September 1, 2027

From the Executive Director

William Kohut

Welcome Back and Best Wishes for a Wonderful School Year!

As we begin a new school year, CMEA welcomes everyone back and wishes you a successful, rewarding, and inspiring year ahead. We are excited about the many opportunities planned for the coming year, especially the 2027 CMEA Clinic/Conference.

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Deb Confredo will serve as the featured keynote speaker and headliner for the 2027 CMEA Conference. Dr. Confredo will present three compelling and timely sessions designed to inspire, inform, and provide practical ideas educators can take directly back to their classrooms and programs. We look forward to an outstanding conference experience.

Information about conference registration, Broadmoor Hotel registration, Honor Award Nominations, Young Educator Conference Assistance Fund, and sponsorship information is included at the end of this newsletter. Don't miss any important deadlines.

We look forward to another exciting year and hope to see you at the 2027 CMEA Clinic/Conference!

Best wishes for a successful school year!

Greetings Fellow Music Educators!

Leila Heil, CMEA President

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year! I’m sending genuine wishes for a smooth start as you head into a new year full of music and discovery! I also hope that you had an opportunity over the summer for personal renewal!

I am pleased to share some information about a CMEA Strategic Planning Initiative that we will be launching this fall. The purpose for developing a strategic plan is to provide our organization with a clear blueprint for aligning CMEA resources, operations and activities with a long-term vision that addresses the aspirations and needs of music teachers and students across the state of Colorado. Our intention is to use this actionable roadmap to guide conversations and decisions for the next several years.

As a first step, the CMEA Board would like to hear from YOU, our membership, about your ideas, concerns and values. To this end, we will be distributing a membership survey over the next two months. The survey has been developed by a committee of District Representatives and members of the Executive Board. Questions will include specific prompts about your teaching placement, your involvement in CMEA/NAfME, and your perspectives on current music education challenges. Additionally, you will have an opportunity to share ideas and comments through open ended responses. We value your input, so please keep an eye out for the invitation to participate in the survey and take a few minutes to share your thoughts.

Following the completion of the survey, we will launch into the strategic planning process in spring of 2027. We will continue to share information about the progress of this initiative throughout the year, and hope to roll out the strategic plan by summer 2027!

I hope to see you at our 2027 CMEA Clinic/Conference in January!

Congratulations to the 2027 CMEA Conference Honor Performing Ensembles and their directors!

Call for Nominations!

Tim Libby, CMEA President-Elect

Have you, or a music educator you know, wondered how to get more involved in CMEA, maybe even in CMEA leadership? Here is your chance!

We are seeking candidates for the January 2027 CMEA election ballot. Serving as an elected representative from your CMEA District is a great way to share your ideas on current and future CMEA initiatives.

The following State Assembly council offices are up for election this year:

• General Music Representatives: District 1, District 3, District 5, District 7
• Vocal Music Representatives: District 1, District 3, District 5, District 7
• Instrumental Music Representatives: District 1, District 3, District 5, District 7

Candidates must be a current active or retired CMEA member. Elections will take place via electronic ballot in the first two weeks of January 2026, with results announced at the opening session of the CMEA conference. Each term is two years, beginning February 1 following the election. For details on these positions and the election process, see the CMEA Bylaws: https://cmeaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/CMEA-By-laws-Adopted-1-24-2024.pdf

To nominate someone, or yourself, send names and contact information to the current Chair-Elects below by October 1st.

CHAIR-ELECT – GENERAL MUSIC COUNCIL – Julie Kuhlman Julie.kuhlman@yahoo.com

CHAIR-ELECT – INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC COUNCIL – Keith Acuncius keithacuncius@asd20.0rg

CHAIR-ELECT – VOCAL MUSIC COUNCIL – Daryl Gingrich daryl.ginrich@gmail.com

Thank you, and have a wonderful fall!

Small Steps for a Long Adventure

Cynthia Eversole, Advocacy Manager

It has been an interesting journey for music education in the state of Colorado since the integration of school choice. With this change, school funding has evolved and the definition of musical arts has become blurred in administrative roles. These changes have placed even more responsibility on the individual teachers to promote their respective programs and students. The word advocate is more of a verb than a noun. Advocacy alone could be a full-time job for a music educator in a school. It occurs with every single interaction in a school community and administrative office.  

The CMEA Executive Board has identified the need for a greater advocacy role to represent and work for our members. I am honored to be appointed Advocacy Manager for CMEA. This is a part-time position that I am taking on, but it exists full-time in my heart. Every site and situation has unique challenges and opportunities for reinforcement and growth. There are two sides to advocacy in music: advocating for your personal program and advocating for the subject at large. With the help of an Advocacy Advisory Committee, I hope to fill a need for our membership. Please reach out to Leila Heil or me if you're interested in serving on this committee. We will have quarterly meetings.  

A new resource exists on the CMEA website. If you haven’t already discovered the Resources & Mentoring portion of the website, it is a growing effort to support our members. Under this label, you will find Advocacy Resources, currently divided into six categories: Law & Policy, Grant Resources, Collaborative Coalitions & Organizations, Advocacy Videos (under construction), Music in Our Schools Month, Research, Difficult Conversations, and Community Connection. This web resource is intended to be a living resource for members and will continue to evolve with new articles and updates. Always feel free to reach out to me when you see something that can be added to the collection. 

General Music Notes

Paul Maley, GMC Chair

Elementary Teachers, have you visited your secondary teammates lately?

Connection is what pulls most of us to this profession, between students, administrators, and colleagues. We know the importance of building relationships with students, but do we remember the same for our vertical team? Those relationships take effort from both sides, but they can start with one. We all say it is about finding the time, and I believe that if something is important enough, you find the time. I promise this is.

Working in a rural mountain town, I am a team of one as an elementary music teacher. With only 3 music teachers in the district, my goal this year is to unite our programs. It has been wonderful to sit down with our middle and high school teachers to develop strategies for a better K-12 musical journey and a more enjoyable experience for us teachers too. Collaboration takes many forms beyond aligning how we teach fundamentals. This year our district is hosting a K-12 combined choir concert, along with a HS Jazz Band, HS Jazz Choir, and ES Percussion Ensemble. These are the experiences kids remember for the rest of their lives.

Relationships are hard and require buy-in. Not every teacher wants to work closely with their vertical team, but I believe a strong vertical relationship is necessary to make a program as good as it can be. I write this from an elementary perspective, but secondary teachers could ask the same question: Have you visited your elementary teammates lately? It only takes one olive branch to change many children's lives.

Good luck on an amazing start to the new school year! Cheers!

Instrumental Music Council News

Chuck Steven, IMC Chair

Dear Music Colleagues,

Welcome back!  I hope you have had time this Summer to do fun things and recharge for the new school year.  Hopefully your classes are off to a smooth start for you and your students.  CMEA has been working hard organizing a great conference for you, which will take place at the Broadmoor, January 27-30, 2027.  Registration is now open on the website at cmeaonline.org.  Sign up by September 30th to take advantage of early-bird registration.

The convention is going to be amazing this year!  As always, the selected performance ensembles will be a highlight of the conference.  In addition to the amazing groups performing, we have an eclectic offering of sessions covering a wide variety of topics to give you the tools you need to hone your craft and be at your best for your students.  Wednesday night, we are thrilled to announce a special performance at 7:15 pm by the United States Air Force Academy Band, as well as a rehearsal lab with University of Illinois Professor Dr. Rebecca MacLeod.

As you start the new school year, keep in mind you are one of the biggest influences on your students (not just musically, but on who they are as people).  Think of creative ways to inspire their love of music;  Bring in guest conductors, commission a piece, take your group on a trip, expose them to great music, find out about what music excites them, have a theme concert/performance, do a side by side performance with another school or community group, ask faculty members to sit in with your ensemble (students LOVE this).   Whatever you choose, find unique ways to keep the school year and your performances fresh and exciting for you and the students. Too often, as directors, we get caught in a cycle of performances and festivals that can feel tedious and uninspiring. Coming up with new ideas can help keep everyone feeling energized throughout the year.  As always, please feel free to reach out if there is anything I can do to help.  

I hope everyone has a fantastic school year, and I look forward to seeing you at the convention in January.  

St. Martin's Chamber Choir - Tim Krueger, director

CMEA is Proud to announce that the St. Martin's Chamber Choir will be featured at the conference on Wednesday evening in the Main Ballroom.

Founded in 1994 as Colorado’s only year-round, fully professional choir, St. Martin’s Chamber Choir has delighted Colorado audiences for more than 30 years with its exhilarating sound, its exquisite blend, and its fascinating repertoire, drawn from 1,000 years of choral music. St. Martin’s performs in five counties across the Denver metro area, including Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson. Their history includes hundreds of concerts, a dozen recordings, increasingly frequent collaborations with other distinguished local organizations, and a growing number of broadcasts.

Greetings from Tri-M

Michelle Ewer, Tri-M Manager

Welcome back to a new school year. Whether this is year two or year twenty-two, the same questions come up: Will I have numbers in my program? Will my administration support me? Can I handle it all? Hang in there, and remember your Tri-M chapter is here to help.

Tri-M Student Conference

January 27, 2027, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Colorado Springs

Registration will work differently this year, so here's advance notice on the new process.

Pricing (per student)

• $30 if received by September 30
• $35 if received October 1 to November 30
• $45 if received December 1, 2026 to January 11, 2027

How it works

You can lock in the $30 early bird rate now without submitting student names. Just register with your headcount and pay by credit card (no cash or checks). Names must be finalized and submitted by Friday, December 18, 2026, using an Excel or Google spreadsheet with columns for first name, last name, school name, and city. If you add students after your initial registration, those additions will be charged at the higher tier in effect at that time.

This tiered system helps keep costs down for you and your students. We know September is peak marching season and fall concert prep, but the earlier you register, the more your chapter saves. Start advocating for Tri-M Day now.

New this year

Commissioned piece: As a Colorado chapter, we have a chance to commission a new work from a local composer and premiere it at Tri-M Day. This will take collaboration across all schools, and CMEA has some funding in place, but we need your input. Please complete this short survey: Google Survey

College Avenue: Multiple universities will be on-site in the registration area to speak with your students. A Sign-Up Genius will go out to all participating directors.

Sessions

This year's conference features a wide range of topics, from conducting and video game music to musician wellness.

Start planning now for Tri-M Day 2027, January 27 at the Broadmoor Hotel. Learn more at cmeaonline.org/tri-m.

Feel free to reach out with any questions.

Sincerely,

Michelle Ewer

Colorado Tri-M Manager

TriMChairCMEA@cmeaonline.org

CMEA 2027 CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

CMEA Conference Registration opened on August 3rd. Go to the CMEA website. On the main page, locate the Important Links section and click Register for the Conference to complete your registration.



CMEA 2027 BROADMOOR HOTEL RESERVATIONS

CMEA Hotel Registration at The Broadmoor Hotel is now open.

Complete your registration by going to the CMEA website. Go to the quick link “Reserve a hotel room at The Broadmoor Hotel”.

Hotel reservations can also be made by using this Passkey link:

https://book.passkey.com/go/CME0126

Reservations may also be made by calling The Broadmoor Hotel Reservation team at 719-577-5775.

Schools that are looking to book a block of rooms can reach out to Gina Lacoco, at glacoco@broadmoor.com to make their arrangements. 

2027 HONOR AWARD

NOMINATIONS LINKS

Nominations for CMEA Honor Awards are now open.

Go to the CMEA website and find the Quick Links on the CMEA Web Site main page to find a link to the nomination forms for:

CMEA Hall of Fame

https://forms.gle/k32ru4LqEmeQn3eD6

CMEA Honored Administrator

https://forms.gle/y3knopbJ4m1Ja8Bh7

CMEA Outstanding Young Educator Award

https://forms.gle/TkB5vJirqQ8MCtNg7

CMEA Award for Music Advocacy

https://forms.gle/kLDqpeSGBTXo8eNz6

CMEA Service to Music Education Award

https://forms.gle/SGGGJkxNiHB2148B9

CMEA 25-year Service Award

https://forms.gle/iVe5UMCM1bJcXQWf6

Honor Award Nominations Timeline

Opens August 3, 2026

Forms close on Friday, October 2, 2026

Committee meets by October 23, 2026

Award Recipients notified by CMEA Past-President by Friday, November 6, 2026

Young Educator Conference Assistance Fund

CMEA asks Mid-Career and Retired Music Educators to Invest in the Next Generation of Music Educators

If you are a retired educator or an established music educator, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the Colorado Music Educators Association (CMEA) to help support our newest colleagues.

Your contribution will help establish the Young Educator Conference Assistance Fund, which provides financial support for first-, second-, and third-year teachers to attend the 2027 CMEA Conference. Honoraria from this fund will help offset conference expenses such as hotel accommodations, meals, and parking costs that can be a significant barrier for educators just beginning their careers.

Every gift makes a difference. Donations can be made online using the link below and are available in increments of $25, from $25 to $250 and $250 and $500. You will receive a letter from CMEA acknowledging your tax-deductible contribution for your records.

Young educators will apply online for assistance, and a committee of CMEA District Representatives will review applications and award honoraria based on demonstrated need and the funds available through your generous donations.



By investing in new teachers today, you are strengthening the future of music education in Colorado. Your generosity will help ensure that our newest educators can learn, connect, and grow professionally at the CMEA Conference, benefiting their students and our profession for years to come.

Please make your donation using the link below. 

https://cmeaonline.org/donate/

Thank you for supporting the next generation of music educators. Your generosity will have a lasting impact.

The CMEA Board announces

Sponsorship deadlines for the

2027 CMEA Conference

“Thrive and Flourish”

Support music education across Colorado while gaining meaningful visibility at the 2027 CMEA Conference.

After a highly successful launch in 2026, CMEA is continuing its sponsorship program to expand innovative programming and keep the conference accessible for all music educators. With more than 1,400 attendees, sponsors connect directly with a statewide community of educators, leaders, and decision-makers.

If you or someone you know has a connection to a business or organization that values music education, we invite you to help us build that partnership.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Connect. Support. Inspire.

• Estimated Reach:
• 1,400 music educators
• 2,000 student performers
• 7,500 concert attendees
• 240 exhibitors

• Sponsorship Deadline (commitment): October 1, 2026

• Payment Deadlines:
• Diamond, Legacy, Maestro, Crescendo: September 15, 2026
• All other levels + College Avenue: October 15, 2026

Sponsorships directly support high-quality professional learning, performances, and opportunities for Colorado music educators and students.

Contact:

Submit your sponsorship commitment or questions to:

executivedirectorCMEA@cmeaonline.org

(303) 349-4057

2027 College Avenue

Connect directly with the next generation of musicians and music educators at College Avenue during the 2027 CMEA Conference, Thrive & Flourish.

College Avenue provides colleges, universities, and music organizations with a high-visibility opportunity to engage with students, directors, and future educators from across Colorado—all in one central, high-traffic location.

Why Participate in College Avenue?

• Build relationships with prospective students
• Share program offerings, auditions, and scholarships
• Connect with Colorado music educators statewide
• Increase visibility for your institution or organization

Important Dates

• Commitment Deadline: October 1, 2026
• Payment Deadline: October 15, 2026

Join a vibrant, connected music education community and position your program where meaningful conversations happen.

Contact:

Submit your sponsorship commitment or questions to:

executivedirectorCMEA@cmeaonline.org

(303) 349-4057