An educator of 23 years, Matthew Nevers is passionate about ensuring his students receive a quality education. Part of what makes that possible is traveling with his students! As the Director of Bands for grades 6-12 at Mineral Point Middle and High Schools in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, Nevers teaches individual or small group lessons once per week for all students.
It’s safe to say he stays busy!
“I have a 6th grade band, 7th and 8th grade band, 9th through 12th band, high school jazz band, marching band, and pep band,” said Nevers, who also teaches a dual-enrollment class through the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh CAPP Program. “My high school students are enrolled through UW-Oshkosh, where I have been hired as an adjunct professor. The students who take my music and culture class get both a high school credit and three college credits.”
Nevers is an accomplished educator and was named a 2017 Herb Kohl Teacher Fellowship winner in Wisconsin, in addition to having been selected by Bandworld magazine and the John Philip Sousa Foundation for their Legion of Honor award—an honor which he will be presented with at the 2025 Midwest Clinic in Chicago.
Orlando has been the destination of choice for five of Nevers’ trips with ETI, with the sixth coming up in March 2026.
“I’ve taken between 24 and 68 students on the different band trips, and my high school concert band performs at Disney Springs on each trip,” Nevers shared. “We also take part in the ‘You’re Instrumental’ workshop, now called ‘Soundtrack Sessions, Instrumental Workshop,’ presented by Disney. Besides the concert and the workshop, we spend a day at each Disney Park, as well as a day visiting both Univerisal Studios Orlando and the Islands of Adventure theme parks.”
Nevers has also used ETI for two trips to New York City and one trip to Washington, DC with his high school’s choir.
“My favorite moment in these trips has to be the moments right after the performance at Disney Springs,” Nevers explained. “True, the stress of having the performance is over, but the attitudes of the students are the best. They are so excited from just having done an excellent concert! They have so much energy, and the smiles are awesome. The students have just performed in front of hundreds of people from all over the world. Another highlight is just being at Disney!”
Over the years and his various student trips, Nevers has learned that no matter how much you plan, something will come up that you weren’t planning for.
You just have to roll with it,” he reassured. “Everything will work out in the end.”
He encourages other educators who are interested in student travel to take the plunge and just do it!
“Students need to get out and see the world, and it’s our job as educators to broaden the minds of our students—taking them to different locations they’d normally not go is part of that,” Nevers said, noting that many students might never have the opportunity to go on this type of trip again in their lives. “Many times, I’ve seen students bloom on these trips. Each student learns so much about themselves that they didn’t know before. An example that I saw on our last trip was one of our shyest students really blooming—he’d found his people! He suddenly became one of the most outgoing people in my ensemble after this trip. The confidence boost he developed was amazing!”
Thought Mineral Point schools were already utilizing ETI’s services for an upcoming student trip when Nevers began working there 21 years ago, he has intentionally continued to use ETI after experiencing the company firsthand.
“The trip went so well, and ETI was so helpful in every aspect of the trip planning process, as well as the tour manager who has been with us on every trip, we just keep doing our trips with them,” Nevers said. “The organization and friendliness of the employees have been second to none. I also don’t expect any issues from my students, but knowing that we have an evening security guard also really makes me feel at ease and I can get a good night’s sleep.”
If you’re still feeling hesitant about delving into the world of student travel, Nevers encourages educators to move past their fears.
“It’s the best!”
Courtesy of ETI.
Photos courtesy of Matthew Nevers.
