Penny Low

Executive Director of Operations & Finance

Penny was born and raised in California in a musical family.  She performed on stage for the first time at age 4.  Penny was involved in choir, band and orchestra in school.  She continued performing into her 20’s when raising her daughters became a priority. She operated her own successful business in McAllen, Texas for over 20 years before relocating to San Antonio.

During her years in business she produced fundraisers for local charities. She raised her three daughters in the Rio Grande Valley where the girls were all members of the concert choir at PSJA High School.  As a choir mom Penny was involved in student trips and fundraisers.  She also worked diligently with Karate Kids of America.

In 1996 Penny made a career change and joined a company producing music festivals and student tours.  This was the job she was meant to do as it involved her two loves – music and children.  She has spent the last 13 years involved in all aspects of festival production and event planning and the last 7 years producing high quality, educational and enriching custom student tours for her clients.

Penny has traveled extensively across the United States, living on the West coast, East coast , and Hawaii for 5 years.  She moved to Texas from Hawaii in 1974. She has traveled to Mexico, Canada, Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

Penny and her husband Lynn founded Southern Star Tour and Travel in 2009 to allow them to produce events and tours with the directors and students as their priorities.  Over the years they have learned that producing these events is not just a business, but a close partnership with their clients. 

Lynn Low

Executive Director and Client Liason

Mr. Low is the Executive Director of Southern Star Tour & Travel. He has over 17 years experience in the student tour and travel and music festival industry. After spending 26 years as a Texas high school band director he understands the needs of teachers and music directors related to group travel. He has been involved in planning music contest and festival events since 1968. For many years he served as his own travel agent for travel with his own bands.

Lynn’s bands were consistent sweepstakes winners  and named Best in Class at many music festivals across the country.

Lynn has been active in Texas Music Educators having served as organizer of the All-State Symphonic Band and Auditions Chair for the Texas All-State Band for three years. He has held positions as TMEA Region Chairman and Region Band Chairman. Lynn is a charter member of the Texas Music Adjudicators Association. He also served as a Texas UIL Region Executive Secretary and Assistant Secretary for over 16 years.

Lynn inherited much of his love of music from his Dad, Aubrey Low, who at one time sang first tenor with the original Stamps Quartet. Lynn received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Texas Tech University and Master of Science in Education degree from Baylor University. He has served as band director in Crosbyton, Cisco, Mexia, Richfield and Waco HS in Waco, and East Central High School in San Antonio. Lynn is very proud of the number of former students from his bands who have gone on to careers in music education.

Shannon Boote

Organizational Planning and Design Specialist

Shannon was born in Honolulu, Hawaii but moved to Texas at a very young age.  She was raised in the Rio Grande Valley and graduated from PSJA High School.  While in high school she was a member of the concert choir and competed at State UIL competitions and music festival events. 

Shannon began working in her family’s business at 12 years old and became a department head by age 16 and by age 21 was the department manager for a popular nationwide retailer. Wanting to have and impact on peoples daily lives Shannon worked with the elderly in the nursing field for 3 years before coming full circle to work with the company that she travelled with as a choir student. She received her Associates degree in business from University of Phoenix/Axia College.  She is working to complete her Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Certificate in professional / technical writing.

Shannon has worked in the music festival and tour industry for the past 12 years.  She is experienced in planning all aspects of student tours and festival events.  She was systems administrator for a festival and tour company for 8 years.  She now lives with her 10 year old daughter in Fort Worth and is excited about being a part of a new company dedicated to the values she believes in.

Site Design by: SBoote | Low Consulting, DBA Southern Star Tour and Travel  

This page was last updated: July 29, 2010