North Carolina Music Educators Association

WRO MPA - Site 2
2026-03-09 08:00 - 2026-03-10 17:00 (America/New_York) | Mallard Creek High School, 3825 Johnston Oehler Road, Charlotte, NC, 28269
Western Region Orchestra MPA
Monday & Tuesday, March 9 & 10, 2026
Mallard Creek High School
3825 Johnston Oehler Road
Charlotte, NC 28269

WRO MPA - Site 3
2026-03-10 08:00 - 17:00 | East Henderson High School, 150 Eagle Pride Drive, East Flat Rock, NC, 28726
Western Region Orchestra MPA
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
East Henderson High School
150 Eagle Pride Drive
East Flat Rock, NC 28726

ERO MPA – Site 1
2026-03-16 08:00 - 2026-03-17 17:00 | Ashley High School, 555 Halyburton Memorial Pkwy, Wilmington, NC, 28412
Eastern Region MPA – Site 1
Monday & Tuesday, March 16-17, 2026
Ashley High School
555 Halyburton Memorial Pkwy
Wilmington, NC 28412

ECDBA Felton Grove MPA
2026-03-17 08:00 - 2026-03-19 17:00 | Felton Grove High School, 5100 Thriftwood Dr, Apex, NC, 27539
East Central Bandmasters Association MPA
Tuesday – Thursday, March 17-19, 2026
Felton Grove High School
5100 Thriftwood Dr
Apex, NC 27539

ERO MPA - Site 2
2026-03-18 08:00 - 2026-03-19 17:00 | East Chapel Hill High School, 500 Weaver Dairy Road, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514
Eastern Region Orchestra MPA – Site 2
Wednesday & Thursday, March 18-19, 2026
East Chapel Hill High School
500 Weaver Dairy Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27514

ECDBA Holly Springs MPA
2026-03-24 08:00 - 2026-03-26 17:00 | Holly Springs High School, 5329 Cass Holt Rd, Holly Springs, NC, 27540
East Central Bandmasters Association MPA
Tuesday – Thursday, March 24-26, 2026
Holly Springs High School
5329 Cass Holt Rd
Holly Springs, NC 27540

Music Praxis II Review Class
2026-03-27 08:00 - 2026-03-28 17:00 | Campbell University, 143 Main Street, Buies Creek, NC, 27506
Getting ready for the Music Praxis II (5114)?
Campbell University is offering an intensive review class designed to help you pass with confidence!
March 27: 4:00–9:00 PM
March 28: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
Many in-service teachers have taken this class and overcome this challenge—now it’s your turn!
Registration Fee: $120
Space is limited!
For more information and the registration form, contact:
Ran Whitley — whitley@campbell.edu
#ncmea #nafme #TheFutureSoundsLikeThis #musiced #musiceducation #musicadvocacy #deia #PraxisII #CampbellUniversity #MusicTeachers

2nd Annual SoundForge
2026-04-11 08:00 - 17:00 | Catawba College, 2300 W Innes St., Salisbury, NC, 28144
SoundForge 2026
This will be an exciting opportunity for students to learn with professional musicians in NC and perform for a supportive and enthusiastic audience. All applicants must fill out the information below to be considered for the event. Applying for the event does not guarantee you will be invited to participate. Space is limited.
The event will be hosted at Catawba College (Salisbury, NC) on April 11th, 2026. This is a one day event with a concert at the end of the day.
Teachers are responsible for travel to and from the event, including lodging (if needed). Lunch will be provided the day of the event. Large equipment such as amps, microphones, drum sets, and keyboards will be provided as well.
Teachers are limited to 2 groups for the event. Please submit a new form for any additional ensemble you are applying. A $200 submission fee will be required if your application and audition recordings have been accepted and you are invited to participate in event.
Deadline to submit applications is March 6th, 2026 and notification of acceptance will be March 13th, 2026.

All inquires should be sent to:Co-Chair: Jonathan Kladder (popular_music@ncmea.net) &Co-Chair: Andrew Beach (popular_music2@ncmea.net)

JWRO Clinic
2026-04-17 08:00 - 2026-04-18 17:00 | West Forsyth High School, 1735 Lewisville Clemmons Road, Clemmons, NC, 27012
Junior Western Regional Orchestra Clinic
April 17-18, 2026
West Forsyth High School
1735 Lewisville Clemmons Road
Clemmons, NC 27012

All State Jazz Clinic
2026-04-17 08:00 - 2026-04-18 17:00 | NC State University, 2620 Cates Avenue, Raleigh, NC, 27606, United States
All State Jazz Clinic
Friday & Saturday, April 17-18, 2026
NC State University
Price Music Center ?
Raleigh, NC 27695

All-State Honors Band Clinic
2026-05-01 08:00 - 2026-05-03 17:00 | UNC Greensboro, 1400 Spring Garden Street, Greensboro, NC, 27412
All-State Honors Band Clinic
Friday – Sunday, May 1 – 3, 2026
UNC-Greensboro
1400 Spring Garden Street
Greensboro, NC 27412

JERO Clinic
2026-05-02 08:00 - 17:00 | Gray’s Creek High School, 5301 Celebration Dr., Hope Mills, NC, 28348
Junior Eastern Regional Orchestra Clinic
Saturday, May 2, 2026
Gray’s Creek High School
5301 Celebration Drive
Hope Mills, NC 28348

Eastern Region Jazz MPA
2026-05-08 08:00 - 17:00 | JH Rose High School, 600 W Arlington Blvd, Greenville, NC, 27834, United States
Eastern Region Jazz MPA
Friday, May 8, 2026
J.H. Rose High School
600 W Arlington Blvd.
Greenville, NC 27834

Young Professionals Symposium Applications Now Open
2026-07-28 00:00 - 2026-09-18 23:59
A Two Day Symposium for High School Students Interested in the Music Education Profession
Sunday, November 8 – Monday, November 9, 2026

The Young Professionals Symposium has a history of providing high school music students interested in Music Education specifically tailored sessions and experiences.
YPS APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Up to 30 applicants are accepted and these individuals must meet these requirements:

Must be in 11th or 12th Grade.
Must be enrolled in a Music Course or Ensemble.
Submit a completed YPS Student Application Form by Friday, September 18.(Include a 30-60 second video about your musical aspirations)

For more information send an email to: Joseph Girgenti, YPS Chairyoung_professionals@ncmea.net

Middle School Choral Summer Mini Conference
2026-07-31 08:00 - 18:00 | Cornerstone Charter Academy, 7800 Airport Center Dr, Unit 401, Greensboro, NC, 27409
Get ready to be inspired, energized, and equipped with practical tools you can take straight back to your classroom! This year’s Middle School Choral Conference brings together engaging, real-world sessions designed specifically for today’s choral educator—from building confident, accurate singers to exploring fresh repertoire and innovative teaching strategies. Whether you’re looking for ready-to-use chorals for the first weeks of school, ways to maximize student engagement, or new perspectives like Southeast Asian choral music, there is something here for everyone. Join a community of passionate educators, share ideas, and leave with resources, connections, and renewed excitement for your teaching. Don’t miss the opportunity to grow, collaborate, and make your choral program stronger than ever!
This event is FREE!
If you have questions, please reach out to mschoral_chair@ncmea.net.
Date and Time
Fri, July 31, 2026
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM EDT ﻿
Location
Cornerstone Charter Academy
7800 Airport Center Drive
Greensboro, NC, USA

PD Conference Scholarships Open
2026-08-15 - 2026-10-01 | Benton Convention Center, 301 W Fifth St, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, United States
The Professional Development Conference Scholarship is intended to provide grant funding to NCMEA members attending the NCMEA Professional Development Conference for the first time. The purpose of this grant is to encourage membership in NCMEA and to encourage yearly participation in the NCMEA Professional Development Conference for the length of a career.
Three scholarships will be awarded each year. The scholarship funds will cover the cost of conference registration and three nights in the conference hotel. The estimated value of each scholarship is $600. Individuals may receive the scholarship only once in their lifetime.
The scholarship is intended for NCMEA members who are first-time attendees to the NCMEA Professional Development Conference (does not include first-year teachers who are a part of the mentor program). The scholarship does not cover the cost of membership dues nor the cost of substitute teachers for the period of the conference. Preference will be given to teachers who are employed in a Title-I school or who provide evidence of strong institutional and/or personal financial need.
Awardees will be asked to share a written reflection on what they learned at the conference and how they implemented it in their classroom. Reflections may be used by NCMEA in print or online communications.
Application Requirements:

Applicant must have current membership in NCMEA
Applicant must be employed full time in a music teaching position in North Carolina
Application with a signature from current principal
Two letters of recommendation

Selection Process:

Application process opens on August 15th of each year.
Application deadline is October 1st.
A committee appointed by the NCMEA President and approved by the NCMEA Board of Directors will review applications for possible approval.
The Executive Director shall notify all applicants of their acceptance or rejection by October 15th.

Mentoring Kickoff 2026
2026-08-18 19:00 - 20:30 | Online – Zoom
Early-career teachers: are you ready for a classroom full of students?
Veteran teachers: are you interested in mentoring an early-career teacher this year?
We encourage you to attend the 2026 Mentoring Kickoff. Network with motivated peers, explore best practices from experienced teachers, and participate in Q&A to help you prepare for a successful start to your school year.
For veteran teachers, we offer a “Mentoring 101” session to explore best practices in mentoring younger teachers.
For early-career teachers, topics include classroom management, working with admin, recruiting, and open-ended Q&A with experienced music educators.
The Mentoring Kickoff is Tuesday, August 18th from 7 – 8:30 PM. Register at tinyurl.com/o29s1px.
@NCMEA @NAfME #TheFutureSoundsLikeThis #MusicEd #MusicEducation #MusicAdvocacy #DEIA

Comprehensive Arts Education Conference
2026-09-26 08:00 - 17:00 | Peck Expeditionary Learning School, 1601 West Florida Street, Greensboro, NC, 27403
Registration is now open for the Fall Comprehensive Arts Education Conference, Saturday, September 26th at the PECK Expeditionary Learning School, in Greensboro, NC.
This day-long conference serves as a statewide professional development opportunity for dance, music, theatre, and visual arts educators, district arts education leaders, teaching artists, arts integration specialists, and pre-service teachers from across North Carolina working in K-12 programs, independent studios, performing arts organizations, and higher education institutions.
The mission of this conference is to support the three essential components of the North Carolina Comprehensive Arts Education Model: Arts Education, Arts Integration, and Arts Exposure. Sessions will be centered on the four K-12 Arts Education Standards core strands of Connect, Create, Present, and Respond and aid to reinforce the 2024 standard course of study.
This event is proudly supported by the North Carolina Music Educators Association. All conference participants will receive a boxed lunch and a NC CAEC tee shirt with registration. Stay tuned for a future bulletin for registration information later this month and be sure to look for future posts on Facebook and Instagram!
REGISTER HERE FOR THE CONFERENCE
@NCMEA @ncmea_elem @ncmea_hschoral @ncmea_mschoral @collegiatencmea @ncmea_tri_m @ncartsed @ncartscouncil #TheFutureSoundsLikeThis #MusicEducation #MusicAdvocacy #DEIA

2026 Professional Development Conference
2026-11-07 - 2026-11-10 | Benton Convention Center, 301 W Fifth St, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, United States
2026 Professional Development Conference November 7-10Benton Convention CenterWinston-Salem, NC
“The Future Sounds Like This”
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.
