seas.
• Norwegian Cruise LinecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNorwegian Cruise Line included in the Festivities at Sea program options for student performing groups.
• Felician UniversityminorOthersFestival performance venue for Big Apple Classic music festival in New York City.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bob Rogers Travel: Group travel company specializing in student performance tours including music festivals, marching band events, and adjudicated competitions. Overlapping product offering and similar K-12 and university client base.
• Travel Bound: Educational and student travel company offering performance tour packages and music festival experiences for school performing groups. Comparable in service model and student travel focus.
• WorldStrides: Largest student educational travel provider in the US offering performance, music festival, and marching band tours through brands like Music Travel Consultants. Directly comparable in product offering, customer base (K-12 and university music programs), and end-to-end service model.
• Encore Tours: Student music tour operator offering performance tours to domestic and international destinations including Disney performance programs and adjudicated festivals. Direct competitor in the music student travel niche.
• Music Celebrations International: Specializes in adjudicated music festivals, performance tours, and cruise programs for school bands, choirs, and orchestras. Closely mirrors PAC's festivals-at-sea and adjudicated festival offerings with overlapping customer segments.
• Gateway Music Festivals: Operates adjudicated music festivals and performance tours for school bands, choirs, and orchestras across multiple US destinations including the holiday parade circuit. Closely aligned festival product mix and customer base.
• Educational Tours Inc. Provides student group travel and performance tour packages to school music programs, including festival participation and customized itineraries. Directly competes for the same school band and choir travel budgets.

Others

• Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA): Industry association providing PAC with cruise line access and industry credibility. Relevant ecosystem participant rather than competitor, but directly enables PAC's Festivals at Sea program.
• SYTA (Student & Youth Travel Association): Industry association for student and youth travel of which PAC is a member. Comparable as an ecosystem/peer reference point for understanding competitive set standards, though not a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Walt Disney World Youth Programs: Disney's in-house youth and student group programs (including Disney Imagination Campus) are the anchor partner that PAC serves as a Preferred Travel Planner. While not a competitor, Disney's program strategy directly drives PAC's largest performance offering.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/pacfestivals

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Performing Arts Consultants