Dear JJ,

Greetings from the Oregon Music Education Association! Click here to visit our new website.

The following email includes OMEA's October News.

Make sure to Click View entire Message at the bottom to see all of the content.

Opus closes on Saturday night for All-State auditions! Click here to access the Opus Audition platform.

Click here for an Opus Tutorial in setting up your account.

All-State information including audition material and 2025 conductor bios can be found by clicking here.

Ensembles:

• Elementary School Choir (5th grade)
• Middle School Band, Treble Choir, Tenor/Bass Choir, and Orchestra
• High School Treble Choir, Tenor/Bass Choir, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, and Orchestra

***High School Choir: Students that participated in the 2024 9th/10th grade All-State Choir will be automatically admitted into their 2025 All-State Choir this year as long as their audition is complete. The teacher will indicate this in Opus. Fees apply as usual.

OMEA/All-NW: The OMEA High School audition materials overlap the All-Northwest audition materials, but are not the complete All-NW Audition.

2025 OMEA All-State Timeline:

• October 5: Audition and application window closes at 11:59:59pm.
• October 6 - 17: Audition screening.
• October 18 - 20: Ensemble placement.
• October 21: All-State results and placement will be sent via Opus to students and directors.
• October 21 - November 1: All-State registration and payment.

Direct All-State questions to Kristi Stingle at allstatechair@gmail.com.

We’re thrilled to announce that registration for the OMEA 2025 Conference, "Resonance," is now open! Join us from January 17-19, 2025, at the Graduate Hotel by Hilton in Eugene for an inspiring event filled with valuable insights and networking opportunities. Secure your spot today on our website!

Registration questions can be sent to JJ Sutton: exectivedirector@oregonmea.org.

Share registration information with your administrators now; many districts can use professional development funds to cover registration and hotel expenses.

Registration for the conference opened on October 1st. Register before the end of the calendar year to receive a discounted price and a seat at our banquet.

Direct questions regarding the conference to Elizabeth Soper at omeaconferencechair@gmail.com.

PROJECT Trio to perform at the conference banquet!

PROJECT Trio is a dynamic and innovative music group known for their genre-blending performances and captivating stage presence. The trio pushes the boundaries of traditional chamber music with their unique fusion of classical, jazz, hip-hop, and world music influences. With virtuosic musicianship and contagious energy, PROJECT Trio has gained worldwide acclaim for their electrifying performances that defy categorization and captivate audiences of all ages. Their creative and adventurous approach to music-making has earned them a devoted following, making them a trailblazing force in the contemporary music landscape. 

Keynote Speaker: Peter Boonshaft

Called one of the most exciting and exhilarating voices in music education today, Peter Loel Boonshaft has been invited to speak and conduct in every state in the nation and around the world. Honored by the National Association for Music Education and Music For All as the first recipient of the “George M. Parks Award for Leadership in Music Education," Dr. Boonshaft is Director of Education for Jupiter Band Instruments.

Dr. Boonshaft is the author of the critically acclaimed best-selling books Teaching Music with Passion, Teaching Music with Purpose, and Teaching Music with Promise.  He is also co-author of Alfred Music Publishing’s method book series Sound Innovations.  As well, his weekly “Boonshaft’s Blog” for music educators continues to inspire teachers everywhere. He was on the faculty of Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY, where he is Professor Emeritus of Music.

This upcoming February the All-Northwest Conference will be held in Spokane from the 13th - 16th.

Click here for the conference website. Pre-registration opens October 7.

Direct any All-Northwest questions to Scott.Ketron@wmea.org.

If you need to renew your OMEA/NAfME membership, please do that sooner than later. Please click here to renew!

Your conference registration is much less expensive to OMEA/NAfME members.

OMEA has a new, future-focused Mission and Vision statement along with a set of Core Beliefs that will guide our Strategic Planning for the foreseeable future. Many thanks to those who gave feedback in our Strategic Planning Survey, as well as members of the board who took the time over the summer to create these statements of accountability and purpose. 

MISSION: OMEA supports music educators and advocates for equitable access to a high-quality and comprehensive music education for all students in Oregon. 

VISION: OMEA will serve as the trusted source for music advocacy in Oregon and will strive to increase the quality and accessibility of music education in our state. 

Please click here to read OMEA's Strategic Plan in full.

The Executive Board took the time over the summer to edit and streamline OMEA's Policies and Procedures document. The Board of Control approved changes in September.

Please click here to read OMEA's Policies and Procedures.

Arts Advocacy Win from the US Department of Education

The Arts Education Alliance—an advocacy collaboration between the National Arts Ed Organizations —thanks the U.S. Department of Education for releasing a “Dear Colleague” letter today to state education agencies clarifying the use of federal funds for arts education under several federal programs (including Titles I-IV, ESSA, and IDEA). This is the first time the federal Department of Ed has released such guidance since 2013, which was two years before ESSA passed shifting language from core academic subjects to a “well-rounded education”, including music and the arts. The release of new guidance marks a monumental win for arts education programs and is the culmination of years of work from arts education advocates.



→ Read The Statement From NAfME ←

→ Read the “Dear Colleague” Letter ←

Double Check Your Voter Registration & Get Ready to VOTE!

Education funding is primarily allocated at the state level. With significant funding decisions being made this next Oregon legislative session (which begins January 21st), it’s never been more important for you to be informed about the candidates you’ll choose to send to Salem in the Oregon State Senate and the Oregon House of Representatives.  



The deadline to update your voter registration or to register for the first time is Oct 15 by 11:59 p.m. → REGISTER

Check your registration status and info using Oregon’s MyVote website  →  State of Oregon: My Vote

NAfME Professional Learning

Looking for more professional development opportunities? See all of the NAfME webinars on their Professional Learning Calendar.  

LINKS

• OMEA Advocacy
• Advocacy Resources 
• Program Standards for Music in Oregon Schools (working on updating for 2024, stay tuned!)

Need advocacy support? Contact advocacy@oregonmea.org

We are the Oregon Music Educators Equity professional learning community! If you have a brilliant resource, song, approach, or idea that you want to share with other music educators, please share it here.

Thank you so much for those who participated in our affinity spaces at the conference! We would lover to hear your feedback and ideas for what to improve for next year!

Cynthia Navarro

DEI Co-Chair

navarro16@gresham.k12.or.us

Amanda Sarles

DEI Co-Chair

asarles@siuslaw.k12.or.us

Kathy Briggs

OMEA Choir Chair

kathy.briggs@smapdx.org

www.oracda.net

• The deadline to submit your middle school and high school students’ OMEA All-State Auditions is this Saturday, October 5th, by 11:59pm. https://opusevent.com/
• Are you willing to screen All-Northwest Auditions (Submissions from Oregon only)? No pay, but many thanks! If you/re willing, let me know which instrument(s) you can handle.
• ASAP--I am still seeking sessions for the OMEA State Conference in Eugene (1/16-1/19/2-25). Please send me an email if you are willing to put a conference session together. All of you have so much to share with others! We are particularly light for sessions on Sunday.
• Join OBDA, especially if you teach high school orchestra! We are now able to VOTE, giving us an actual voice in issues that impact our competitive orchestra season (Sightreading Rubrics and other changes to the OSAA/OBDA State Championships/Qualifiers). https://www.oregonbda.org/registration.html
• Small Ensemble Festival Changes
• Continue following copyright law with student/accompanist/adjudicator sheet music. We are working to ensure that materials will be checked more thoroughly at festivals.
• A separate category of awards will be created for Mariachi at the qualifying and state level festivals. Even if these ensembles are adjudicated in the same room as Large String Ensembles, they will be judged and awarded in a separate category.
• Rule Change--1.4.11: A student may perform in more than one ensemble.  If a student performs in more than one small ensemble of 3 or less in the same category, only the highest scoring qualifying ensemble will be eligible for state. The lower scoring qualifying ensemble may be considered as an alternate if there is space available.  
•  State Qualifying Orchestra Festival Managers
• Make sure you are hiring OBDA Certified Judges who hold CURRENT certification on the date of your festival for any state qualifying event. The list is maintained by OBDA (If you are an adjudicator, please make sure your contact information is current on the list!): https://www.oregonbda.org/orchestra.html
• Send information to be shared, conference session ideas, and questions my way. Mayer_brigid@salkeiz.k12.or.us

Brigid Mayer

OMEA Orchestra Chair

mayer_brigid@salkeiz.k12.or.us

www.orasta.org

After feedback and suggestions from organizers and directors, we are piloting a Oregon Jazz Adjudicator Database. This is not an official certification, but a way for festival and league event organizers to have access to a list of highly qualified, diverse, and experienced jazz educator professionals. Individuals may fill out the application directly, or you can nominate someone to be on the list. A public link to the database will be available for organizers to access no later than October 1, 2024 on OMEA and OBDA webpages. Please note that it is NOT required to be on this list in order to adjudicate in Oregon.

To submit your name (or a qualified professional's name) to the Jazz Adjudicator Database, click HERE.

If you have any questions, please contact OMEA Jazz Area Chair Jessika Smith at jessika_smith@parkrose.k12.or.us.

Jen Bell

OMEA Band Chair

BELL_JENNIFER@salkeiz.k12.or.us

https://www.oregonbda.org/

Welcome back, Small Schools Music Educators!

As you begin your new school year, I wanted to take the opportunity to let you know about a few handy resources. Oregon Small Schools has a Facebook group that is a great place to connect with other small schools music educators, share ideas, ask questions, and the like.

Please find us on Facebook by clicking here.

Excitingly, NAfME has recently put together a Small Schools Initiative. The website for this initiative is full of useful videos and information provided by small schools music educators from around the country. You can find those resources by clicking here.

We all share a wonderful and sometimes challenging job. As such, we truly are one another’s best resources. From first-year teachers to established veterans, connection is key to our success! If I can be of any assistance to you this year, please feel free to reach out to me at any time. I am always thrilled to hear from other small schools music teachers.

Best wishes for a great year!

Melissa Jmaeff

OMEA Small Schools Chair

melissa.jmaeff@sutherlin.k12.or.us

The student composition contest is open to students in grades 6-12. Now is the time to talk to your music students so they are prepared to submit their compositions (through their teacher) by the November 1 deadline. Full information can be found on the OMEA website by clicking here.

Kathy Briggs

OMEA Student Composition Contest Chair

kathy.briggs@smapdx.org 

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.

Please contact JJ Sutton if you are interested in submitting an article for future publications.

LMusic Program Leaders Colloquium - Music for Good: The Intersection of Music Education and Service Learning

Are you looking for a meaningful way to showcase your music department while doing good for your community? In this colloquium, we will discuss the concept of service learning and how it can be paired with musical projects and activities.

Our panel of experts will cover all levels from elementary through collegiate. What could be better than students using music for good? If your district has a service learning program, or might be interested in starting one, your students can be recognized even further for their hard work in many states. We know that music changes lives, and we hope you can join us for a unique way to do exactly that!

Register here!

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.

Click here to join or renew your Tri-M membership!

Click here to access NFHS publications and e-newsletter subscriptions.

Follow OMEA on Instagram at "oregonmusiceducation."

You can also follow OMEA on Facebook by liking "Oregon Music Education Association."

OMEA social media is a great way to receive news and updates in real time!