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TMEA STATE HIGHER EDUCATION CHAIR’S MESSAGE<br />
Ryan Fisher, Ph. D.<br />
THE 2017 TMEA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE<br />
is quickly approaching and offers several opportunities for<br />
higher education music educators to gather and share ideas.<br />
Interest sessions ranging from professional portfolio development<br />
to issues concerning LGBT students in music ensembles will<br />
be presented. We especially want to invite all higher education music<br />
instructors to our Higher Education Caucus on Thursday, April 6th.<br />
This caucus is specifically designed for us to share our ideas and dialogue<br />
about our challenges and successes. If that isn’t enough to lure<br />
you, food and beverages will be available, free of charge.<br />
We hope that each university with a CNAfME chapter will arrange<br />
for your students to attend this year’s conference. There are so many<br />
opportunities for your college students to learn from experienced<br />
music educators by attending sessions or observing all-state ensemble<br />
rehearsals. We also need our CNAfME students to volunteer to<br />
preside over interest sessions. TMEA also sponsors special events<br />
just for CNAfME members (some including free food).<br />
I am also happy to announce that a variety of small ensembles<br />
will be performing in the Ryman Lobby and Exhibit Hall throughout<br />
the conference this year. This year’s “Spotlight Chamber Ensemble”<br />
performers are: Austin Peay Clarinet Ensemble, Cornerstone<br />
Brass Quintet (University of Memphis), Fifth Measure (a<br />
cappella ensemble from Houston High School in Germantown),<br />
Meistersingers (Tennessee State University), Bluff City 5 (woodwind<br />
quintet from the University of Memphis), Off Kilter (a cappella<br />
ensemble from Maryville College), The Bright Boys (saxophone<br />
quartet from Maryville High School), Ravenwood High<br />
School Chamber Choir, Greyscale (a cappella ensemble from East<br />
Tennessee State University), Oliver Percussion Ensemble (Oliver<br />
Middle School in Nashville), and the UT Martin Tuba/Euphonium<br />
Ensemble. Most ensembles will perform during the transition<br />
periods in between sessions. Please support the students in these<br />
fine ensembles by attending as many performances as possible on<br />
your way to and from sessions.<br />
Finally, we are excited to feature the TMEA Intercollegiate<br />
Orchestra under the direction of Jeffrey Grogan, Education and<br />
Community Engagement Conductor of the New Jersey Symphony<br />
Orchestra. They will be rehearsing the day before the TMEA<br />
conference begins and will perform during the opening session of<br />
the conference. Please make plans to attend the opening session<br />
so you can hear this amazing ensemble representing university<br />
string students throughout Tennessee.<br />
It is so important for our music educators from K-12 and college<br />
to come together at least one time each year. Our music education<br />
community is vital to this state, and we must gather together to<br />
sharpen our skills, share our ideas, and build and renew relationships.<br />
I look forward to seeing you in Nashville.<br />
We hope that each university with<br />
a CNAfME chapter will arrange for<br />
your students to attend this year’s<br />
conference. There are so many<br />
opportunities for your college students<br />
to learn from experienced music<br />
educators by attending sessions or<br />
observing all-state ensemble rehearsals.<br />
Tennessee Music Education Assocation | www.tnmea.org | 27
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