North Carolina Music Educator Winter 2023

Notes from the Executive Director
Happy 2023! I hope you were able to find time over the
holidays to relax, refresh, and spend time with loved ones.
We are excited to start the new year by warmly welcoming
these new Section Chairs and Delegates (photo below) to the
NCMEA board:
Band: Jim Kirkpatrick
Band Delegate: O’Shae Best
Collegiate NAfME: Sabina Blue
Elementary: Joseph Girgenti
High School Choral: Aleisa Baker
Higher Education: Jose Rivera
Jazz: Tina Robinett
Jazz Delegate: Luke Meade
Middle School Choral: Emily Turner
Orchestra: Joey Walker
I also want to extend a gigantic thank you to the Section Chairs
and Delegates who served for the past two years. They did not have
an easy task, guiding the organization out of COVID and through
an executive transition! But they all rose to the challenge and we
are very grateful for their leadership and service.
Conference Wrap-Up
It was wonderful to see so many of you at Conference in
November! We exceeded our 2021 attendance by more than
30% and explored the conference theme, Redefining Success, in a
multitude of ways.
Here are this year’s stats:
• 245 sessions, performances, and meetings
• 145 presenters and clinicians
• 1,412 attendees
Susan Heiserman
• 97 exhibiting companies and schools
It was an incredible, jam-packed 3½ days in Winston-Salem,
and I hope those who attended made connections, learned
something new, and got inspired. Special thanks to our conference
co-chairs, Barbara Geer and Adam Joiner, for another year of
incredible work making sure you all had a seamless experience.
Mark your calendar now and plan to attend our next conference
on November 4-7, 2023!
Music In Our Schools Month
This spring we’re looking forward to a full lineup of student
events throughout the state, as well as the celebration of Music
In Our Schools Month in March! This year, we want to make a
big splash and our MIOSM co-chairs have been hard at work
developing ideas and creating suggestions for ways that all grade
levels can participate and celebrate. Be sure to check out their
article in this edition, and be on the lookout for more information
coming soon.
Advocacy
NCMEA staff, leadership, and lobbyists continue to monitor
developments with the NC Pathways to Excellence teacher
licensure and compensation proposal. We are paying close
attention and are prepared to use our established relationships with
state educational leaders and legislators to advocate in your best
interests no matter which direction the proposal takes. Keep an eye
out for email updates, and in the meantime, if you have questions,
concerns, or feedback regarding this or any other education issue,
please don’t hesitate to reach out!
UNCW DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC STUDENTS
uncw.edu/music
MAKING MUSIC.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDY
BACHELOR OF MUSIC IN MUSIC EDUCATION
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN MUSIC
PERFORMANCE:
instrumental piano vocal
GENERAL MUSIC
JAZZ STUDIES
MUSIC TECHNOLOGY
MINORS
choral music · general music
jazz studies · musical theatre
AUDITIONS
SPRING 2023
Saturday, January 14
Saturday, February 4
Saturday, February 25
Saturday, March 18
Saturday, March 25
virtual auditions
910.962.3415
uncwmus@uncw.edu
UNCW is an EEO/AA Institution.
Accommodations for disabilities may be requested
by contacting the Disabilities Resource Center at 910.962.7555 at least seven days
prior to the event. Questions regarding UNCW’s Title IX compliance
6 | NORTH CAROLINA MUSIC EDUCATOR NORTH CAROLINA should be directed MUSIC to EDUCATOR titleix@uncw.edu. | 7