Miss Cathy Benford is the Founder and Executive Director of the Happiness Happens Arts Foundation. She was born in Tokyo, Japan and is both an English & American Citizen. 

She earned her Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Texas State University (then Southwest Texas State University) and her Masters of Music in Instrumental Conducting from Sam Houston State University. While attending Texas State University, she performed with the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensembles, Athletics Bands and was also a member of the Panorama Steel Drum Band. At Sam Houston State University, she conducted the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Jazz Lab Band and was the Director of the Concert Band and Angry Orange Brass Band (Basketball Band), as well as taught several Music Education courses and worked with the Bearkat Marching Band.

Prior to the Foundation, she was the Associate Band Director at Round Rock High School, Director of Instrumental Music at Sci-Tech Preparatory School where she was named Champion For Children for the year in her district, the Director of Bands at Tascosa High School in Amarillo, TX; Assistant Band Director and Director of Jazz Studies at Stony Point High school and was the Music Specialist at Robertson Elementary, both in Round Rock ISD.

Professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Jazz Educators Association, Jazz Education Network, College Band Director’s National Association, World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, College Music Society, Marquis Who’s Who of American Women, Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity and Tau Beta Sigma Honorary Music Fraternity.