Greetings!
This email contains All State Elementary Choir updates, upcoming conference information, All State and All Northwest information, and advocacy through OMEA.
|
|
OMEA Conference Pre-Registration Open |
|
2023 OMEA Conference and All State in Eugene |
|
Planning for the 2023 OMEA Conference, "Celebrating Diversity - Pursuing Harmony", continues!
Pre-Registration for the conference is now live. Please click here to get started! Please note that this reduced rate to attend the January conference in Eugene ends at 11:59pm on December 31st. After that date the rate increases.
***If you are a director with students in an All State ensemble, you must register for and attend the conference per OMEA policy.
|
|
OMEA All State Elementary Choir Deadline Extended- Reduced Fee |
|
The OMEA Executive Board is pleased to announce that the registration fee for this year’s All-State Elementary Honor Choir has been reduced to $120 (from the originally announced price of $148). We extend our gratitude to K. K. Friar, Allison Hedgepeth, John Hillan-Payne, Steve Phillips, and other concerned members, for encouraging the Executive Board to reexamine the budget for additional cost-saving measures. They are outstanding advocates for elementary music education!
Because this decision was made so late in the nomination process, we are also extending the Elementary Honor Choir nomination deadline to October 7. (MS and HS audition deadline is still October 5.) We hope that the additional time will allow teachers to contact their students and families.
The theme of this year’s conference is “Celebrating Diversity – Pursuing Harmony”. Elementary music teachers embody this theme because they work to foster an understanding of and a love for music in all of our students. As we look ahead to 2024, the Executive Board intends to reevaluate the conference budget model so that All-State students, including those in the Elementary Honor Choir, can have the best possible experience at the most affordable rate.
We hope that the newly reduced registration fee and extended nomination deadline will encourage you to invite your students to participate. With all of you, this year’s All-State Elementary Honor Choir is sure to be one of the best ones yet!
Sean Williams
2023 OMEA Conference Chair
|
|
OMEA Awards and Elections |
|
During the banquet of our annual conference, OMEA recognizes exemplary, influential, and inspiring educators at our annual banquet. I encourage you to take a moment to nominate an outstanding colleague or someone who has supported you in your career. For a list of award recipients in prior years, please follow this link to the OMEA website.
To submit a nomination:
- Visit this link.
- Complete the online form for the specific award for which you are nominating someone.
- Provide a letter of support for the nominee addressing your relationship to the candidate, as well as the nominee’s career accomplishments and contributions to music educations.
- Solicit additional letters of recommendation from colleagues, administrators, and/or other relevant reviewers of the nominee’s work (at least 2 letters).
Award categories include:
- Excellent in Elementary Music Education Award
- Outstanding Music Educator Award
- John C. McManus Distinguished Teacher Award
- Outstanding Administrator Award
- Exemplary Service to the Profession Award
- Outstanding Contributor Award
- Outstanding Middle School Music Educator Award
- Outstanding Early Career Music Educator Award
OMEA ELECTIONS & APPOINTMENTS
OMEA is now accepting nominations for the role of 2nd Vice President. The individual elected to this role will serve on the OMEA Executive Board for two years. The 2nd VP will serve as the chair of the state conference during their second year on the board and will work with the executive board to develop the budget for the all-state honor ensembles and the state conference.
Please thoughtfully consider colleagues who you think would serve well in this capacity. You may submit your nominations using this link.
After our conference, several OMEA Board of Control Positions will be up for election or appointment. If you are interested in serving in one of the positions below, please contact OMEA President Ben Lawson to indicate your interest. Elections will be held and appointments made in the months following the conference.
Positions up for appointment (or re-appointment):
- Conference Exhibitor & Sustaining Membership Chair
- OMEA Chamber Ensemble Championships Chair
- Recording Secretary
- Small Schools Chair
Positions up for election (re-election):
- Elementary Area Chair
- Jazz Area Chair
Jeremy Zander
OMEA Past President
|
|
2023 OMEA Student Composition Contest |
|
The 2023 OMEA Student Composition Contest is open and accepting submissions! There are categories for elementary, middle school, and high school student compositions.
There is no fee to enter. The deadline is Nov 1, 2022.
Winning students and their compositions will be acknowledged on the OMEA website and at the OMEA State Conference in January. Encourage your kids to share their music! Click here for more information.
Kathy Briggs
OMEA Student Composition Chair
|
|
2023 NAfME All Northwest in Bellevue |
|
The NAfME Northwest Division Conference and All Northwest Honor Ensembles will meet February 16-19, 2023 at the Bellevue Regency Hyatt Hotel.
|
|
2022 NWAPA Fall Season Continues |
|
The NWAPA Fall marching band season continues this weekend at Sprague High School in Salem and Kamiak High School in Everett! It is not too late to register for events. Please visit www.nwapa.net or Fall Vice President Aliyah Jackson at aliyah_jackson@beaverton.k12.or.us for more information. |
|
2022 Oregon ACDA Fall Workshop, October 14th |
|
Dear Middle and High School Choral Directors,
Our Fall Workshop is upon us. You do not want to miss it! It is being held this year on our state wide in service day, Friday, October 14th from 9AM-4PM at Lakeridge High School in Lake Oswego. There are engaging opportunities for all!
Middle School Honor Choir
Nominate middle school students who are ready for a one-day Honor Choir experience. Students will be led by the amazing Sandy Babb (OSU) for a day of choral singing and community building. Students who attend the ACDA Honor Choir are encouraged to return as vocal leaders in their home school choirs. Please plan to attend or send a group chaperone if you are sending students, especially if that number is more than 5 from your school(s).
Middle school educators will have the opportunity to meet after lunch for a middle school focus session born out of the ideas of our fabulous members at the ACDA Summer Workshop. We will be sharing ideas and a few select pieces which focus on introducing harmony to your choirs of varying skill levels.
High School Choral Leadership Workshop directed by Wallace Long
Nominate your section leaders, an SATB quartet or octet for this fantastic opportunity! These singers will learn three pieces and gain more confidence to lead by example. Teachers are strongly encouraged to attend and sing with their students. These students will perform at the end of the day concert.
High School Skill Building Sight-reading Choir directed by Anna Rikki, Southridge High School and Kristen Caldwell, Jesuit High School
Nominate students that will benefit from learning strategies to begin sight reading. Students will gain more confidence with using solfège syllables and a counting system after engaging activities led by the clinicians. These students will perform at the end of the day concert.
Student registration fee: $35 (lunch, t-shirt, music)
Teacher registration fee: Free when sending students, otherwise $35
Non members sending students, $10 otherwise $45
Teacher Registration :
High School Student Registration:
Middle School Honor Choir Registration:
Best wishes for a wonderful start of your school year. I look forward to seeing you and your students October 14th Fall Workshop.
Karen Bohart
Oregon ACDA President
|
|
Pacific University Fall Orchestra Festival |
|
We are happy to announce that our fifth annual Oregon High/Middle School Orchestra Fall Festival will take place on November 5, 2022 at Pacific University.
|
|
This year, NAfME's annual Hill Day was held virtually across the country. It gives state MEA's the opportunity to meet with federal legislatures to advocate for music education on a national level.
Members of the OMEA leadership team met with Eli Bliss, a staff assistant for Representative Earl Blumenauer. Among the topics of discussion was Oregon school's and students coming out of the pandemic, teacher attrition, and future legislation being introduced in Congress.
Above all OMEA Advocacy Co-Chair Laura Arthur drove the point that music classes are a key component in social/emotional learning and that social/emotional learning is, indeed, part of a well-rounded education.
Next year's Hill Day will occur in July as delegates from around the country converge in Washington, D.C..
|
|
NAfME Tri M
Music Honor Society in your middle or high school
|
|
A Tri-M Music Honor Society chapter opens up a world of opportunities for students who have already shown themselves to be academically capable and musically gifted. Through performance and community service, they’ll develop confidence, creativity, critical thinking, compassion, and a host of other leadership skills sure to serve them well in school and beyond.
|
|
Percussive Arts Society Membership |
|
From your fellow educators in the Oregon Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society, with best wishes for a fantastic school year:
Give yourself and every one of your percussionists the many benefits of a Percussive Arts Society Group Membership! Access to masterclasses, scholarships/grants, educational resources, a Percussive Notes journal subscription, competitions, member discounts, and more...for only $250. Find more details and register at https://www.pas.org/membership/group.
|
|
We are now soliciting journal articles and advertisements for our spring 2023 publication. For more information regarding advertising, click here. Please submit journal articles directly to OMEA at oregonmusicdirector@gmail.com. |
|
Advocacy and Music Education Supports
We all know that music is an essential part of our students’ academic and social-emotional learning. As the music education expert in your building and district, we strongly encourage you to reach out to your leadership, be involved, and advocate for your students, your music colleagues, and yourself. Remind your administrators that music is part of a well-rounded education, as defined at the federal level by the Every Student Succeeds Act. Here are a number of resources for you:
· National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Music Directors & Adjudicators
· Articles on Performing Arts COVID-19 Guidance, COVID-19 Instrument Cleaning, Online Learning, Publishers Allowing Educational Use of Copyrighted Music, etc.
· American Choral Directors Association
· OMEA Advocacy Committee
· If you find yourself needing more assistance, contact Laura Arthur or Julie Bounds, our OMEA Advocacy Committee Co-Chairs. oregonmusicadvocacy@gmail.com
|
|
Oregon Music Education Association
560 NE F ST STE A PMB 732
Grants Pass, OR 97526
541-291-1149
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
