President's Letter

Cynthia Eversole

We blinked and here we are, coming back in for the fall of 2023. There are countless boxes that our members are trying to check off that include building expectations, performance calendars, festivals, field trips, and fundraising to name a few. We have spent so much time anticipating and planning for the student experiences that we cannot forget our own wellness. One of the best places you can find your own self-care will be at the 2024 CMEA Clinic/Conference. Registration opened on August first and is now available at Early Bird rates. Start the conversation early with your administrator and colleagues to ensure you have approved professional days, a substitute, and a plan in place to attend.  

One of the many highlights of our conference will include a keynote presentation by Scott Lang. Scott comes to us from Arizona where he has taken his veteran teacher skills and molded them to motivate leadership within our student ensembles and coach music educators how to inspire beyond their known potential. Thursday morning’s session will be a MUST for everyone so be sure to get there early. We hope to have a student performance and coffee preceding the opening session. Students, Coffee, and Motivation. Who could ask for more to get us started?

I hope that you will return to work this next week and be able to check off some of your boxes. Feel the accomplishment and pave the way for more. I am extremely proud of our board members and council chairs. They have all worked really hard to ensure that January’s conference will be unforgettable as we honor our past and inspire our future.

Cynthia Eversole

President

CMEA Ex-Officio Position Applications Available

William Kohut

Are you interested in serving CMEA but do not want to run for election to the State Assembly or Board of Directors? Are you retired and would like to give back to CMEA? Here are some opportunities to serve……

CMEA is seeking interested, active or retired members, to serve in an Ex-Officio position. Positions are two years in length and begin on February 1^st of even numbered years. These positions are appointed by the President of CMEA. Below are the positions available for 2024 and a link to complete a short interest form. The CMEA President-elect will review these interest forms in November and make appointments in December 2023. 

If you are interested in one of these positions you are encouraged to submit the interest form.

The following Ex-Officio Positions are currently open beginning February 1, 2024, and link to submit the interest form follows:

CMEA Membership Chair- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfi0vHqhdnSXq5BoY-3fJ2DhFpqo1o_Fg8h2obxrEQ9XuyrZQ/viewform?usp=sharing

CMEA Retired Membership Chair- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfOqGHtvPnUxxw8SUR1OrdIaRX904iM_abg9gssGl3Dw-3Jhw/viewform?usp=sharing

CMEA Historian- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScWhiyMg1cYYIomWURwW4y8SN7ng_LChua6wqeb5ybpQes0gw/viewform?usp=sharing

CMEA Technology Chair- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdOoPQCVZ-uMfKQVW2Pe_-MYpy8qZO5HwOGrRQ7fWipPyPx4A/viewform?usp=sharing

Interest applications are due by November 30^th.

Instrumental Council News

Tim Libby, Instrumental Council Chair

Dear colleagues,

We hope this message finds you in high spirits as we gear up for another exciting semester of musical exploration and growth. As we embrace the new academic year, the Instrumental Music Council is thrilled to welcome you all back and share some exciting updates!

1. 2024 Conference Registration is Now Open!

Mark your calendars and clear your schedules because the registration for the 2024 Conference is now open! This is the perfect opportunity to come together, share ideas, honor our past and inspire our future! More details on registration and conference dates can be found on our website.

2. Finalizing the Conference Schedule - Prepare for a Spectacular Lineup!

Each council is diligently working on finalizing the conference schedule, and we are excited about the incredible lineup of performances and clinics. We've gathered a diverse range of offerings from across the state, ensuring that there's something valuable for everyone.

3. Gratitude to everyone that submitted to perform or present!

We extend our gratitude to everyone who took the time to submit their performance and clinic proposals. We want you to know that your efforts are truly appreciated.

Thank you for being a part of our vibrant musical community. Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to the 2024 Conference and we hope you have a rewarding and fulfilling semester!

Sincerely,

Tim Libby

Instrumental Music Council Chair

P.S. Don't forget to follow us on social media for the latest news and updates about the conference and other exciting musical endeavors!

Greetings fellow General Music Educators!

Kalinda Theobold, General Music Council, Chair

We recently had our final CMEA scheduling meeting, and your General Music Council is beyond excited for what we have in store for the 2024 Clinic/Conference. We have a schedule that is packed full of incredible sessions both from our headliners and from our in-state clinicians. There’s going to be something for everyone! 

Here is just a taste of what is coming…

• Susan Brumfield will be kicking off the conference as our GMC headliner
• Mary Claxton of Music Will is returning with some amazing sessions
• John Jacobson will be joining us with some fun and exciting material
• Krista Hart will be bringing the latest and greatest music from Alfred Publishing
• Our local ROCKE and RMC-AOSA chapters will be presenting as well

We are blessed this year to have more performances than we have had in quite some time for the GMC. We will have 4 different performances at CMEA 2024, including a full-scale Broadway Jr. Musical, complete with a clinic about how YOU can do a musical with your own students! 

It is safe to say that your General Music Council is looking forward to this year’s conference and we hope you are as well! Your GMC representatives will be reaching out to you about more exciting information as we get closer and closer to the conference in January. If you ever have any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions, please feel free to reach out to your district rep or to email me at cmea.gmc@gmail.com

Hope to see you all soon!

Kalinda Theobold

GMC Chair

Research Proposals Needed

Krissie Weimer, Research Chair

Music Teacher Education Colleagues:

There are a couple items of importance that I would like to pass along.

1) I have attached a Call for Research Proposals for the 2024 CMEA Clinic/Conference. The deadline (9/24) is to ensure that all information about research presenters and their presentations is included in the final draft of the conference schedule. Please pass this information along to other music school/department colleagues who may engage in music education research as well as graduate students within music education as appropriate. 

2) Margie Camp, who edits the CMEA Journal, has asked that I solicit research article manuscripts for publication in the Fall, Winter, and Spring issues of the online journal. This could be a nice publication opportunity for junior faculty and graduate students. Margie indicated she would have room for 1-2 research articles per issue. Again, please let colleagues and graduate students know about this publication opportunity. Manuscripts should be emailed directly to us both, Krissie and Margie (by 9/1 for the Fall issue), at:kristina.weimer@unco.edu and margiecamp@comcast.net

Have a great fall semester!

Krissie Weimer

CMEA Research Chair

Tri-M News

Michelle Ewer, Chair

Greetings from Tri-M,

Welcome to the 23-24 school year. I hope you are back into a routine and the year is starting off smoothly. Congratulations to Ralston Valley HS for being Second Runner up in the Senior Division Chapter of the year. Always proud to see our Colorado Chapters honored.

    Has your chapter started up yet? I am sure they can be of great help in the beginning of the school year. Recruiting nights, back to school nights, movie nights. Tri-M is the perfect sponsor group. Does your chapter have a small ensemble that can perform at a moment’s notice? We all know about those last-minute requests for music. Consider using your Tri-M students to be your go to ensemble. If you are a High School Director is Tri-M part of your lettering sheet? How many meetings are required? Do they need to complete a community service project? IF you need ideas visit www.nafme.org and look under the tab for students. You will find a drop-down menu that says Tri-M and has a wealth of information. The site has a new fresh face if you have not visited in a while. You will also find information to register your chapter. The fee is $100 for the School Year. This can be paid from student dues or perhaps a booster group. Register soon as the fee is based on a school calendar year.

    Do you have January 24^th down on your calendar? Tri-M Day 2024 is going to be fantastic. For $35 your students will get to create their own mini convention with a multitude of sessions to choose from. Start planning now. It will not disappoint! More about the convention to come in future publications. Online registration will open in November.

    I spoke to several people this summer about starting a chapter at their school. I am happy to answer questions at any time! Is this the year you take the plunge? I encourage you to dive in.  I think you will be pleased with the outcome. Please let me know how I can best support you and your students.

Sincerely,

Michelle Ewer 

Colorado Tri-M Chair

National Advisory Board

Elementary Honor Choir Important Dates

Melissa Vander Stelt, CEASE Chair

We are thrilled to be offering another year of Colorado Elementary Honor Choir! We have Ryan Sullivan and Marianna Parnas-Simpson as our clinicians this year and they have chosen some really fun music! Registration is open and available until October 16th, so it is time to start selecting your students. Our website and registration process are updated, so check it out and please reach out if you have any questions! 

Website : https://sites.google.com/view/ceasc2023

Important Dates

• August 1st, 2023 Registration Opens
• October 16th, 2023 Registration Deadline- Google form and Payment
• October 23rd, 2023 Choir Assignments, Music links, and Practice Tracks sent out. Additional singer requests confirmed or denied
• November 1st, 2023 Payment for Additional Singers Due
• November 1st, 2023 Payment for Orders (tickets and additional t-shirts) Due
• January 27, 2024 Colorado Elementary All-State Choir Rehearsal and Concert!

Registration for the 2024 CMEA Clinic/Conference is now open

Registration for the 2024 CMEA Clinic/Conference is now open. We are excited to offer this year’s CMEA Conference “Honoring our Past- Inspiring our Future”. The CMEA Board of Directors were able to keep registration prices the same for the third year for all CMEA Member Conference Registration Fees.



Click Here to go to the Registration page

CONFERENCE DATES: Wednesday, January 24; Thursday, January 25; Friday, January 26; Saturday, January 27, 2024

CONFERENCE LOCATION: Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Reservations for the CMEA Broadmoor Hotel Room Reservation Link now open

Reservations for the CMEA Room block at The Broadmoor Hotel, the official hotel of the CMEA Conference, can be made beginning on August 1, 2023 by using the link below. Reservations can also be made by calling the Hotel Reservations Center at

855-634-7711. When you call to book your reservations make sure that you tell them you are attending the CMEA Conference so you receive the CMEA hotel conference room rate. If you are booking for a school group with a block of rooms, reach out to the CMEA Room Reservation Manager at The Broadmoor Hotel, Michelle Derges at (719)-471-6374.

Click here for The Broadmoor Hotel Room Reservation System

CMEA Honor Awards Nominations are Now Open

The 2024 CMEA Honor Awards nomination process is open and will close on September 29, 2023. The Colorado Music Educators Association recognizes individuals for their contributions to music education in the following categories:

• Hall of Fame Link
• Honored Administrator
• Exemplary Service to Music Education Award
• Award for Music Advocacy
• Outstanding Young Educator Award
• 25-years of Service Award
• 
  

If you have any questions regarding these awards, you can reach out to CMEA Immediate Past-President, Kevin Beaber at kev.beab@gmail.com .

Click here for the list of awards and nomination links