Dear Carolyn,

Greetings from the Oregon Music Education Association!

This email contains details on All-State and conference 2024 and NAfME's July Newsletter.

In late June, OMEA President Ben Lawson, President-Elect Erika Lockwood, and Executive Director JJ Sutton represented Oregon at NAfME's annual National Assembly. The conference was held in Reston, Virginia and included a day of meetings on Capitol Hill in Washington. The OMEA delegation met with several congressional staffers from Oregon legislators. Included was a very engaging meeting with Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1). A strong supporter of education legislation, the congresswoman is currently authoring

the Arts Education for All Act which expands arts education for students in K-12. Additionally, Representative Bonamici has introduced a bill dedicated to supporting mental health for educators. Finally, the Guarantee Access to Arts and Music Education Act was at the fore of each of our meetings that afternoon and was very well supported.

We were delighted to see so many ties to Oregon on the east coast! The OMEA delegation met with two senate staffers who were former musicians in the Burns High School Band and Lakeridge High School Choir respectively and a house staff assistant who who spent four years in the Grants Pass High School Band.

JJ Sutton, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, Ben Lawson, and Erika Lockwood in the congresswoman's office.

JJ Sutton, Erika Lockwood, and Ben Lawson pose for a quick selfie in front of the U.S. Capitol Building.

Ben Lawson addresses the National Assembly describing OMEA's successes and challenges to music education in Oregon's small schools.

OMEA President-Elect Erika Lockwood Conference Chair Elizabeth Soper are hard at work on our 2024 conference, Seeking the Light Within.

Are you interested in presenting at the OMEA Conference? Would you like your ensemble to perform at the conference? We are now accepting applications for both session proposals and ensemble performances.

You can apply for a session proposal here.

You can apply for your ensemble to perform here. You must be logged into the

OMEA website to access this link.

Questions? Feel free to contact Elizabeth Soper using her email address, OMEAConferenceChair@gmail.com.

All-State audition and information has also been released. High school ensembles are using set C to align with WMEA. Please click here to access All State auditions and information.

A reminder, teachers must be OMEA/NAfME members to submit auditions in the fall.

Reach out to All-State Chair Kristi Stingle at allstatechair@gmail.com.

We all have had influential people in our professional lives – those whose teaching, musicianship, work-ethic, and heart have inspired us to be better teachers ourselves.

We have colleagues who inspire us with their creativity and artful teaching strategies. We have colleagues who inspire us with the level of musicianship and passion exhibited by their students. We have colleagues who inspire us by their advocacy and support for music education. This is your time to acknowledge, thank, and honor them.

OMEA annually 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.

Nominations are through the OMEA website.

oregonmusic.org/award-nominations-winners.html

1.    Complete online form.

2.    Provide a letter of support for the nominee addressing your relationship with the candidate, as well as the nominee’s career accomplishments and contributions to music education.

3.    Solicit additional letters of support from colleagues, administrators, and/or other relevant reviewers of the nominee’s work (at least 2 letters).

Outstanding Early Career Music Educator Award

This award is designed to recognize a teacher in the beginning of their career who is showing exemplary work with their students and in their communities. Ideal candidates for this award will be within the first 7 years of their teaching career, inspired exemplary musicianship in their students, been an active participant in OMEA events. Criteria:

·      Current member of OMEA

·      Within first seven years of teaching career

·      Currently teaching in Oregon

·      Demonstrates excellence in music education and teaching at the elementary level

Excellence in Elementary Music Education Award

This award recognizes commitment to elementary music education and remarkable achievement in focusing on teaching children through music. Criteria:

·      Current member of OMEA

·      Currently teaching in Oregon

·      Demonstrates excellence in music education and teaching at the elementary level

Outstanding Music Educator

In recognition of exemplary teaching in music education. Criteria:

·      Current member of OMEA

·      Currently teaching in Oregon

·      Exemplify outstanding achievement in the field of music education

Outstanding Middle School Music Educator Award

This award recognizes commitment to middle-school/junior high music education and remarkable achievement in focusing on teaching children through music. Additional Criteria:

·      Currently employed in Oregon education

·      Currently teaching in Oregon

·      Demonstrates excellence in teaching at the middle school/junior high level

·      Betterment of the music education profession through exemplary service, leadership, and advocacy

·      Professional accomplishments and recognition

Outstanding Administrator Award

In recognition of outstanding contributions to music education through administrative support. If possible, OMEA will recognize more than one administrator if their efforts were key toward saving music programs. Additional Criteria:

·      Currently employed in Oregon education.

·      Promotes good relationships with music faculty.

·      Support for community cultural events.

John C. McManus Distinguished Teacher Award

This award is to honor those with a lifetime of service to music education with a highly distinguished record of professional accomplishment. John C. McManus defined the standard of service for music educators through a life of selfless service to his students and colleagues. He inspired his students to achieve the highest of performance standards and a comprehensive music education teaching instrumental, vocal, and general music to students of all ages.

He served OMEA in positions including President, Historian, Directory Editor, Retired Newsletter Editor, and Chairman of the Retired Oregon Music Educators, as well as providing leadership to MENC at the regional and national level. John was awarded the Oregon Teacher of the Year award in 1965, the Distinguished Music Educator Award by the Northwest Bandmasters Association in 1966, the Distinguished Service award by OBDA in 1986, the OMEA Outstanding Music Educator Award in 1989, the MENC Distinguished Service award in 1989 and the OMEA Distinguished Service Award in 1996. Criteria:

·      A lifetime of exemplary service to Oregon music

·      education, characterized by the highest professional

·      standards.

·      A distinguished record of leadership and teaching.

·      Record of significant and notable honors and influence.

Exemplary Service to the Profession Award

In recognition of support and commitment to music education in Oregon. Criteria:

·      Individual, business, or organization that has contributed to music education in an extraordinary manner through service, leadership, or advocacy.

·      The recipient does not need to be a current member of OMEA.

Outstanding Contributor Award

In recognition of significant contributions to the Oregon Music Educators Association. Criteria:

·      Individual, business, or organization that has contributed to music education in an extraordinary manner through service, leadership, or advocacy through music business,

·      Arts organizations, or advocacy.

·      The recipient does not need to be a member of OMEA or NAfME and is typically not a professional music educator.

Contact Jeremy Zander if you have any questions regarding awards at jeremy_zander@beaverton.k12.or.us.

Please welcome the following board members serving from July 2023 - June 2025.

Kelly Moore, Director of Bands at Ridgeview High School, will be serving as the 2nd Vice President.

Val Locke, Music Specialist at Gilbert Park Elementary School, will be serving as the Elementary Chair.

Jessika Smith, Director of Bands at Parkrose Middle School, will be serving as the Jazz Chair.

Many thanks to the service and dedication from our outgoing board members pictured below, 2nd Vice President Sean Williams of McNary High School, Elementary Chair K.K. Friar from Bonny Slope Elementary School, and Jazz Chair Dan Davey from Mt. Hood Community College.

The latest Oregon Music Educator was released at the end of April. Please click here to access OMEA publications. Issuu will now archive all OMEA publications dating back to 1948. These older editions will be posted as access becomes available for scanning.

If you are interested in submitting an article for our fall and/or spring release of the Oregon Music Educator, please contact Executive Director JJ Sutton, oregonmusicdirector@gmail.com.

Please click here to access NAfME's June's e-newsletter.

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