North Carolina Music Educators Association

DEADLINE: Research Presentations
2025-08-15
The NCMEA Research Committee is pleased to announce calls for research posters and student research lightning talks to be presented at the 2025 NCMEA Professional Development Conference.
For either a poster or lightning talk, researchers should provide an abstract of no more than 500 words that provides an overview of the research goals, questions, methods, findings, and implications. For more details refer to the Research Committee web page.
Submissions must be received by Monday, September 15, 2025, 11:59pm EDT. Authors will be notified of acceptance by September 30, 2025.
Inquiries about submissions and proposals should be directed to:
Jonathan Poquette, D.M.A.
NCMEA Research Chair
research_chair@ncmea.net

New Teacher Bootcamp
2025-08-19 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
New and early-career teachers: are you ready for a classroom full of students?
We encourage you to attend our upcoming New Teacher Bootcamp session for networking, best practices and advice to prepare you for a successful start to the year.
Hear from experienced teachers about classroom management, working with administration, recruiting, fundraising, curriculum, the NCMEA Mentoring program and much more!
Bootcamp is Tuesday, August 19th from 7-9 PM.
Brought to you by the Mentoring Program Committee.
Register here: https://shorturl.at/w98w4
#NCMEA #MusicEducation #beyondthenotes #shapingourfuture #nafme #musiced #musiceducation #musicadvocacy #deia

DEADLINE: Journal Content - Conference Edition
2025-09-01
Just a quick reminder that the journal content is needed by September 1. Feel free to get your updates to me before September 1, and trickle everything else to me as you get it by September 1.
Please let me know if you have any questions!
Kim
journal_editor@ncmea.net

Comprehensive Arts Education Conference
2025-09-06 | Ligon Magnet Middle School, 706 E Lenoir St, Raleigh, NC, 27601
Spend the day engaging with colleagues in Music, Dance, Theatre, and Visual Arts Education! Register to attend the CAE Conference at Ligon Magnet Middle School on Saturday, September 6th!
One CEU awarded.
go.ncdpi.gov/CAEC-25Reg
@ncartsed #NCMEA #MusicEducation #beyondthenotes #shapingourfuture #nafme #musiced #musiceducation #musicadvocacy #deia

FREE - NCMEA Leadership Academy
2025-09-13 10:00 - 12:00
Ready to take your passion for music education to the next level?
Join us for a FREE Virtual Leadership Workshop designed for North Carolina music educators who want to get more involved with NCMEA. Your presenters are Connie McKoy, Maribeth Yoder-White and Jazzmone Sutton.
Saturday, Sept 13
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Hosted online – come as you are!
Whether you’re interested in leadership, advocacy, or community-building, this session will help you discover the many ways to serve and grow within NCMEA.
Free to attend – register now!
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/nUDC6QpqQ3ivaoUcj3jEtA
Let’s shape the future of music education—together.
#NCMEA #MusicEducation #LeadershipWorkshop #MusicTeachers #NCMusicEd #GrowWithNCMEA #beyondthenotes #shapingourfuture #nafme #musiced #musiceducation #musicadvocacy #deia

Application Deadline for First-Time Conference Scholarships
2025-10-01 | 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.

APPLICATION FORM

Webinar - Shaping Behavior with "ABC" and "STOP" Techniques - Part 1
2025-10-04 10:00 - 12:00
Shaping Behavior with “ABC” and “STOP” Techniques – Part 1
October 4, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Presenter: Dr. Elaine Bernstorf
Fall brings opportunities to reframe our teaching approaches. It also brings new students and their personal learning behaviors. Even students we have taught for years change and have challenges as they mature, or don’t. By October all students shape their personal dynamics within a group.
Part 1 (Oct 4), THIS WEBINAR, explores common music classroom behaviors, including disruptions, as we use an ABC analysis model to explore behavior functions for difficult or disruptive behaviors.
Part 2 (Oct 18), BELOW, uses the STOP principle (an intervention designed by occupational therapists) to shape student behaviors and inform teacher planning using executive function decisions to support success. References and suggested resources will be included.
Elaine Bernstorf is Professor of Music Education at Wichita State University. With degrees in Special Music Education and a PhD in Communicative Disorders and Sciences, her specializations include elementary music, special music education, and speech pathology (voice, fluency, autism and child language), literacy development, and curriculum development. She co-authored The Music and Literacy Connection (2004, 2014, in press). She has published several book chapters, presented and served internationally and nationally including ISME, ISAME, NAfME, OAKE, ECMMA, Arts Education Partnership and the Leadership Network for Arts Education & Special Needs. In 2017, she was inducted in the Kansas Music Educators Association Hall of Fame.
Dr. Elaine Bernstorf
Wichita State University, Wichita KS
@ncmea @nafme #beyondthenotes #shapingourfuture #musiceducation #musicadvocacy #ivfme #deia

Application Deadline for Collegiate Conference Scholarships
2025-10-10 17:00
NCMEA’s 2025 Collegiate Conference Scholarships will cover the cost of conference registration ($50) for up to 36 deserving Collegiate NAfME members with demonstrated financial need. Scholarship recipients are expected to participate in conference sessions for a minimum of two days and are encouraged to attend the Collegiate Business Meeting on Sunday, November 9th at 5:30 PM.
All collegiate members with financial need are welcome to apply; collegiate students who are first-time conference attendees will receive priority. Please note that this scholarship award does not cover NAfME/NCMEA Membership which is required to attend the conference. Please visit https://nafme.org/join-renew/ to join or renew your membership before submitting your application.

Webinar - Lift Every Voice: Building Authentic & Inclusive Classrooms
2025-10-11 10:00 - 12:00
Lift Every Voice: Building Authentic & Inclusive Classrooms
October 4, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Presenter: Dr. Elaine Bernstorf
Dr. Preston Wilson, Director of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, leads an interactive workshop that equips educators with strategies to create inclusive classrooms, where all students feel valued and supported. Participants will explore approaches to integrating diverse cultural perspectives, addressing accessibility, and fostering an environment of respect and creativity.
In June of 2021, Dr. Wilson graduated from the University of Missouri (Columbia), obtaining a PhD in Music Education. He successfully defended his dissertation entitled, Successful Urban Elementary Music Educator: A Phenomenological Investigation; which focuses on the lived experiences of urban music teachers in elementary schools. His research agenda also includes race relations in music and practical application of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Upson graduation, Dr. Wilson served as the Assistant Professor of Music Education at Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ from 2021-2024, before returning to his alma mater.
Dr. Wilson is the Chair of Diversity Initiatives for TN-ACDA, a member of Steering Committee for the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, and on the Board of Directors for the Nashville African American Wind Symphony, Inc. He also is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Phi Mu Alpha Music Fraternity, Inc., Pi Kappa Lambda, American Choral Directors’ Association (ACDA), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and College Music Society (CMS).
Dr. Preston Wilson
Fisk University, Nashville TN
@ncmea @nafme #beyondthenotes #shapingourfuture #musiceducation #musicadvocacy #ivfme #deia

DEADLINE: Early Bird Rate for Conference Registration
2025-10-18 | Benton Convention Center, 301 W Fifth St, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, United States
2025 Registration Rates

MembershipStatus
Earlythrough Oct 18
Regular/OnsiteOct 19 – Nov 10

Active
$150
$175

Introductory*
$75
$85

Collegiate
$50
$60

Non-Member
$200
$250

Non-Member Guest
$50
$60

Retired
$0
$0

* An Introductory Member is a First Year teacher immediately following your Collegiate Member year. This registration is available only to those who hold an Introductory membership to NCMEA/NAfME.

Webinar - Shaping Behavior with "ABC" and "STOP" Techniques - Part 2
2025-10-18 10:00 - 12:00
Shaping Behavior with “ABC” and “STOP” Techniques – Part 2
October 4, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Presenter: Dr. Elaine Bernstorf
Fall brings opportunities to reframe our teaching approaches. It also brings new students and their personal learning behaviors. Even students we have taught for years change and have challenges as they mature, or don’t. By October all students shape their personal dynamics within a group.
Part 1 (Oct 4), THE PREVIOUS WEBINAR, explored common music classroom behaviors, including disruptions, as we use an ABC analysis model to explore behavior functions for difficult or disruptive behaviors.
Part 2 (Oct 18), THIS WEBINAR, uses the STOP principle (an intervention designed by occupational therapists) to shape student behaviors and inform teacher planning using executive function decisions to support success. References and suggested resources will be included.
Elaine Bernstorf is Professor of Music Education at Wichita State University. With degrees in Special Music Education and a PhD in Communicative Disorders and Sciences, her specializations include elementary music, special music education, and speech pathology (voice, fluency, autism and child language), literacy development, and curriculum development. She co-authored The Music and Literacy Connection (2004, 2014, in press). She has published several book chapters, presented and served internationally and nationally including ISME, ISAME, NAfME, OAKE, ECMMA, Arts Education Partnership and the Leadership Network for Arts Education & Special Needs. In 2017, she was inducted in the Kansas Music Educators Association Hall of Fame.
Dr. Elaine Bernstorf
Wichita State University, Wichita KS
@ncmea @nafme #beyondthenotes #shapingourfuture #musiceducation #musicadvocacy #ivfme #deia

DEADLINE for Popular Music Pre-Conference Workshops
2025-10-20
The Popular Music Education Committee will be hosting two pre-conference workshops that are FREE for NCMEA conference attendees.
Modern Band 101 – November 8, 9am-12pm
Hip-Hop Pedagogy – November 8, 1pm-4pm
Teachers may either register to attend one or both workshops. We highly encourage you to do both sessions if your schedule allows. There will be many hands-on activities and opportunities for creative music making that can be applied in your classrooms!
CEUs will be available for participants who complete the workshops. Both sessions will take place in the Gaines Ballroom within the Benton Convention Center (downtown Winston-Salem).
The deadline to submit is October 20th, 2025. Notification of acceptance will be October 30th, 2025.
Registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeLIjPTlgqZo7gNgQsfxWgGgdn2yNjnQYwOIATPubDCmsx6ZQ/viewform

DEADLINE: 2025-26 Collegiate State Executive Board Application for Office
2025-10-24 17:00
2025 elections for the 2025-26 Collegiate NCMEA/NAfME State Offices will be held during the NCMEA conference at the Collegiate Business meeting on Sunday, November 9, at 4:00 PM. Candidates for office must be in attendance at this meeting and are asked to give a brief platform speech (1-2 minutes) about their interest in serving NCMEA as a collegiate officer prior to voting.
Offices to be elected are as follows: Vice-President/President-Elect, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, and Advocacy Chair* (pending approval via majority vote of chapters by 9/28/25). Descriptions and responsibilities for each office should be reviewed prior to nomination.
Collegiate NAfME chapters may nominate one candidate for each office. Individuals running for Vice-President/President-Elect must be in the first or second year of their undergraduate program and be willing to serve for a minimum two years on the Executive Board. All other officers serve a one-year term.
Each active Collegiate NAfME chapter represented at the meeting will receive 10 votes (per office) that may be be split between several candidates or voted for only one individual.
Completed applications consist of:

a completed application form submitted with checkbox verifying support of the chapter advisor and/or department chair for the nomination,
a brief statement describing the candidate’s strengths and interest in the desired position and commitment to serving NCMEA in this capacity.

Nominations are submitted via this online form. Applications must be received no later than 5 PM Friday, October 24, 2025. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

DEADLINE: Chapter of Excellence Nominations
2025-10-24 17:00
NCMEA’s Collegiate Chapter of Excellence designation recognizes NAfME chapters for their contributions to NAfME Collegiate, their college or university, and/or their community. Awards are based on individual chapter accomplishments rather than on competition between chapters.
Chapters of all sizes are encouraged to apply. The filing deadline is 5:00 PM Friday, October 24, 2025. Recipients are recognized during the Collegiate Business meeting on Sunday, November 9, at 4:00 PM.
For more details and submission form visit:
Chapter of Excellence Nomination Form

@cnafme @collegiatencmea @ncmea @nafme #NAfMECollegiate #beyondthenotes #shapingourfuture #musiced #musiceducation #musicadvocacy #deia

Popular Music Pre-Conference Workshops
2025-11-08 | Benton Convention Center, 301 W Fifth St, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, United States
The Popular Music Education Committee will be hosting two pre-conference workshops that are FREE for NCMEA conference attendees.
Modern Band 101 – November 8, 9am-12pm
Hip-Hop Pedagogy – November 8, 1pm-4pm
Teachers may either register to attend one or both workshops. We highly encourage you to do both sessions if your schedule allows. There will be many hands-on activities and opportunities for creative music making that can be applied in your classrooms!
CEUs will be available for participants who complete the workshops. Both sessions will take place in the Gaines Ballroom within the Benton Convention Center (downtown Winston-Salem).
The deadline to submit is October 20th, 2025. Notification of acceptance will be October 30th, 2025.
Registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeLIjPTlgqZo7gNgQsfxWgGgdn2yNjnQYwOIATPubDCmsx6ZQ/viewform
#ncmea #nafme #puttingthepiecestogether #musiced #musiceducation #musicadvocacy #DEIA

Professional Development Conference
2025-11-08 - 2025-11-11 | Benton Convention Center, 301 W Fifth St, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, United States

Singer/Songwriter and Music Production Showcase 2025
2025-11-08 - 2025-11-11 | Benton Convention Center, 301 W Fifth St, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, United States
The North Carolina Music Educators Association’s Singer/Songwriter and Music Producer Showcase is designed to encourage individual musical creativity, the development of music writing skills, and collaboration with professionals from the music industry to enhance musicianship and creativity.
Students are encouraged to submit their original songs for the experience of sharing and learning ways to develop their songs with professional singer/songwriters and music producers from the music industry at the annual NCMEA’s state conference.
General Guidelines:

All North Carolina students in grades K-12 are eligible to participate. Students must, however, be nominated by an NCMEA member teacher.
Students can enter one of three divisions: elementary (k-5), middle school (6-8), or high school (9-12).
Students should plan to submit their work individually (as a singer/songwriter or music producer in a DAW environment)
Each student can only be involved in one submission.
The submission deadline is 5:00 pm EST on October 25, 2025.

Submission guidelines:

Submissions should be original songs written by the student and are fixed media (songs that are completely pre-recorded).
Songs should be no longer than 4 minutes in length.
A wide range of styles or genres of music are encouraged. Students are encouraged to submit any musical style or combination of musical styles.
Students will have no more than eight minutes of setup time and four minutes of take-down time for personal equipment.

Submission Process:
NCMEA member teachers may nominate as many students as they wish. Each nomination must include the following:

A video recording of a live performance or audio recording of their song.
A brief description of the student’s musical experiences.
The online application will ask for: teacher name(s) and email(s), school name(s), principal name(s), email contacts, song title, listing of instrumentation and equipment used, student name, email, school name, year in school, and uploaded video/audio files of the song.

The submission deadline is 5:00pm EST October 25, 2025. Only applications completed by this time will be considered. Students whose works are selected for presentation at the annual NCMEA Professional Development Conference will be notified by October 30th.

NC Intercollegiate Honor Band
2025-11-09 - 2025-11-10 | Benton Convention Center, 301 W Fifth St, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, United States
2025 North Carolina Intercollegiate Honor Band
Nov. 9-10, 2025
Winston-Salem, NC
Guest Clinician: Dr. Nicholas Williams
Director of Bands
University of Georgia

Young Professionals Symposium
2025-11-10 | Benton Convention Center, 301 W Fifth St, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, United States
A One Day Symposium for High School Students Interested in the Music Education ProfessionMonday, November 10, 2025
The Young Professionals Symposium has a history of providing high school music students interested in Music Education specifically tailored sessions and experiences.
Participants for the Young Professionals Symposium will begin their day learning about their leadership style and how to advocate for music education. Young Professional students will then participate in specific sessions catered towards entering the music education profession, including a conducting seminar, interview tips and tricks from various NC music education professors, and mock interviews with NC Music Education College Professors!

DEADLINE - Journal Updates - Winter 2026
2025-12-01
Section updates usually focus on award winners, so the 800 word limit doesn’t apply. If you are sharing Teacher of the Year, etc., please try to get head shots of them to include.
District Presidents: We’re going to try something new. Instead of assigning each District a specific journal to send their updates in, you’re all welcomed to send a few sentences updating us on great things happening in your area in each journal. This does not have to be long! (In the past, each district gave half a page of updates.) We’re hoping this format will be easy for you to share events in a more timely manner than once a year.
Please reach out to Kim with any questions.
Kim Justen
Editor
NC Music Educator
journal_editor@ncmea.net

East Region Orchestra Auditions
2026-01-10 | Gray’s Creek High School, 5301 Celebration Dr., Hope Mills, NC, 28348
East Region Orchestra Auditions
Gray’s Creek High School
Hope Mills, NC

High School Chorus - All-Eastern Final Registration Deadline
2026-01-15
All-Eastern Final Registration Deadline

Central Region Jazz Clinic
2026-01-16 - 2026-01-17 | Panther Creek High School, 6770 McCrimmon Pkwy, Cary, NC, 27519
Central Region Jazz Clinic
Panther Creek High School
6770 McCrimmon Parkway
Cary NC 27519

West Region Orchestra Auditions
2026-01-17 | Hough High School, 12420 Bailey Road, Cornelius, NC, 28031, United States
West Region Orchestra Auditions
Hough High School
12420 Bailey Rd
Cornelius, NC 28078

East Central Middle School Band Clinic
2026-01-23 - 2026-01-24 | Meredith College, 3800 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC, 27607
East Central Middle School Clinic
Meredith College
3800 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, NC 27607-5298

East Central High School Band Clinic
2026-01-23 - 2026-01-24 | NC State University, 2620 Cates Avenue, Raleigh, NC, 27606, United States
East Central High School Clinic
NC State University
Price Music Center
2620 Cates Ave.
Campus Box 7311
Raleigh, NC 27695-7311

West Region Orchestra Solo & Small Ensemble
2026-01-28 | Hugh M. Cummings High School, 2200 N Mebane St., Burlington, NC, 27217
West Region Orchestra Solo & Small Ensemble
Hugh M. Cummings High School
2200 N Mebane St.
Burlington, NC 27217

High School Chorus - MPA Registration Deadline
2026-02-01
HS Chorus
MPA Registration Deadline

Free Music Production Day at UNCW
2026-02-07 | UNC Wilmington, 601 S. College Road, Wilmington, NC, 28403
Join us on February 7 for a hands-on music production experience designed for NCMEA music teachers and their students.
✔️ Open to students and educators
✔️ Hosted at UNC Wilmington
✔️ Totally FREE
📌 Registration info: Free Music Production Day at UNCW.

#NCMEA #NCMusicEducators #MusicProduction #MusicTechnology #MusicTeacherLife #ArtsEducation #UNCW #NCMusic #StudentOpportunities

Polls Closing for NAfME Elections
2026-02-12
NAfME Members,
This is the last day to cast your vote.
Meet the candidates here for 2026–2028 NAfME National President-Elect, for 2026–2028 North Central Division, Southern Division, and Western Division President-Elect, and 2026–2027 NAfME Eastern Division President-Elect.
Cast your vote today.

https://nafme.org/about/nafme-elections/
