Honor Nominations Close Oct 23 + Conference Updates Inside

Colorado Music Educators Association

In This Issue

Young Educator Conference Assistance Fund

A Letter from the Executive Director

Support 2027 Legacy Level Sponsor - Bob Rogers Travel

Arts Education Funding Survey

Visual and Performing Arts Standards Survey

Conference Registration Open

Broadmoor Hotel Registration Open

Honor Award Nominations Close Oct. 23

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2027 CMEA Conference

Information

Donate to Young Educator Conference Assistance Fund

Your gift to CMEA invests in Colorado's future in music education.

Contributions establish the Young Educator Conference Assistance Fund, helping first-, second-, and third-year teachers cover hotel, meals, and parking to attend the 2027 CMEA Conference- expenses that can otherwise put professional development out of reach early in a career.

Your generosity also supports high-quality professional development for CMEA members and enriches Colorado students' experience in CMEA-sponsored All-State ensembles.

Every gift helps. Donate online in increments from $25 to $500. All contributions are tax-deductible, and CMEA will send an acknowledgment letter for your records.

Direct your donation to:

Young Educator Conference Assistance Fund: Help early-career educators access professional learning.
CMEA Member & All-State Programs: Support professional development and student musical experiences.

Thank you for helping inspire the next generation of music educators and student musicians across Colorado.

Click HERE to Donate

From the Executive Director

The 2027 Conference is shaping up to be a terrific event. Here are this year's highlights.

CMEA Conference attendees will once again have free WIFI access from Wednesday – Saturday as part of your conference registration.

CMEA is also adding or repeating the following opportunities at the 2027 conference:

This year’s Young Educators Event will be “Munching with the Mentors,” A Pizza lunch for collegiate NAfME members and 1st–3rd–year teachers held on Thursday at 12:00 pm. Come meet a mentor, join a table discussion, and enjoy a free pizza lunch. Attendance is limited to the first 75 who select this option when registering for the conference. Registration closes on January 3rd for this event.

Are you from an out-of-state College/University and you do not have a reception to attend on Friday evening? Well, ONCE AGAIN, you do. CMEA will be hosting a reception for all non-Colorado College graduates on Friday evening.

This year's Colorado All-State High School Jazz Choirs performance will be held Friday evening in the Rocky Mountain Ballroom. If you are registered for the conference, your admission to this performance is free with your conference badge.

There are two exciting performances planned for Wednesday evening this year.

The Air Force Concert Band will be performing in Broadmoor Hall B from 7:15 to 8:45 pm
St. Martin's Chamber Choir will be performing on Wednesday evening (7:00-9:00 pm) in the Main Ballroom

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, timely sessions designed to inspire, inform, and offer practical ideas music educators can take directly back to their classrooms and programs.

2025-26 Arts Education Funding Survey

Earlier this week, the Arts Education Alliance and the NAMM SupportMusic Coalition launched the Arts Education Funding Survey for the 2025-26 School Year. We’re calling on K-12 arts educators and administrators to share what they know about how federal, state, and local funding supported dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts programs during the 2025-26 school year.

The input will help us:

Identify where funding exists
Pinpoint where gaps remain, and
Demonstrate how budget changes and advocacy efforts are affecting music programs and students across the country.

Click HERE for the Arts Education Funding Survey

Visual and Performing Arts Standards Survey

The Department of Education is seeking feedback from educators, arts specialists, administrators, and community members to help inform and refine our Visual and Performing Arts Standards, including the music standards. Your insights and classroom-level experience are critical to ensuring our standards remain relevant, comprehensive, and effective for students statewide.

How to Participate:

Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZVWYWMQ
Estimated Time: 10–15 minutes
Deadline: November 13, 2026

Please complete the survey by the deadline and feel free to share this request with colleagues involved in arts education. Thank you for your time and continued support of arts education.

Click HERE to Complete the Standards Survey

Vocal Music Council News

Bryan Kettlewell, Chair

I hope your school year is off to a wonderful start as we move into the second half of the first semester. Your dedication and passion for your students and programs continue to inspire our community!

Register for CMEA 2027! Early registration for the 2027 CMEA Clinic/Conference opens October 1st and runs through November 30th, 2026. Take advantage of the early rate and lock in your spot for an extraordinary event!

Announcing Our 2027 Headliners: Dr. Mary Biddlecombe & Dr. Tucker Biddlecombe

We are thrilled to welcome the Biddlecombes from Vanderbilt University!

Dr. Mary Biddlecombe directs the Vanderbilt Youth Choirs program, overseeing eight ensembles and mentoring collegiate directors. A nationally recognized honor choir conductor, many of you may remember her fantastic work with last year’s Colorado Middle School All-State Choir.
Dr. Tucker Biddlecombe serves as Director of Choral Studies and former Associate Dean at Vanderbilt, Director of the Nashville Symphony Chorus, as well as past president of Tennessee ACDA.
Together, they bring a wealth of expertise, energy, and insight that will inspire educators across our state.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who submitted clinic proposals or applied to perform at the 2027 conference. We received over 40 ensemble submissions, and the quality was outstanding across the board. If your ensemble or proposal was not selected this year, please keep submitting—your dedication elevates our entire profession.

Thank you for your unwavering commitment to music education. As always, please feel free to reach out to your district representative, Chair-Elect Daryl Gingrich, or me with any questions, ideas, or feedback.

CMEA 2027 CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

Registration for the 2027 CMEA Clinic/Conference is now in the Early Registration phase through November 30, 2026. The CMEA Board and State Assembly encourage you to register early and make plans to join us for the 2027 CMEA Clinic/Conference.

Click HERE to Register for the Conference