President's Letter

Cynthia Eversole

Our Students Shine When We Shine

It seems like we have finally settled into our new routine. Before we know it, we are deep in our performance calendar, community outreach, parent/teacher conf, and our own professional development expectations. The Colorado Department of Education rubric for teacher performance is shared with us all as we anticipate a year that is already in progress. It is important that we align all that we do with this rubric in the spirit of our profession and the benefits of having music in the schools.  

Some of the teacher performance standards can be met with your involvement in CMEA and include running for your CMEA District Representative position and applying for one of our ex-officio positions (Membership Chair, Retired Membership Chair, Historian, or Technology Chair). Attend our 2024 Clinic/Conference in January where you can attend training to be an adjudicator for CHSAA. Most of all, attend the finest professional development opportunity you can find in one place on January 24-27, 2024. You will find sessions that are music-specific for most current practices in pedagogy, literature, assessment, diversity, unity, and more to fill your soul.  

Take the time to talk with your administrator to gain their support. Some schools attend through the support of the Parent Teacher Organization/Association or Boosters. Some attendees meet their principal in the middle with expenses or registration. Speak with the Department of Instruction & Curriculum. Music educators have spent more than our fair share in professional development unrelated to music and yet there is overwhelming evidence of how music promotes belonging and scores. CMEA provides a rolling conference registration between now and January. Be sure to register in time to save money.  

Be assured that you have a place here in CMEA and we value all of our members. We want everyone to have a reason to be involved and propelled to be the best music educator you can be. Our students shine when we shine.  

Cynthia Eversole

President

College/University Council News

Martina Miranda, College/University Council Chair

Greetings!

I am looking forward to another school year and continued service as the Chair of the College-University Council. This summer, the council chose Brett Keating to serve as Chair-Elect. Dr. Keating is the Director of Bands and Brass at Western Colorado University, and we are very appreciative of his service. As a council, we continue to look for ways to connect with CO music educators and broaden the impact we have each year at the state conference. I’m encouraged to know that we have a strong presence in Colorado and know your students are grateful for the time and attention you provide. Thank you for all you do!

Martina Miranda, Chair

College-University Council

Vocal Music Council News

Kalinda Theobold, General Music Council, Chair

Dear Colleagues, 

As we bid farewell to the summer and embrace the fall semester, I hope you are all filled with enthusiasm for the school year that lies ahead!

Over the past few months, the CMEA VMC has been hard at work. We've been diligently focused on the task of selecting sessions and performances, as well as crafting the schedule for the highly anticipated 2024 CMEA Conference.

• A Round of Applause for Our Dedicated VMC Members and Volunteers:

I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the VMC members and invited volunteers who worked tirelessly to listen to, adjudicate, and select performance ensembles for the upcoming 2024 conference back in June. Your expertise and passion for the arts shone through in the selection process, ensuring the highest quality performances for our attendees.

• Thank You to All the Creative Minds:

We also extend our gratitude to all those who submitted session proposals and performance ensembles for consideration. Your innovative ideas and artistic endeavors are what make our conference an enriching experience for all participants. Your collective efforts have laid the foundation for an exciting and unforgettable 2024 Conference. We can't wait to witness the incredible performances and insightful sessions that will grace our event.

• Congratulations to All Selected Vocal Music Ensembles for the 2024 Conference! 

As you prepare for your moment in the spotlight, please keep an eye out for more communications from myself and Margie Camp, our CMEA Communications Chair. My communication will provide you with essential information about sound checks, warm-up times, and your performance slot. Your success is our priority, and we're here to ensure your experience is seamless and memorable.

As we move forward, we're excited to bring you more updates and details about the conference. Be sure to read the Fall Journal Article for more details on our VMC headliner for 2024. 

Your dedication and contributions have set the stage for a remarkable event, and we can't wait to share the fruits of our collective labor with the music education community. Stay tuned for further announcements, and let's make the 2024 CMEA Conference an unforgettable experience!

Warm regards,

Alyssa A. Miller 

Vocal Music Council Chair

VMC.CMEA@gmail.com

Tri-M News

Michelle Ewer, Chair

Greetings From Tri-M,

I love to see the number of Colorado Schools starting or renewing Tri-M Chapters. Thank you so very much. A membership through NAFME is $100 and is good for a single school year. Renewals are the same price. Visit Nafme.org for more details.

Tri-M Day is January 24^th at the Broadmoor Hotel. Registration will be open in November. This is a day you want to put on your Calendar NOW! Would your students like to learn how to conduct? Back again is Pass the Baton with Jennifer Grice. Should I be a Professional Musician or Teacher.? Margaret Miller from CSU will speak about how to do both.

Playing an instrument or conducting takes a toll on our bodies. James Brody from Cu Boulder will give us tips on how to move well. Krista Hart from Alfred Music will be doing a Choral Music Clinic including song packets. Raul Dominguez from Regis University will address choral students in Enhancing Musicianship with Movement.

Students who attend Tri-M Day will have the ability to select their own mini-conference. The sessions listed above are just a few of the many choices. I will list more in the next publication. You will also be able to see a complete list when registration opens in November.

Thank you for all you do for your students and for providing them an opportunity to experience Tri-M. I know it is one more item on your plate, but you do make a difference. I hope to see many of you in January.

Sincerely,

Michelle Ewer 

Colorado Tri-M Chair

National Advisory Board

CMEA Ex-Officio Position Applications Available

William Kohut

Are you interested in serving CMEA but do not want to run for election to the State Assembly or Board of Directors? Are you retired and would like to give back to CMEA? Here are some opportunities to serve……

CMEA is seeking interested, active or retired members, to serve in an Ex-Officio position. Positions are two years in length and begin on February 1^st of even-numbered years. These positions are appointed by the President of CMEA. Below are the positions available for 2024 with a link to complete a short interest form. The CMEA President-elect will review these interest forms in November and make appointments in December 2023. 

If you are interested in one of these positions you are encouraged to submit the interest form.

CMEA Membership Chair- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfi0vHqhdnSXq5BoY-3fJ2DhFpqo1o_Fg8h2obxrEQ9XuyrZQ/viewform?usp=sharing

CMEA Retired Membership Chair- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfOqGHtvPnUxxw8SUR1OrdIaRX904iM_abg9gssGl3Dw-3Jhw/viewform?usp=sharing

CMEA Historian- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScWhiyMg1cYYIomWURwW4y8SN7ng_LChua6wqeb5ybpQes0gw/viewform?usp=sharing

CMEA Technology Chair- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdOoPQCVZ-uMfKQVW2Pe_-MYpy8qZO5HwOGrRQ7fWipPyPx4A/viewform?usp=sharing

Interest applications are due by October 31.

Registration for the 2024 CMEA Clinic/Conference is now open

Registration for the 2024 CMEA Clinic/Conference is now open. We are excited to offer this year’s CMEA Conference “Honoring our Past- Inspiring our Future”. The CMEA Board of Directors were able to keep registration prices the same for the third year for all CMEA Member Conference Registration Fees.



Click Here to go to the Registration page

CONFERENCE DATES: Wednesday, January 24; Thursday, January 25; Friday, January 26; Saturday, January 27, 2024

CONFERENCE LOCATION: Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Reservations for the CMEA Broadmoor Hotel Room Reservation Link Now Open

Reservations for the CMEA Room block at The Broadmoor Hotel, the official hotel of the CMEA Conference, can be made beginning on August 1, 2023 by using the link below. Reservations can also be made by calling the Hotel Reservations Center at 855-634-7711. When you call to book your reservations make sure that you tell them you are attending the CMEA Conference so you receive the CMEA hotel conference room rate. If you are booking for a school group with a block of rooms, reach out to the CMEA Room Reservation Manager at The Broadmoor Hotel, Michelle Derges at (719)-471-6374.

Click here for The Broadmoor Hotel Room Reservation System