Update from the PMEA Executive Office

Sent to Membership: 1/13/11
PMEA January Update

Welcome to 2011! There are several items and deadlines we want to highlight so be sure to read through this entire update so nothing is missed.

2011 PMEA State Ballot Announced
PMEA is pleased to announce the candidates for State Vice-President/President-Elect and State C/I Chair. Running for the position of Vice-President/President-Elect are Glen Brumbach, director of instrumental music, grades 10-12 at Boyertown Area HS and Dennis Emert, elementary instrumental music specialist, Fox Chapel Area SD. Candidates for the position of State Curriculum/Instruction Coordinator (term will begin in July, 2012) are Sue Basalik, elementary school stringed instrument teacher and orchestra director, Methacton SD and Johanna Steinbacher, director of elementary bands, Bellefonte Area SD. Ballot information will be emailed to all members with valid email addresses. Those for whom we do not have a valid email address will receive a hard copy ballot in the mail. Voting will take place February 1 to March 1. Please keep your eyes out for this important information and be sure to exercise your right to vote!

Third PMEA Webinar Rapidly Approaching
Am I Being Graded on That? Assessment Strategies for the Music Educator will be presented by PMEA President Scott Sheehan and PMEA Research Chair Linda Thornton on Tuesday, January 18 from 7 - 8 p.m. Online registration is available by logging in to the PMEA website at www.pmea.net and selecting the Online Event Registration menu option. The cost for PMEA members is $20. The non-member fee is $30 per session. You must be logged in to receive the PMEA member rate. 

The remaining webinar in the series - Making a Difference for Every Child: Special Learners in the Music Classroom will be held on March 8, with Alice Hammel, James Madison & Christopher Newport Universities, presenting.

Approaching Deadlines:
Application and further information for all awards can be found in the Scholarships and Awards section under the Documents menu option at www.pmea.net. Be sure to complete the necessary application by the posted deadline in order to be considered.

January 15 - Last call for applications for the William Nash Continuing Education Scholarship - which must be postmarked by this date (Saturday) and mailed to the PMEA Executive Office. This scholarship provides one thousand dollars per one school year to a person in their first, second or third year of teaching who has been accepted into an accredited music graduate program.

February 1 - Were you a first year teacher in the fall of 1985 or prior to 1985? PMEA's 25 Year Award recognizes music teachers, elementary through college/university, who have taught 25 years (or more) with at least 15 years of teaching in PA. Qualifying members should complete the Online 25 Year Award Application located in the Documents section of the PMEA website by selecting the Scholarship & Awards link. Honorees will be recognized in a ceremony during the Saturday PMEA All-State concert of their choice (you must be able to attend to receive this award) and in a special feature in PMEA News.

March 19 - Applications for the Irene Christman Scholarship are due by this date. This scholarship is presented to an outstanding All-State student (who is a high school senior) who will be attending college to major in music education. Applications must be postmarked prior to March 19, 2011 and mailed to the PMEA Executive Office, 56 S. Third St., Hamburg PA. More information can be found in the Scholarships and Awards section of the PMEA website under the Documents menu option.

March 19 - Applications are due for the 2011 PMEA Jazz Scholarship, open to a senior high school student in the 2011 All-State Jazz or Vocal Jazz ensembles. Applications must be postmarked prior to March 19, 2011 and mailed to the PMEA Executive Office, 56 S. Third St., Hamburg PA. More information can be found in the Scholarships and Awards section of the PMEA website under the Documents menu option at www.pmea.net

March 21 - Applications for the 2011 PMEA Future Music Educators Honors Symposium are due. This program runs concurrently with the 2011 PMEA Annual In-service Conference, April 14-16 at the Hershey Lodge & Convention Center and is open to high school seniors who have been accepted at a college/university to major in music education. More information can be found in the Future Music Educators Honors Symposium section of the website found by scrolling over the Events menu option.

Deadline Extended for 2011 MENC All-National Honors Ensembles
Auditions for these ensembles are now due by January 31. Ensembles include the Mixed Choir, under the direction of Sandra Snow of Michigan State University; the Concert Band, with Thomas Duffy of Yale University; the Orchestra, with Donato Cabrera, resident conductor of the San Francisco Symphony; and the Jazz Band, under the direction of Fred Irby III of Howard University. Outstanding sophomores, juniors and seniors are invited and encouraged to audition. Visit www.mencevents.org/menceventshonorspage.htm to download the audition materials and get more information on how students from your state can be a part of this exciting and unique experience. If you have any questions, please contact MENC Events at 1-800-479-8247, or email Chris Meeker chrism@mencevents.org.

2011 MENC Eastern Division Conference Update – Chaperones Needed
The 2011 MENC Eastern Division Conference, managed by the Maryland MEA, will be held March 31 - April 1 in Baltimore, MD. Conference details and registration information is available online at www.menc-eastern.org. Chaperones are needed for the All-East Honors Ensembles. If you are interested in serving in this position, please send an email to Abi Young at abiyoung@pmea.net for further information.

Get in Your Request to Attend for Outstanding Professional Development
Be sure to mark your calendars for the 2011 PMEA Annual Conference, April 14-16 at the Hershey Lodge & Convention Center. Online registration is available by logging in to the PMEA website and selecting the Online Event Registration link. Select the 2011 PMEA Annual In-service Conference option to register and be sure to check out the Description and Program/Session links at the top of that page for more details. All other information, including a printable registration form and hotel information, can be found in the PMEA Annual Conference section of the website under the Events menu option.

Conference Presiders and All-State Chaperones Needed
Volunteers are needed to preside over sessions during the annual conference (introduce the speaker, make sure he/she has everything they need for their session) and to serve as chaperones for the 2011 All-State Ensembles. If you are interested in presiding, please complete the Online Form located in the PMEA Annual Conference section of the website under the Events menu option by Friday, January 28. Those interested in chaperoning should complete the All-State Chaperone Form also located in the Conference section of the site, or in the All-State section under the Festivals menu option, and submit it to Chaperone Chair Ralph Egyud.