Conference News

Leila Heil, President-Elect

As the fall semester speeds by, it’s hard to believe that our CMEA Conference is less than three months away! I so look forward to seeing you January 28-31 at the beautiful Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, and I’m excited to share details about two new activities added to our conference schedule this year.

For music educators attending our conference who did not graduate from a Colorado college or university, please join our Out-of-State & In Good Company reception on Friday, January 29, from 5:15-6:30 pm. This reception will take place concurrently with our in-state college and university receptions. We invite you to join representatives from the CMEA Board to make new friends and share what’s happening in music education across the state.

Following the receptions on Friday, please join us for Salsa Nights: Dinner, Music and Social Dance! We are excited to welcome La Orquesta Bailenque – Denver’s Premier Salsa Powerhouse.

Born from the street and urban roots of Denver’s Northside, La Orquesta Bailenque is the city’s newest force in live salsa—an electrifying 12-piece ensemble led by vocalist Cristine Barbosa and percussionist Jose Espino. Both are 20-plus-year veterans of Denver’s legendary salsa institution Conjunto Colores, bringing decades of experience, passion, and authenticity to every performance.

Bailenque’s sound is a high-energy blend of Miami-inspired timba and salsa dura, combining driving rhythms with bold brass and modern arrangements of Latin dance classics. Their dynamic performances ignite the dance floor, honoring the golden era of salsa while pushing the genre forward with fresh, contemporary energy.

For the listening enthusiasts, the band also showcases its artistry through Latin jazz selections, highlighting the musicianship and improvisational depth of its members.

Registration for Salsa Nights is available through January 3 on the conference registration page. If you’ve already registered for the conference but want to add a Salsa Night ticket for yourself or a guest, you can easily do so using this link: https://cmeaonline.org/conference/cmea-salsa-nights-tickets/.

Guests need a Salsa Night ticket, but do not need to be registered for the full conference to attend this event — everyone’s welcome to join the fun! 🎶



The $30 cost for this event includes a buffet dinner beginning at 7:00 p.m., followed by music and dancing from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. If you would like to dance but don’t know how—no problem! We have invited a professional dance instructor to teach us some basic Salsa dance steps at around 8:00 p.m. Whether you prefer an energizing evening of listening or an invigorating evening of dancing, we hope to see you there!

Executive Director News

William Kohut

Have you ever considered why your involvement and participation in your state music education organizations are so important?

Whether you're a seasoned music educator or just beginning your teaching journey, joining and actively participating in your state music education organizations can be a game-changer for your career and your students' success. State music education organizations, like the Colorado Music Educators Association (CMEA), offer a powerful support network. By becoming a member, you align yourself with a community of professionals who are passionate about music education and committed to advocating for music programs in schools across the state. Membership also provides access to invaluable professional development opportunities, mentorship programs, and performance opportunities for students.

It’s one thing to join, it’s another to get involved. Attending conferences, volunteering for committees, or even mentoring new teachers enhances not only your own professional growth but also strengthens the organization as a whole. Active participation fosters collaboration, innovation, and advocacy efforts that directly benefit music programs in your district and beyond.

Your state organizations provide a wide range of resources designed to support and inspire your teaching. From curated lesson plans and pedagogical tools to networking events and student professional development opportunities, these resources can elevate your classroom experience and help you stay current with best practices in music education.

If you're a collegiate music educator or in your first to third year of teaching, don't miss the “Pizza with the Presidents” session during the upcoming CMEA Conference!

📅 Thursday, January 29th

🕛 12:00 pm

📍 Broadmoor Hall D/E

Enjoy a free lunch while connecting with CMEA leadership, the President of other State Music Organizations and fellow emerging educators. Space is limited, so make sure to sign up soon using this link:

👉 https://cmeaonline.org/conference/pizza-with-the-presidents/

Your voice, your participation, and your growth all begin with getting involved. Make the most of what your state music education organizations have to offer. Your students and your future self will thank you.

Retired Membership Information

Kirk Vogel, Chair

The CMEA Music Educators Annual Clinic/Conference is the best deal around! Now, you might argue with that statement, but compare what you get with other popular activities in this region. Look at the cost of a getaway ski weekend. How about an overnight float on one of Colorado’s famous rivers? Think about the price of a short cruise or some Spring Training baseball in the Phoenix area. Now, the exquisite Broadmoor Hotel, lots of friends, amazing music performances, and wonderful clinics at the price of lodging, food, and registration looks like a pretty great deal. Look at the return you receive for the cost of the activity! Enjoy the annual gathering for what it is. Have fun attending the retired luncheon. It’s at a new time this year with an extended time, so you can have more meaningful conversations with your colleagues. Try salsa dancing (new this year on Friday night), visit a part of the Broadmoor you’ve never been to, try some coffee (and chocolate) from Julie’s, ride the shuttle around the property, and enjoy getting 10,000+ steps in daily. Have some fun at the conference. Early registration ends November 30, and you must register by December 23 to be included in the count for the retired luncheon. Register today! Once you’re registered, you can sign up to be a presider for one of the eight sessions that retired members are presiding over at the conference. The signup link is here.

Greetings from Tri-M

Michelle Ewer, Chair

It is time to register for Tri-M Day 2026. It will be held on Wednesday, January 28th, at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs. You do not need to be registered through NAFME to attend Tri-M Day. Registration will be open around November 1^st. The cost is $35 per student up until December 20^th. The price will increase to $45 per student from December 21^st until January 12^th. We will not be accepting walk-up registrations, so please register by this date. A reminder that all directors attending Tri-M Day must be registered for the Clinic/Conference, even if you are only attending on Wednesday, January 28^th. No exceptions, please.

We have an outstanding day planned for you and your students. Athena Brass, an All-Female Brass Band, will be doing a Master Class during the afternoon session. Bob Phillips, a well-known Alfred composer and educator, will present on Creativity in the string classroom. Leila Heil from CU Boulder will be giving a Vocal Jazz session in the morning. Gary Lewis from CU Boulder will be sharing Leadership for Future Music Educators. Grab your Ukulele and join Michael Christian for a fun play-along session. Krissie Weimer from UNC will be speaking on Mindfulness and self-care.  We have a conducting clinic with Rachell Waddell CSU. Renee Gilliland, CU Boulder, and Andres Jamie, UNC. Sara Off from UNC will be presenting Entrepreneurial Skills in the Music classroom and The Art of Practicing.


KVOD Radio Host Kabin Thomas will share his journey through music. Have fun and Hip Hop with Roy Bailey, DPS Schools, and dance with Jennifer Langlotz, Cherry Creek Schools. Nicholas Felder, CU Boulder, will take us through Musical Improvisation and Composition. Enion Pelta-Tiller, CU Boulder, will explore Jazz Fiddling and Beyond. Dylan Fixmer, UNC Composer in Residence. Finding your personal voice in your music. Andrew Dahlke CSU, Learning Saxophone for a Sensitive Sound, Ars Nova Vocal with Ellen Moeller and Julia Hilton, What if Trees could sing? Eric Hitt, CU Boulder, will be leading us through Jazz Solos. Our Headliner this year will be the 101^st Army Jazz Band/Vocals. We will also have an opportunity for you to sign your group up for some exhibit time during the afternoon. More details will be available as we finalize our sessions.

As in tradition, we will end our day in song with well-known Alfred composer Michael Hopkins leading us. Plan on staying until 4:00. Please arrive between 8:45 and 9:00 to pick up your badges and be part of the welcome speech.  Students will get to create their own mini conference. Please encourage them to pick their sessions early. It helps with room allotment balance.

New 2026 Conference Opportunities!

Sizzling Social-Dance, Dine & Ignite Your Passion

Out-of-State College/University Reception at the 2026 Conference

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

CMEA Conference Registration is OPEN!

Registration for the CMEA 2026 Conference is now open. Look for the quick link to register on the CMEA Website main page. Or click the button below.

CMEA Hotel Registration at The Broadmoor Hotel is now open. 

Complete your registration by going to the quick link to register on the CMEA Website main page or by clicking HERE.