Dr. Bradley Vogel

Music Performance Specialist - Sales, KS Office

Conductor, pianist, composer, poet, avid reader, and learner – there are so many interesting and enriching things in the world that life is too short to explore!

Why Educators Love Working with Brad

With decades of experience as a music educator, conductor, and educational travel leader, Dr. Bradley Vogel understands what it takes to create meaningful performance tours and educational trips that inspire both students and directors. Educators consistently praise Brad for his expertise, thoughtful guidance, and commitment to making every tour educational, memorable, and stress free. Here’s what they have to say.

I had a great experience this past March when I took my advanced Theatre kids from Houston to New York City. Brad Vogel was exceptional at helping me organize a really inventive and safe trip. They provided us with the best tour guide. I’ve traveled to New York with other companies with my students over the years but never have I had such a great experience. I would highly recommend you use this company and especially Brad Vogel. He’s intelligent and exceptional but above all he’s super kind.

Sal M.

Middle School Principal

We could not be happier with ETA (and Brad Vogel’s) stewardship of our spring 7th and 8th grade trip to DC. Our itinerary was ambitious, the families at our school managed to create a thousand unforeseen logistical problems, and the teachers planning the trip didn’t have particularly deep experience putting trips together. Brad solved every single problem effectively, speedily, and with so much patience for the way our school made things harder at times than they had to be. Once we arrived in DC, things went EXTREMELY smoothly. The tour guides that ETA provided were wonderful with the kids– clear, informative, and approachable. The learning opportunities were rich and the inevitable little adaptations that needed to be made were dealt with thoughtfully and calmly. We will most certainly use ETA and personally request Brad for any future class trips of a similar nature.

Ashley S.

Middle School Teacher

I have had a wonderful experience with this company from start to finish! Mr. Brad Vogel was a God send as I planned our 8th grade trip to STL. His responsiveness, patience, and expertise allowed me to plan the trip with ease.

Additionally, he found the best prices with top notch companies to meet all of our traveling needs.

I look very forward to working with Mr. Vogel and Educational Travel Adventures in the future!

Nicole G.

High School Vice Principal

I organize an annual high school theatre and art trip to New York City and we worked with ETA for the first time this year. I am so happy we found them! From the beginning, our planning contact Brad Vogel was amazing. He was quick to respond, thorough in his answers, and fabulous to work with. I felt like we became friends through all our planning emails! Our trip was wonderful and our tour guide, Jimbo, was great and very flexible with some of our last-minute requests on the day-of. We are in the planning stages for a return trip next year and we are again in the experienced hands of Educational Travel Adventures!

Shawn Marie C.

High School Teacher

Phenomenal!!!
Brad is outstanding! Every moment was perfect!! Carlos is #1 tour guide!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Claire C.

High School Vocal Teacher

When I Joined ETA & What I Love About Working Here

I started with ETA in 2023 and immensely enjoy the opportunity to work with and learn to know teachers from across the United States — and abroad — to create educational and performance experiences for their students. It’s rewarding to be a partner with the school to expand each student’s experience and outlook on the world.

Professional Background

Dr. Bradley Vogel has enjoyed more than 40 years conducting both choral and instrumental ensembles. After a dozen years in public school education and church music ministry, he embarked on a 22-year career as Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Tabor College, and most recently concluded his teaching career as Director of Choral Activities at McPherson College. While at Tabor College, he was the recipient of the Clarence R. Hiebert Excellence in Teaching Award, and served as chair of the Department of Music as well as the Division of Performing and Visual Arts. Under his leadership, the Tabor College Concert Choir was selected to perform at the Kansas Music Educators Association State Convention six times, and he planned and led 22 ten-day concert tours throughout the Midwest, northern and southern states, and California. In honor of his service to the institution, the choral rehearsal room in the new Flaming Center for the Arts at Tabor College was named the Vogel Choral Room.

An active adjudicator and clinician, Dr. Vogel has conducted 50 choral festivals, and annually adjudicates state festivals in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Additionally, he is a commissioned composer, with works published by MusicSpoke and Imagine Music Publishing. In 2018 he was awarded the Harry Robert Wilson Award by the Kansas chapter of the American Choral Directors Association in recognition of lifetime contributions to choral music in Kansas. In 2019 he enjoyed his Carnegie Hall debut, conducting Ola Gjeilo’s Sunrise Mass, and in 2022 conducted Mark Hayes’ Te Deum. In May 2025 he returned to Carnegie Hall to conduct John Leavitt’s Missa Festiva, and will lead Antonio Vivaldi’s Gloria in April 2026, and Elaine Hagenberg’s Illuminare in May 2027. In his work with Educational Travel Adventures, he enjoys providing these performance opportunities to schools, creating enriching performance tours for schools across the country and around the world.

Fun Facts About Brad

Interesting Facts
I’m a regular conductor in Carnegie Hall, have won a national piano competition, and have a framed Certificate of Wit from A Prairie Home Companion signed by Garrison Keillor (I’m certifiably funny).

Favorite Place Traveled:
A Danube river cruise, with the opportunity to experience the rich cultural heritage and beauty of this region through central Europe, culminating in visits to Salzburg and Vienna and the homes and museums of Mozart and Beethoven. Nearly annual trips to the mountains of Colorado and cherished family times and memories.

Favorite subject to study in school:
History. The triumphs of humans through challenging times is a strong motivation for me.

Most Recent Passport Stamp:
Hungary.

Most unexpected moment while traveling:
When the Manitou Incline was still operable (before it because an intense straight incline hike), my wife I rode the incline to the top of Mount Manitou, and planned to take a leisurely stroll down the trail; it had to be leisurely, as she was 6 months pregnant at the time. We had barely begun our casual descent when clouds rolled in, the wind picked up, the rain began . . . and a lightning bolt crashed nearby. A half-hour later we were at our car, having run pell mell down the mountain, despite the current health situation.

Window seat or aisle seat?
Aisle. I have long legs . . .

Dream destination (not yet visited):
Northern Germany Rhein region.

Go-to travel snack:
Peanut Butter trail mix – sweet and salty!

One thing I hope students gain from traveling:
Learning only exists by experiencing something new, and the best learning occurs outside of one’s comfort zone. As a teacher I always encourage (i.e. “pushed”) students to reach for something they’d never done before – something that was beyond their current level of achievement so that they could learn the far reaches of their ability, and not just “do what they did now.” I love seeing students experience a new world that opens new and possible vistas for them.

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