A Note from the Executive Director...

Happy New Year, everyone! Hopefully the school year has gone well for you thus far and you are excited for the spring. Serving you as Executive Director continues to be enlightening and enriching. Each day has been a learning experience, and I am beginning to feel like I am beginning to get the hang of it.

Our 2024 In-Service Conference is next week in Athens. The staff and our Conference Planning Committee look forward to sharing it with you. A tremendous amount of planning and effort has gone into bringing it all together. The efforts of our elected leaders, volunteers, and staff continue to amaze me, and I am confident our time together next week will be great.

While "Early Bird" pre-registration ended Tuesday, you may still register through the link on our website. Look for your confirmation email with instructions on how to print and pick up your badge. Those emails will be sent next week. When you arrive at the Classic Center proceed to the badge printing stations. To register on site, you may use the QR code available in the atrium or simply register through our website. If you need assistance, staff members will be available throughout the conference.

As you plan ahead with regard to the sessions and concerts you would like to attend, please see the link HERE. Also, a number of businesses in Athens participate in the "Show Your Badge" program. You can see that list HERE and save.

Another great thing you can do is to download the GMEA In-Service Conference App. See below for the links to do that.

Thank you for what you continue to do for students and music throughout Georgia. 

I can't wait to see you.

Click one of the links below to download the GMEA ISC Mobile App. You will be able to stay connected throughout In-Service.

Thank you to the Georgia Council for the Arts and the National Endowment

for the Arts for supporting the

Georgia Music Educators Association.

Upcoming Deadlines and Events - Please plan ahead!

JANUARY

18-20 All-State Chorus Final Auditions 

25-27 In-Service Conference (The Classic Center – Athens)

25-27 All-State Jazz Ensemble and All-State Reading Chorus

FEBRUARY

6 All-State Band & Orchestra Acceptance and Payment Postmark Deadline

6 Jazz Ensemble Performance Evaluation Registration and Payment Postmark Deadline

6 Spring Solo and Ensemble Registration and Payment Postmark Deadline

9-10 Statewide Elementary Honor Chorus (Clayton Co. Performing Arts Center, Jonesboro)

9 Elementary Division Council Meeting

9-10 Sixth Grade Statewide Honor Chorus (UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center, Tifton)

12-17 Large Group Performance Evaluation – First Week

15-17 All-State Chorus (The Classic Center – Athens)

16 Choral Division Council Meeting

19-24 Large Group Performance Evaluation – Second Week

26-March 2 Large Group Performance Evaluations – Third Week

29-March 2 All-State Band & All-State Orchestra (The Classic Center – Athens)

Be sure to visit our first

TECH TOWN - a Music Technology specific area in the exhibit hall at

the In-Service Conference!

Do you need PLU Credit?

Georgia State University will once again be offering the opportunity to earn PLU's as part of Professional Development by attending Conference Sessions and Concerts. 

Please visit their booth in the Atrium for more information.  

Advocacy for All

Developed following a discussion between GMEA representatives and Rep. David Scott's Legislative Aide, Ruby Zimmerman (Lassiter Band Alumnus c/o 2016), during NAfME's 2023 Hill Day, the Reimagining Inclusive Arts Education Act serves as an example of the impact our advocacy can have at the federal level. Recognizing the benefits of arts education for children with disabilities, this legislation would provide grants to further train educators and arts therapists working with those individuals. Scott plans to introduce the bill in Congress later this month.

(Hill Day pictured above, Legislative Letter below)

Please take note of the receptions taking place as part of In-Service

Collegiate Members - The CNAfME reception at the GMEA conference!

Thursday from 5:15-6:15pm in the

Ligotti Rooms 1 and 2.

Please check out the Winter Georgia Music News here for more information about all that is happening in Athens.

The 2nd Annual GMEA+HBCU Networking Social will again take place in the Hyatt Lobby and Breakfast Area Friday from 5-7pm.

All-State & Statewide Hotel News

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The hotel portal for the All-State Band and Orchestra event is still open. If you need to cancel a room, please see your confirmation email for more information.

For ISC and All-State Chorus room changes, before cancelling rooms, please consider checking with Laura, Alan, or colleagues to see if there are other directors who could use them.

Also, hotel information for 6th Grade Statewide & Statewide Elementary Honor Chorus is available now on their respective pages on the GMEA website.