From the President
Hello Maine Maine Music Educators,
It is my hope that your school year is going well. It is hard to believe we are entering the season of jazz festivals, basketball tournaments, concerts and so much more. We are more than halfway through the year, the days can be long but the years seem to fly by!
Since the fall publication of the motif MMEA has been busy. 2017 does mark the 100th anniversary of the Maine Music Educators Association. It is believed that we are the oldest established music educators association in the country. The celebration began in January with two beautiful pieces premiered at jazz all state and there are more premiers to come, see the article inside for more details.
Ben Potvin and Nancy Cash-Cobb have been working hard on the conference, registration is up on the MMEA website. Becca DeWann has the registration process stream lined for all of us. Speaking of the website, check out the new format, it is a Weeby. Next summer it is a goal of MMEA to combine all the various websites to make it easier for educators and students alike.
Mike Sakash has been leading the transition to a medal system in the jazz branch of MMEA. New this year, in the choral world, a middle school all state choir and a 4th and 5th grade honors choir in May. Kristen Thomas is lining up a amazing experience for the all state students. The elementary folks had a great fall festival and Catherine Newall is working on a lending library for teachers to access.
There were sixteen students who represented Maine in the National Ensembles last November and in April there will be twenty-nine students representing Maine in the All Eastern Ensembles in Atlantic City April 5th-8th, 2017. The USM Chamber Choir is performing at the conference