North Carolina Music Educators Association

The Future Sounds Like This 🎶

Exhibitor registration is now open for the 2026 NCMEA Professional Development Conference in Winston-Salem, NC! Join us November 7–10 for an inspiring, future-focused gathering of music educators and advocates.

Get details and register here:
https://buff.ly/Qod3TFC

Crack Happens: Understanding and Nurturing the Adolescent Singer

Adolescent voices don’t just “crack”—they’re expanding, and our language and teaching should reflect that. In the Spring edition of the North Carolina Music Educator’s Journal, Dr. Eric G. Johnson encourages choir directors to normalize voice change, explain the basic anatomy and acoustics of the voice, and use clear, age‑appropriate visuals and metaphors. By pairing solid information with a supportive classroom culture, we can reduce anxiety, keep singers engaged through the most vulnerable stages of development, and help them see vocal change as a positive, empowering part of their musical growth.

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Don't forget to put the Summer Mini Conference on your calendar!

Register now. IT'S FREE!

https://buff.ly/sMQ1hVd

Congratulations to the 2027 GRAMMY Music Educator AwardTM Quarterfinalists! More than 2,100 applications were submitted and a total of 202 music teachers from 177 cities plus an additional 187 legacy applicants from 2026 are currently in the running for the award this year.

North Carolina quarterfinalists are:

BETH HURLEY, Northwest Guilford Middle School
DONALD WALTER, Northwest Guilford High School and
FRANKIE LANCASTER, Watauga High School.

Best of luck, members!

Nominations are open for NCMEA's 2026 awards! This is a great opportunity to recognize colleagues, peers, and future music educators for their amazing impact on our field.

Think of the music education superstars you know and consider submitting a nomination! The process is simple and the deadline is June 15 at 5pm. Awards will be presented at the November conference.

DR. LISA ADKINS RUNNER FUTURE MUSIC EDUCATOR AWARD

The Lisa Runner Future Music Educator Award is presented annually to one exceptional college senior pursuing a career in music education. This award honors the legacy of Dr. Lisa Adkins Runner by recognizing individuals who exemplify excellence, leadership, and dedication to the future of music education.
https://buff.ly/lLoyYfm

PAT HALL MUSIC EDUCATOR ADVOCATE AWARD

Recognizes a person who has demonstrated exceptional visible support and advocacy for music and the arts in North Carolina. The award will be made to a person who has demonstrated leadership in the arts, effective advocacy for music education, and visible success in improving the general status of the arts in North Carolina.
https://buff.ly/wBaAUGo

HONOR ADMINISTRATOR

Recognizes school administrators that are exceptionally skillful in their respective units and are uniquely aware of the cultural arts (particularly music) as an indispensable part of the school curriculum as indicated by their personal attitude and philosophy, opportunities for teacher growth, and financial support for the arts.
https://buff.ly/ueX8Bny

NCMEA HALL OF FAME

Honors those NCMEA members who have made an extraordinary contribution to our organization. The qualifications for this honor include being a member of NCMEA/NAfME for at least 30 years, having a record of excellence in teaching and/or administration, having a record of betterment to the profession, and of professional ideals and academic integrity.
https://buff.ly/GR3Su9Y

STEVEN KELLY of Gray's Creek Middle School has been named one of SBO+ Magazine's "50+ Music Teachers Who Make a Difference," an annual feature recognizing exceptional educators shaping music programs nationwide. We are proud to celebrate his impact, leadership, and continued commitment to excellence in music education.

https://buff.ly/LSyRsLu

Music Teacher Awards: 50+ Educators Honored Celebrating 50+ outstanding music teachers making a difference! Read inspiring stories & nominate a teacher for future music teacher awards. Learn about their impact!

There's still time! Register by 11:59 pm June 1 and we'll see you for an enriching two weeks of Orff Level I June 15-26 in Boone, NC. Southern Appalachian AOSA North Carolina Music Educators Association Appalachian State University - Hayes School of Music Central Carolina AOSA Piedmont NC Chapter of AOSA American Orff-Schulwerk Association Kentucky Orff-Schulwerk Association Tidewater Area Orff Chapter #99 AOSA Jennifer Hull Prestridge Maribeth Yoder-White music.appstate.edu/orff

Congratulations to Union Academy Charter School (Monroe, NC) on being named North Carolina’s Tri-M® Music Honor Society State Chapter of the Year for 2025–2026 by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). This recognition highlights outstanding student leadership, service, and dedication to music education in their community.

Tri-M® honors middle and high school students for excellence in music, academics, and service, supporting chapters nationwide with scholarships and professional development opportunities. Union Academy’s achievement reflects the impact of strong music programs and student-driven advocacy across North Carolina.

Read about all of the 2025–2026 award winners here: https://buff.ly/gwUkPad

Apply for 2026 NCMEA Middle School Conference Performance Choir. Don't miss out on this wonderful performance opportunity. Applications close on June 1st.

https://buff.ly/yeDJoYO