The Application Window is Now Closed.
The Future Sounds Like This invites music educators to explore how today’s teaching shapes tomorrow’s musicians, creators, and listeners. Through innovative pedagogy, emerging technologies, and evolving classroom practices, the conference examines where music education is headed and how educators can lead that change with purpose and creativity. Sessions will highlight student-centered approaches that foster musical excellence, cultural relevance, and lifelong engagement. Together, we will imagine—and actively build—a future in which music education empowers every student to find their voice and contribute meaningfully to the world through sound.
NCMEA invites session proposals to be submitted for consideration for the 2026 NCMEA Professional Development Conference in Winston-Salem, NC on November 7-10, 2026. Conference participants come from all educational levels and include K-12 students and teachers, pre-service collegiates, and higher education faculty in the fields of general music, band, chorus, jazz, orchestra, guitar, piano, popular music, and music technology. We invite proposals that cultivate a vision of music education that is inclusive, collaborative, and expansive, keeping in mind the values set forth by NCMEA’s strategic framework:
- Reflect diversity in our profession and represent the wide and changing spectrum of our population. This representation may include various cultures, abilities, economic backgrounds, and gender identities;
- Develop leadership to advocate for music education in the classroom, in school programs, and in the community and represent current trends in education policy at the local, state, and federal level;
- Provide opportunities for all students to create, perform, respond, and connect to various styles of music;
- Enhance music teaching through combining effective and dynamic new practices with proven strategies.
The deadline for submission is March 2, 2026 at 5:00pm EST. Incomplete proposals will not be considered.
NCMEA Section and Committee Chairs will review and invite speakers/clinicians to present at Conference. All submitters will be notified of the status of their proposals in April 2026.
PROPOSAL GUIDELINES
- The standard session length is 50 minutes. Applicants have the opportunity to request longer session times.
- Sessions should be standards-based, interactive, and engaging.
- NCMEA is committed to representing diverse voices at our conference. We encourage those who identify as people of color, gender nonconforming, having a disability, LGBTQIA+, and other under-represented members to apply.
- NCMEA encourages submissions from all ages and experience levels.
- Multiple presenters per proposal are welcome.
PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS
- Provide a title and brief overview description of your proposed session as it would appear in the conference program.
- Identify the type of session, intended audience, and setup needs
- Include bios, photos, and contact info for each presenter in the proposed session.
- Identify the NC Music Standard Course of Study (2024) or 2014 National Core Music Standards used in your presentation.
- Identify action items or strategies from your session that will impact the instructional practices of attendees.
- Identify how your session includes consideration of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access.
All selected presenters will be required to register for the conference at their own expense. No honorarium or reimbursement of any conference-related expenses can be paid to NCMEA members. Early registration will begin in early August, and prices will increase in mid-October. Conference exhibitors working their booths and invited keynote speakers are exempt from this requirement.