Florida Music Director December 2025

The Students Are the Inspiration:

A Conversation With Educator and Composer Jeffrey Traster

Student Leadership Workshop features “J. Dash” & Mama Duke

Announcing the 2026 FMEA Awardees

PLUS Conference Highlights: Concerts Conductors College Night

DECEMBER 2025

1

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Contents

DECEMBER 2025

VOLUME 79

Executive Director Florida Music Education Association Kathleen D. Sanz, PhD

Hinckley Center for Fine Arts Education

402 Office Plaza Tallahassee, FL 32301 (850) 878-6844 or (800) 301-3632 (kdsanz@fmea.org)

NUMBER 5

Editor-in-Chief

Kelly Miller, DMA University of Central Florida 12488 Centaurus Blvd.

Orlando, FL 32816-8009 (407) 823-4545 (kelly.miller@ucf.edu)

Editorial Committee Terice Allen (850) 245-8700, Tallahassee (tallen1962@hotmail.com) Judy Arthur, PhD Florida State University, KMU 222 (850) 644-3005 (jrarthur@fsu.edu) Alice-Ann Darrow, PhD (alifsu@mac.com) Jeanne Reynolds (jeannewrey@gmail.com) John K. Southall, PhD Indian River State College, Fort Pierce (772) 462-7810; (johnsouthall@fmea.org)

Advertising Sales

Valeria Anderson (val@fmea.org) 402 Office Plaza Tallahassee, FL 32301 (850) 878-6844

Official FMEA and FMD Photographers

Bob O’Lary Amanda Crawford

Art Director & Production Manager Lori Danello Roberts LDR Design Inc. (lori@flmusiced.org)

Circulation & Copy Manager

Valeria Anderson, (800) 301-3632

Copy Editor

Susan Trainor

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F E AT U R E S

The Students Are the Inspiration: A Conversation With Educator and Composer Jeffrey Traster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 CONFERENCE Pre-Conference. . . . . . . . . . . 10

Prelude to the Conference. . . . 11 Student Leadership Workshop.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Conference Exhibition Grand Opening Performance. . . . . . . 13

D E PA R T M E N T S Advertiser Index. . . . . . . . . . . 4

President’s Message. . . . . . . . . 5 President-Elect’s Message. . . . . 7

First General Session. . . . . . . 14

Advocacy Report. . . . . . . . . . . 8

Exhibit Hall Performances. . . 15

Council News. . . . . . . . . . . . 46

FMEA Concerts.. . . . . . . . . . 18

Component News. . . . . . . . . 54

FMEA Mini-Concerts. . . . . . . 21

Research Puzzles.. . . . . . . . . 59

Tickets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Executive Director’s Notes. . . 62

Second General Session. . . . . 15

FMEA Donors. . . . . . . . . . 44-45

President’s Concert. . . . . . . . 16

Committee News.. . . . . . . . . 50

College Night. . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Academic Partners.. . . . . . . . 58

Conference Policies. . . . . . 24-27

Corporate Partners . . . . . . 60-61

Conference Hotels. . . . . . . . . 30

Officers and Directors. . . . . . 63

Conductors.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

All-State Rehearsals. . . . . . . . 35

Florida Music Director (USPS 368560) is published monthly except JAN, JUN & JUL with combined FEB/MAR by Florida Music Education Association, 402 Office Plaza Dr, Tallahassee, FL 32301. Periodicals postage paid at Tallahassee, FL. POSTMASTERS: send change of address to Florida Music Education Association, 402 Office Plaza Dr, Tallahassee, FL 32301.

DECEMBER 2025

3

Advertiser Index The Florida Music Director is made possible by businesses and

organizations that advertise with us. They make it possible to

provide you with a high-quality publication, and we gratefully acknowledge their support of our mission. We hope you will

take special notice of the following advertisement and consider the products and services offered. It is another important

way you can support your professional association and the enhancement of Florida music education.

The publisher does not endorse any particular company,

product, or service. The Florida Music Education Association (FMEA) is not responsible for the content of any advertisement

and reserves the right to accept or refuse any advertisement

submitted for publication. Information for advertisers (rate card, insertion orders, graphics requirements, etc.) can be found at FMEAMediaKit.org. Florida Music Director reserves the right to refuse any ad not prepared to the correct specifications OR to rework the ad as needed with fees applied.

ADVERTISERS Arts Music Shop................................................................................. IFC Florida International University.......................................................4 Music Is Elementary.............................................................................6 The advertisers shown in bold provide additional support to FMEA

members through membership in the Corporate and Academic Partners (FCAP) program. FCAP partners deserve your special recognition and attention.

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2025–26 FMEA MEMBERSHIP: You are eligible for membership in the Florida Music Education Association if you are an individual engaged in the teaching, supervision, or administration of music in elementary and secondary schools, colleges, or universities within the state. Visit FMEA.org/membership to learn more about the benefits of active membership.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: Direct correspondence regarding subscriptions to: Hinckley Center for Fine Arts Education, 402 Office Plaza, Tallahassee, FL, 32301-2757.

Subscription cost included in FMEA membership dues ($9); libraries, educational institutions, and all others within the United States: $27 plus 7.5% sales tax.

SUBMISSIONS: Article and art submissions are always considered and should be submitted on or before the 1st of the month, one month prior to the publication issue to: Kelly Miller, DMA, kelly.miller@ucf.edu.

All articles must be provided in digital format (e.g., Microsoft Word). All applicable fonts and images must be provided. Images must be at least 300 dpi resolution at 100% of the size. All submissions must be accompanied by a proof (color, if applicable). Ads may be submitted via email to val@FMEA.org.

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Published eight times annually by The Florida Music Education Association, Hinckley Center for Fine Arts Education: 402 Office Plaza, Tallahassee, FL 323012757. FMEA reserves the right to approve any application for appearance and to edit all materials proposed for distribution. Permission is granted to all FMEA members to reprint articles from the Florida Music Director for non-commercial, educational purposes. Non-members may request permission from the FMEA office.

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FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

President’s

MESSAGE Harry “Skip” Pardee, EdD President Florida Music Education Association

Happy Holidays, FMEA!

O

n behalf of the FMEA Board of Directors, I hope this month brings you a rejoicing holiday

season and that you can rest and recharge for a terrific second semester with your students.

This month, I want to provide you an update regarding our search for the next executive director

and CEO of the Center for Fine Arts Education. We are proud to report we have launched the

national search, which has resulted in numerous highly qualified applicants. The committee has

reviewed candidates’ credentials and has begun the interview process to establish a list of finalists to present to the CFAE Board for review. The search committee consists of the FMEA Executive

Committee, FSMA leadership, FAEA leadership, and veteran FMEA board members and CFAE staff.

In the coming weeks, I hope to present yet another update to you regarding this important search on behalf of the association.

I am thrilled to join you in January 2026 for another outstanding conference! We have world-class

performances by our students and invited guests (Gerry Brooks as well as the USAF Band of the

West!), engaging and relevant professional learning, and countless corporate and academic partners with whom you can connect to help you better serve your students in your

schools. I look forward to addressing the membership on several important issues at our First General Session, including presenting an opportunity to connect with you directly at a President’s Virtual Town Hall in January.

I want to hear from you about the future direction of FMEA!

As always, any member is welcome to reach out to me directly anytime

to schedule a conversation about music education in our beautiful state (

skippardee@fmea.org). It is an honor to serve as your president. See you

in a few short weeks!

Always musically yours,

Harry “Skip” Pardee, EdD, President

Florida Music Education Association

DECEMBER 2025

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FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

President-Elect’s

Bernard (Bernie) Hendricks, Jr. President-Elect Florida Music Education Association

MESSAGE

Having FUN!

G

reetings, FMEA family, and Happy December!

Wow, December already! I guess the

saying really is true: “Time flies when you’re having FUN!” And if you’re anything like

me, every day in a music classroom is FUN

(or at least almost every day). Anyhow, with

December comes a barrage of winter/holiday performances that are perfect settings to highlight the wonderful things going on

in our music classrooms on a daily basis. I

encourage all of you to take advantage of these

opportunities—and remember to be mindful of your

focus on how we as music educators can be better

communities. Advertise in and around your community

There will be a musical performance from the Roosevelt

potential audience as well as stakeholders in your local so those who don’t know, will know what is going on in their community. Don’t be afraid to include other

teachers and staff, community figures, and/or parents as

part of the actual program, which may lead to even more community engagement. And finally, with all of the

concert prep going on, remember to have FUN and enjoy the process. We teach young people; they will do young people things, and that’s OK! Celebrate them, enjoy

them, and let your communities see how awesome your

students really are. If we don’t advocate for ourselves, we cannot expect anyone to do it for us.

With this last statement in mind, I’d also like to

encourage everyone to register and attend the FMEA Professional Learning Conference in January. I’d like

particularly to draw your attention to the Pre-Conference entitled Lift Every Voice … Especially YOURS! We will

advocates for our programs and for our profession.

Elementary School “Roughrider” Music Ensemble, and our guest presenters will include Ernesta Chicklowski, Emily Lopez, Jonathan Casañas, Angela Polito,

Dr. Marcus Scott, and yours truly. The Pre-Conference

takes place on Wednesday, January 14, and is a separate

registration from the regular conference registration. I’m looking forward to seeing you all there and throughout the entire conference.

That’s all for now, family. I wish you all the best this

holiday season and pray that you ALL get some much-

deserved rest and quality time with family and friends during the winter break. If you’re heading to Chicago

for the Midwest Conference or are doing any traveling this month, travel safe and COME BACK in one piece

so we can continue to do the work we’ve all been called to do.

Be blessed,

Bernard (Bernie) Hendricks, Jr., President-Elect Florida Music Education Association

DECEMBER 2025

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Advocacy

Advocacy Committee Co-Chairpersons

REPORT

Angela and I are delighted to turn the column over this month to our fellow advocacy committee

member Jon Casañas. We invite you to add your voice to his. Mark your calendar for Jon’s session at the FMEA Professional Learning Conference, Friday, January 16, 2026 at 1:00 pm.

Jeanne W. Reynolds

Angela Hartvigsen

Beyond the Algorithm:

Using Our Voice for Music Education B Y J O N AT H A N M . C A S A Ñ A S

I

’m not big on New Year’s resolutions. “New year,

new me!” Sure—I’ll believe it when I see it. Still, I under-

stand the appeal. Many of us eagerly anticipate that final countdown, ushering in a

new year filled with goals

and the optimism of achieving every one of them. As

Ted Lasso would say, we just want to “believe in believe.”

We convince ourselves that a few intentional actions

will make us better versions of ourselves—and as much as my cynical side scoffs, I can’t help but fall prey to the yearly ritual.

… I believe.

Every year, my personal

assistant Siri and I set

goals and lead measures to

further from my resolution to

it can change a state. And if

Still, this pastime hasn’t

change a nation. And if it

spend less of it on screens.

reduce my screen time—yet

been entirely fruitless.

personal records for how

noise—in one of those very

somehow, I keep setting new long I’ve let my brain rot

while watching social media reels. There’s just something irresistibly appealing about a 30-second clip perfectly tailored to my interests in fiddle leaf figs, car

restorations, and, apparently, inspirational montages. I

can blame the algorithm all I want, but the truth is, I’m

Somewhere amid the

montages—a quote from President Barack Obama

can change a nation, it can change the world.”

— President Barack Obama, 2008

The message reminds us

keeps resurfacing, a reminder

that we—as individuals and

It feels especially relevant

power to be heard and to

I can’t seem to scroll past. for our music education

community at a time when many of us struggle to

feel heard on behalf of our students:

“One voice can change a

the one choosing to open

room. And if it can change

space and time—drifting

And if it can change a city,

my phone and suspend both

it can change a state, it can

a room, it can change a city.

as a community—have the

spark change. The challenge lies in how we amplify that

voice above the noise. If one voice can change a room, imagine what thousands

of Florida music educators

and their supporters can do together. Let’s make it our

collective resolution to turn music education advocacy into a daily practice—one

Sometimes, screen time is a valuable resource

that includes as many voices as possible.

It’s easy to feel distant

from the world of advocacy.

Unfortunately, we live in a

time when we can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines and hope someone else will look out for our collective

best interests. We must be the advocates who ensure that our students receive quality music education

programs not only now, but

8

FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

FL Music Ed for generations to come.

you amplify what you’re

being the voice that changes

above the noise. Our new

Many of us have spent years our classrooms; now it’s

time to amplify that voice

throughout our communities, our cities, our state—and perhaps even the nation.

Trust me, I get it. The

word advocacy often conjures images of government

buildings and legislative chambers—not music

rooms or concert venues.

But that may be the greatest misconception about what advocacy is and who an

advocate can be. You might

be thinking, “Sure, I agree that advocacy matters, but how am I

already doing and rise 12 Months of Advocacy

campaign offers simple

“doable deeds” to help you

extend your reach and grow your network of support.

Social media not your

thing? No problem—attend one of the transformative advocacy sessions at this

year’s conference or stop by our reimagined Advocacy Booth. Prefer to reflect

quietly? Visit the FMEA

Advocacy webpage for the

latest updates and grassroots initiatives.

Don’t let another year

supposed to add another ‘thing’

go by marked by well-

schedule?” And you’d be

fade by February. Commit

to my already overburdened

right—it’s nearly impossible

to expect music educators to take on even more.

But here’s the truth: much

of what we already do is

advocacy. Every performance,

every community connection, every student success story—

intentioned resolutions that to advocacy. Let FMEA

empower you to be a greater force for good in music

education—because when

we lift our voices together, the world can’t help but listen.

we’re already shaping the

Jonathan M. Casañas has

matters. By intentionally

Hillsborough County Public

public narrative of why music adopting a few “advocacy-

forward” practices, we can make our collective voice

even louder, helping decisionmakers and communities

alike recognize the value of what we do every day.

So, where should you

start? Begin right here with the tools and resources

FMEA provides to help

taught elementary music in

Schools since 2013. A two-time graduate of the University of

South Florida, he holds a BS in music education and an MEd

in educational leadership. He is

Tales from the Heart of Florida’s Music Education Community Tune in as we delve into the heart of music education, exploring topics that resonate with our members and beyond.

Whether you are a seasoned educator or a passionate student, this podcast is for you. With six insightful episodes already available for streaming, there’s no better time to join in the conversation.

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past-president of

the Hillsborough County

Elementary

Music Educators Council.

DECEMBER 2025

9

FMEA Pre-Conference 2026 Wednesday, January 14, 2026 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Lift Every Voice ...

Especially YOURS! I

t’s an interesting time for music education in

Florida. We see thriving, growing programs in some communities, yet in others, music educators are fighting against underfunding, understaffing, and the threat of losing their programs entirely.

With that in mind, our 2026 FMEA Pre-Conference, Lift Every Voice ... Especially YOURS! is designed to: 1. Engage music educators with the product we have at our various schools.

2. Equip you with the necessary tools and strategies to positively connect your programs to your communities and beyond.

3. Empower us to not only be great music educators, but to also be well-informed advocates for our students, our programs, and our profession.

w We will discuss our current landscape of music education in Florida and Opening Session: The Predicament

Presenters Bernie Hendricks Ernesta Chicklowski Emily Lopez Jon Casañas Angela Polito Dr. Marcus Scott Your presenters will tackle all of these topics and more, each offering their own experiences and perspective. By the end of the day, you will leave better equipped and prepared to effectively speak about what we do.

begin to explore just how we can exist and thrive with some of the obstacles

w Identify where we are so we can prepare for where we want to go! we face.

w Performance by the Roosevelt Elementary School “Roughrider” Music Ensemble under the direction of Ernesta Chicklowski. w The one thing we are blessed to have is the performance ensembles.

Session A: The Product

These are our products, which vary in every imaginable way. How do we maximize the potential of the students we have in our specific location?

w Let’s get you connected. How will you (and your program) become or remain relevant in your school and in your community? w From the classroom to the community: Identifying your stakeholders and Session B: Your Presence

building your village.

w Now what? w You have a great product, and you are connected in your school and Session C: Your Platform

community. How do you become an informed advocate for what we do as

w The word advocacy seems scary and the responsibility of someone else. Why music educators?

should I even be concerned?

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FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

We can’t wait to see you in Tampa this January!

The FMEA Professional Learning Conference is one of

the largest music education professional development events in the United States. In addition to approximately

250 clinic sessions and concerts, it is host to 24 all-state ensembles featuring Florida’s top band, orchestra, cho-

rus, guitar, Orff, and popular music students conducted by world-class conductors and teachers.

It is attended by more than 10,000 people, including

secondary music directors, elementary music teachers,

music supervisors, college students, college music teach-

ers, school administrators, K–12 students performing in the all-state ensembles, students and professional musi-

cians performing with invited performing ensembles, exhibitors, and parents and family members of performing students.

So many reasons to participate:

w An exhibition hall with world-class exhibitors providing products and services for music educators and students

w More than 3,000 music teachers and 300 administrators

w Approximately 250 sessions, covering a variety of topics for all music educators, with on-demand access to recordings after the conference

w Performances and mini-concerts from some of Florida’s top music programs

w Networking opportunities, college fair, awards ceremony, and other special events

DECEMBER 2025

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Student Leadership Workshop

Presenter:

Jameyel “J. Dash” Johnson Jameyel “J. Dash” Johnson is a classically trained piano prodigy

turned multi-genre innovator whose career has seamlessly bridged

the worlds of hip-hop, jazz, blues, classical, and cutting-edge digital

media. His teenage years were spent mastering the energy of live performance in blues and jazz bands, foreshadowing the eclectic artistry that defines his work today.

A rapper, songwriter, producer, mixer, and multi-instrumentalist,

J. Dash is also a graduate of the University of Florida with a degree

in computer science—a reflection of his lifelong pursuit of

curiosity and mastery. “When I come across something I like, I

want to learn everything about it and really understand it,” he

says, a philosophy that fuels his cross-disciplinary creativity.

J. Dash first captured global

attention with his viral smash

“WOP (With Out Prejudice),” a pulse-pounding dance hit that soared on the iTunes Top 100

Hip-Hop Charts, sold more than 100,000 downloads before radio

play, and racked up millions of views on YouTube, including a video with longtime collaborator and friend

Flo Rida. A digital pioneer, he also launched the first-ever YouTube

Street Team, harnessing fan power to create a grassroots marketing movement that anticipated the modern influencer era.

Most recently, J. Dash produced music for Mama Duke, a Golden

Buzzer finalist on America’s Got Talent, with her breakout song “Feels

So Good to Be You” amassing 2 million-plus streams and counting.

Beyond his work in the studio, he continues to shape the arts as chair

of programming and marketing on the board of the Long Center for Performing Arts in Austin, Texas. He is also the founder of Twylight

Zone, an innovative arts discovery platform dedicated to spotlighting creativity and culture.

With a career that defies categories, J. Dash embodies the spirit of

reinvention—an artist, innovator, and leader whose work is equal parts vision, craft, and impact.

12

FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

Artist: Mama Duke Mama Duke is an award-winning record-

ing artist from Texas, whose rise has been nothing short of explosive. Her breakout

moment came on Season 20 of America’s Got

Talent, where she earned the Golden Buzzer, soared into the Top 10, and saw her original

song “Feels So Good to Be You” climb to #4

on the global pop charts during the season.

Even Simon Cowell praised her star power,

saying, “You’ve got it. You can’t explain what ‘it’ is—it’s just a feeling, and you’ve got it.”

A two-time Austin Hip-Hop Award win-

ner, Mama Duke has taken home both Artist of the Year and Female Artist of the Year, solidifying her as one of Texas’s most compelling voices. She also composed the official

2025 anthem for Austin FC and created the signature jingle for Texas favorite JuiceLand.

From national television to hometown

stages, Mama Duke continues to redefine what a modern artist can be.

Concerts Conference Exhibition Grand Opening Performance Sponsored by FMEA

Thursday, January 15, 2026 12:15pm–12:45pm

TCC, West Hall A

Coordinator: Brandon Davis

J. W. Mitchell High School Jazz Ensemble I Director: Joshua Hobbs

The J. W. Mitchell High School Band Program from Trinity, Florida, is nationally recognized and one of the most comprehensive high school band programs in the state

of Florida. The band seeks to provide meaningful experiences for students and future leaders through excellence in music performance. With more than 180 members, the

program includes the marching band, three concert bands, two jazz ensembles, two competitive colorguards, and a percussion ensemble. The Jazz Ensemble I consistently

receives straight superior ratings at district and state music performance assessments and also plays at various festivals around the state including Lakeside Jazz and more. A

majority of the students that make up the J. W. Mitchell HS Jazz Ensemble I are accepted into the Pasco County all-county band, and a handful have performed with the Florida

all-state bands as well. You can find more information about the J. W. Mitchell High School Band Program at

jwmhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/bands-2/.

DECEMBER 2025

13

Concerts FMEA First General Session Sponsored by FMEA

Thursday, January 15, 2026 10:30am–12noon

TCC, Ballroom A

Coordinator: John Southall The Florida Music Education Association’s First General Session launches one of the nation’s largest and most inspiring gatherings of music educators—the 2026 FMEA Professional Learning Conference. Welcoming more

than 10,000 attendees, this event features 250-plus clinic sessions and con-

certs, along with 25 all-state ensembles showcasing Florida’s finest student musicians. The First General Session sets the tone for a weekend of creativ-

ity, collaboration, and celebration, featuring keynote speaker Gerry Brooks, Mayor of Tampa Jane Castor, Dr. Skip Pardee, Dr. Kathy Sanz, and Fred

Schiff. Inspiring performances by the United States Air Force Band of the West and trumpet artist Summer Camargo highlight the session, honoring excellence in teaching, artistry, and the transformative power of music in our schools and communities.

CASTOR

14

PARDEE

FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

SANZ

SCHIFF

Concerts FMEA Second General Session Sponsored by FMEA

Friday, January 16, 2026 9am–10:15am

TCC, Ballroom A

Coordinator: John Southall The Florida Music Education Association’s Second General Session is

a vibrant celebration of musical excellence. During this session, we will

SMITH

honor select music educators, administrators, music advocates, and music

industry representatives who have contributed greatly to the music education profession over the years. A highlight of this session will be the annual Awards Ceremony and the FMEA Hall of Fame award presentation. President Skip Pardee will preside

PARDEE

over this superb event, and Susan Smith, president of the Southern Division National Association for Music Education, will serve as guest speaker. In addition, a performance by Dr. Dale Rieth on piano will be a musical highlight for this event.

RIETH

Gold Corporate and Academic Partners Performances in the Exhibition Hall TCC, East Hall A Exhibitor

Ensemble Name

Performance Time

Marine Corps

Marine Corps Music Program

1pm–1:30pm

Florida State University School of Music

Jazz Combo

2pm–2:30pm

Frost School of Music at University of Miami

Stamps Woodwind Ensemble

3:30pm–4pm

Frost School of Music at University of Miami

Stamps Brass Ensemble

4:30pm–5pm

Marine Corps

Marine Corps Music Program

11am–11:30am

University of Florida

TBA

12noon–12:30pm

University of North Florida

UNF Brass & Woodwind Quartet

1pm–2pm

Stetson University

J. Ohlsson West Woodwind Quintet

2:30pm–3pm

Pinellas County Schools GAP

Elementary, Middle, & High School Ensembles

4pm–5pm

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2026

FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2026

DECEMBER 2025

15

Concerts President’s Concert Sponsored by FMEA

Dr. Phillips High School Premiere Orchestra Director: Raine Hollingsworth

Rich in tradition, pride, and excellence, the Dr. Phillips High School Orchestra Program was established in 1990. Under the direction of Ms. Raine Hollingsworth, the program has expanded to more than 170 students, offering four large string ensembles and a full

symphony orchestra. Dr. Phillips orchestra ensembles consistently earn top marks at district, state, and national music performance assessment events. Premiere Orchestra

has received numerous accolades, recognitions, and awards for excellence in musical performance and community impact through the arts from local, state, and national

arts organizations, including but not limited to the Florida Orchestra Association, the

ASTA National Orchestra Festival, the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, the University of Central Florida Department of Performing Arts, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (London), and Music for All, Inc.

16

FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

Concerts Wednesday, January 14, 2026 7:30pm–9pm

TCC, Ballroom A

Coordinator: John Southall

F. W. Buchholz Wind Symphony

Directors: Noah Graben, Nestor Santiago

The Buchholz Wind Symphony has a rich tradition of excellence and national recognition. Since the founding of Buchholz High School in 1971, the Buchholz Band

Program has achieved at the highest level.

Accolades of the Buchholz Wind Symphony

include performance at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic (2002, 2009,

2014), performance at the Music for All National Concert Band Festival (2012, 2020, 2025), Sudler Flag of Honor (2002), perfor-

mance at the FMEA President’s Concert (2014, 2019), performance at the CBDNA

Southern Regional Conference (2002, 2014),

performance at the National Band and Orchestra Festival (2011, 2026), performance at the American Bandmasters Association

Convention (2014), performance at the Southeastern Band Clinic (2024), perfor-

mance at the University of South Florida

Festival of Winds (2023), Otto J. Kraushaar Award (41 times, most recently in 2025).

River Rhapsody

Director: Steven Armstrong

River Rhapsody is the auditioned mixed chorus at Braden River High School in Bradenton, Florida. River Rhapsody has performed throughout the United States including three perfor-

mances at Carnegie Hall. River Rhapsody has won numerous

national competitions and has recorded and premiered several choral arrangements in the past four years. Because of the lack

of middle school choirs in the district, the vast majority of the members of River Rhapsody have only one or two years of experience in chorus. River Rhapsody performs regularly throughout the community.

DECEMBER 2025

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Concerts FMEA CONCERTS Sponsored by FMEA

Thursday, January 15, 2026 music from all times and traditions. In 2024–25, they performed Tallis, Bach, Handel, Britten, and Rachmaninoff on one hand,

and Donald Lawrence, Katarina Gimon, Damon Dandridge, Michael Barrett, John Tavener, and Ysaye Barnwell on the other.

Old meets new, from sacred Renaissance to contemporary

gospel, with traditional spirituals juxtaposed against holy minSaintly Strings: Suzuki Violin Ensemble From St. Mary’s Episcopal Day School Director: Brittany Hensley 8am–9am

TCC, Ballroom A

Coordinator: John Southall

Saintly Strings is the Suzuki ensemble from St. Mary’s Episcopal Day School in Tampa, Florida, a preK–8 independent school.

Founded in 2022, the program has grown to more than 150

students. Suzuki instruction begins in preK through a Suzuki

imalism, and timeless Sesotho folk music paired with modern soundscapes. These students approach each piece with humility

and a dedication to faithfully and respectfully bring it to life.

The ensemble has performed across the Eastern Seaboard, high-

lighted by a collaboration with Penn State’s Dr. Anthony Leach

at the annual African American Music Festival and a concert in

2025 with Dr. Tim Peter and Stetson University. Students have

performed in La Madeleine de Paris with Essence of Joy, won first place in competitions in numerous states, and offered many world premieres.

Early Childhood Education curriculum. All first graders receive violin instruction during the school day

and may opt into Saintly Strings starting in second

grade. Students participate in school-day classes and an optional Friday after-school class with 80-plus weekly attendees. Performances showcase Suzuki rep-

ertoire, classical, and ensemble arrangements that highlight musical growth across all skill levels. Saintly Strings demonstrates the power of integrating string

instruction into school life, inspiring educators to build similar

University of Florida Symphony Orchestra

boosting students’ confidence, collaboration skills, and academic

6:30pm–7:30pm

programs. The ensemble fosters musical development while engagement.

The Villages High School Chamber Singers

Director: Mark Lehnowsky 8am–9am

TCC, Ballroom A

Coordinator: John Southall

The VHS Chamber Singers is an SATB ensemble that performs

18

FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

Director: Tiffany Lu

TCC, Ballroom A

Coordinator: Maria Lawver

The University of Florida

Symphony Orchestra is the University of Florida’s flagship

orchestral

ensemble.

Founded in October 1912

with 10 members, UFSO has grown to a full-size symphonic ensemble with more

Concerts FMEA CONCERTS Sponsored by FMEA

Thursday, January 15, 2026 than 90 musicians and has become a core of the School of Music. It features music majors, minors, and non-majors at both graduate and undergraduate levels and represents a critical academic and cultural cross-section of both the School of Music and the University of Florida at large.

Florida Atlantic University Wind Ensemble Director: Kyle Prescott 8pm–8:50pm

Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom Coordinator: Maria Lawver

A flagship performing ensemble at Florida Atlantic

University, the Wind Ensemble includes 50 of the finest

student musicians at the university working with their conduc-

United States Air Force Band of the West

terworks of the literature and groundbreaking works by contem-

9:15pm–10:15pm

tor, Kyle Prescott. Celebrated for its performances of both masporary composers, they have received three separate invitations

to perform at prestigious Southern Division Conferences of the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), in Louisiana, South Carolina, and Georgia. The Wind Ensemble

has collaborated with renowned visiting composers including John Mackey, Bruce Broughton, Michele Fernandez, James Syler,

and Scott McAllister, providing them with valuable opportunities for artistic growth. Beyond their artistic achievements,

Wind Ensemble musicians actively engage with the community, hosting the largest concert band festival in the state and teaching for FAU’s summer band camps benefiting under-resourced elementary school students.

Director: David Neil C. Regner TCC, Ballroom A

Coordinator: Melissa Nelson

The U.S. Air Force Bands consist of highly skilled professional

musicians who serve as musical ambassadors for the Air Force and the United States. With 11 bands stationed around the world,

the USAF Bands perform at more than 2,000 events every year,

including the Daytona 500, the World Series, the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Rose Parade, and concert venues across the country.

Beyond entertainment, the USAF Bands play a critical role in international diplomacy, collaborating with allied and partner nations to strengthen relationships through cultural exchange.

Hailing from the nation’s top universities and conservatories, these exceptional airmen showcase

Air Force heritage, represent America abroad, and promote the Air Force

core values of Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do.

DECEMBER 2025

19

FMEA CONFERENCE

COLLEGE NIGHT FREE EVENT! OPEN TO ALL HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC STUDENTS

THURS. JAN. 15

5:00-7:00 PM

EXHIBIT HALL TAMPA CONVENTION CENTER

STUDENTS AND PARENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH

REPRESENTATIVES FROM PREMIER

UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES LOCATED IN

FLORIDA AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

NO BADGE REQUIRED TO ATTEND! 20

FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

Concerts FMEA MINI-CONCERTS Sponsored by FMEA

Thursday, January 15, 2026 TCC, Lobby Stage

Coordinator: Brandon Davis 9:15am–9:45am

focused on musical excellence, creative

Hagerty High School

expression, and ensemble collaboration.

Percussion Ensemble

Students explore groove, improvisation,

Directors: Bryant Bernal, Brad Kuperman,

and the stylistic nuances of historical-

Brian Kuperman

ly rich genres while developing their

The Hagerty High School Percussion

individual artistry and teamwork skills.

Ensemble is a distinguished part of the

Through school concerts, community

Hagerty High School Band Program in

events, and special performances, HIVE

Oviedo, Florida. The ensemble performs

builds

regularly throughout the year with a

wide-ranging repertoire—from contem-

professionalism,

confidence,

and a strong sense of musical identity.

The ensemble reflects NSU University

porary chamber works to traditional percussion literature. The

School’s dedication to nurturing expressive, culturally aware

School Invitational for five of the event’s 10 years. Each sea-

inspire.

ensemble has performed at the UCF Celebrates the Arts High son, they consistently earn superior ratings at district solo and ensemble evaluations and host an annual Spring Percussion

Concert, inviting local high schools to perform together in

celebration of percussion music. The ensemble is committed to fostering musical excellence, discipline, and collaboration.

Many alumni continue performing in college marching bands,

jazz ensembles, and concert percussion programs. Through

dedication, creativity, and performance, the Hagerty Percussion Ensemble continues to uphold a tradition of excellence within Seminole County.

12:45pm–1:15pm

HIVE – Honors Instrumental and Vocal Ensemble Directors: Michael Miguez, Raul Ramirez The Honors Instrumental and Vocal Ensemble (HIVE) at NSU University

School is an advanced extracurric-

ular group that brings together

passionate student musicians and vocalists to perform funk, jazz, soul, and R&B. Open to students

by audition, HIVE offers a rigorous, performance-based experience

students who understand the power of music to connect and

5:15pm–5:45pm Dusk Till Dawn

Director: Forrest Hartmann

The Dayspring Academy

Early College Popular

Music Ensemble is a learner-led group consist-

ing of modern instrumen-

tation and vocals with an emphasis on creating

original works within the

popular music genre. Learners study various songwriting techniques, lyric writing formulas, and different genres of music.

Learners have performed in the

All-State Popular Music Collective,

Battle of the Bands (2024, 2025), Riff

Riot (2025), Dayspring’s production of Godspell (2024), as well as local

galas, community parades, festivals, and events.

Continued on page 22 DECEMBER 2025

21

Concerts FMEA MINI-CONCERTS Sponsored by FMEA

Friday, January 16, 2026 Continued from page 21

Coordinator: Brandon Davis

10:15am–10:45am Flying High

TCC, Lobby Stage

Director: Alexander Glover

Flying High is Edgewater High School’s vocal jazz/a cappella ensemble. Made up of 16 singers, this group represents the best

the chorus program has to offer in vocal quality, musicianship skills, leadership, and determination. As the touring ensemble of the Edgewater chorus program, Flying High enjoys an active

and robust performance schedule, which includes on and off campus performances, private gigs, community events, and

fundraisers. Members of this ensemble also perform regularly in other choral ensembles as well as in musical productions

outside of the school setting. Performing works from various genres of a cappella singing, Flying High has enjoyed success at district and state music performance assessments, consistently

earning superior and superior with distinction recognitions.

Students in this ensemble represent a core sample of students at

3pm–3:30pm

der identities, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Ensemble

Edgewater representing diverse races, cultures, heritages, gen-

University of South Florida Flute TCC, Lobby Stage

Director: Franscesca Arnone

The University of South Florida Flute

Ensemble exemplifies the 2026 conference

theme of music education for a collective

impact through its diverse and integrative approach to learning. Composed of under-

graduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in music education, performance, and

music studies, the ensemble brings together individuals from the Tampa metropolitan

area, across the country, and from around the world. Their collaborative structure—

ranging from student-led chamber groups to cross-studio partnerships—cultivates deep-

er musical and interpersonal understanding.

22

FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

Concerts FMEA MINI-CONCERTS Sponsored by FMEA

Friday, January 16, 2026 Coordinator: Brandon Davis

Under the guidance of Dr. Francesca Arnone, students engage in

weekly studio lab classes focused on chamber music, pedagogy, and collaborative projects, plus performance studio class and

private or partner lessons. These layered experiences foster a learning environment rooted in shared growth, mutual respect, and a commitment to engagement through music.

4:45pm–5:15pm

Crooms Academy Steel Panthers TCC, Lobby Stage

Director: Troy Thomas

The Crooms Academy Steel Panthers are the premier per-

formance ensemble for Crooms Academy of Information

4:30pm–5pm

Seminole County Public School District. The steelband program

TCC, West Hall B

in grades 9–12. The steelband performs a wide variety of musi-

Aquapella is NSU University School’s premier contemporary

as soca and calypso, to Latin styles such as samba and bossa

exceptional vocal artistry. Composed of talented upper school

The steelband also regularly performs arrangements of classical

ing pop, R&B, jazz, and more, creating an unforgettable vocal

such as video games.

mony, improvisation, and creative expression. Beyond their

Technology, a public technology magnet high school in the

Aquapella

at Crooms is led by Dr. Troy Thomas and is open to any student

Director: Michael Miguez

cal styles and genres, ranging from Trinbagonian styles such

a cappella group, known for its dynamic performances and

nova, to American contemporary styles such as pop and rock.

students, Aquapella blends a variety of musical genres, includ-

orchestral works and music composed for other forms of media,

experience. The group is dedicated to excellence in vocal har-

technical skills, Aquapella embodies the spirit of collaboration and community, with members support-

ing one another both on and off the stage.

Performing at major school events, local

concerts, and prestigious conferences like the National A Cappella Convention and the International Competition of High

School A Cappella, Aquapella represents

NSU University School with pride, bring-

ing joy and musical unity to audiences.

Their commitment to artistry, professionalism, and innovation continues to inspire and elevate the school’s music program.

DECEMBER 2025

23

Policies & Procedures

Conference Policies

To take advantage of early discounted rates, you must

register and pay before the early registration deadline. If

director’s preregistration packet and supervise the students at all times.

6. Student observers are not allowed to attend the

you are mailing a check to the FMEA office to pay for your

conference. If any student observers are brought to the

Registration Deadline and arrive in our office before the

conference may be eliminated the following year. Tri-M

registration, it must be postmarked on or before the Earlyholiday break.

conference, the offending school’s participation in the

students or those approved for the “Student Experience”

1. All participants—directors, students, chaperones, and

program who are registered and participating in sessions

2. Only directors may register their groups or pick up

rule. Chaperones or other attendees are not allowed

3. All participating students must be chaperoned. As

state ensemble or student experience. Only registered

guests—must be registered for the conference.

or working for the all-state concerts are exempt from this

registration materials if preregistered.

to bring children who are not participating in an all-

required by FSMA, at least one chaperone, other than

students, teachers, and chaperones wearing a conference

fraction thereof. However, FMEA policy allows one free

conference areas. Please make babysitting arrangements

a director, is required for every ten (10) students or a

chaperone for every six (6) all-state students or a fraction thereof.

w each six (6) students registered, or w each all-state rehearsal site where registered students

4. An additional paid chaperone may be registered for

are rehearsing.

5. If a participating student is not accompanied by the

director from that student’s school, then the principal

from that school must furnish a letter designating the

person from the school or school district who is to be in charge of that student. The letter should be addressed

to the FMEA executive director, explain the extenuating circumstances preventing the director from attending,

and must be submitted with registration materials. The

school will be notified of approval. This does not release the director from the requirement that they must be registered for the conference. If approved,

the person designated in the letter will pick up the

24

FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

badge are allowed in and around the rehearsals and before attending the conference.

w All Florida school music teachers must register for

7. FMEA & NAfME Membership Requirements:

the conference as FMEA members and be current members of FMEA and NAfME. This includes

session presenters, all-state conductors, and directors of all-state students, invited performing groups, and

w All-state conductors from Florida schools, colleges, or universities must also be FMEA members. w No current music teacher may register as a chaperone. w Collegiate students must be collegiate members of FMEA and NAfME. w Attendees who live outside of Florida must be mini-concerts.

current members of NAfME. Attendees living

outside the United States may contact our office for registration instructions.

Chaperone Registration

Chaperone registration is based on the following rules:

w For each elementary student registered, Elementary Students

one free chaperone and one paid

w Any additional attendees must purchase chaperone may be registered.

a “Guest Pass” at on-site registration for

Refund Policies

1. If you cannot attend the conference and do not have students participating, full registration refunds are available for

cancellation requests made through December 15, 2025.

2. No registration refunds will be made for cancellations made after December 15, 2025, except for emergency situations (see

below). These will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Refunds must be requested in writing, or through our Contact Us page.

3. All requests for emergency refunds must be received no later

than January 31, 2026. Requests received after that date will be denied.

4. All refunds will be issued after the conference is completed.

5. There are no refunds for concert tickets or membership dues.

entry into the convention center.

w For every six students registered, one free

Middle School and High School Students

chaperone and one paid chaperone may be registered. No other chaperones may

be registered until the seventh student is

w Any additional attendees (chaperones registered.

or guests) must purchase a “Guest Pass” at on-site registration for entry into the

w EXCEPTIONS

convention center.

— If you have students in more than one performing ensemble, you may pay

for a chaperone for each performing If you test positive for COVID-19 or

w If you have symptoms of COVID-19, the flu, or anything develop symptoms before the conference:

that may be contagious, or if you test positive within

five days before your planned arrival at the conference, please follow these procedures:

— If you have all-state students: You will need to find another teacher to supervise your students and pick

up your badges in accordance with conference policy #5 on the previous page. Because director conference registration is a requirement for all-state student participation, you are not eligible for a refund.

— If you do NOT have all-state students: Send an email using our

Contact Us page describing your

symptoms or test results to request a refund in

w If you are not showing symptoms, get re-tested a few days accordance with the policies above.

later. If the subsequent test(s) are negative and you still do not have symptoms, research has found that you are most likely not contagious, so you are welcome to attend the conference.

ensemble in which you have registered students.

— If you have students from different

schools, you may pay for a chaperone for each school for which you have registered students.

— Clarification: these are not additional “free” chaperones; these exceptions only allow you to register an

additional paid chaperone in addition to the one free and one paid chaperone per six students normally allowed.

Chaperones are not allowed to bring other children who are not participating in an

all-state ensemble or student conference experience. Only registered students, teachers, and chaperones wearing a

conference badge are allowed in and around the rehearsal areas. Directors are asked to

make sure their chaperones are aware of this

policy and make babysitting arrangements for their other children before agreeing to serve as chaperones.

DECEMBER 2025

25

Policies & Procedures

Photographic Release

By attending the conference and/or associated activities, you grant permission for FMEA to use any and all photographic imagery and video footage taken of you and your

students at this event and activities pertaining to this event, without payment or any

other consideration. You understand that such materials may be published electronically or in print, or used in presentations or exhibitions.

Security Procedures

Code of Conduct

is working with the Tampa Police

environment of respect and civility for all

The Florida Music Education Association Department and Allied Security at the Tampa Convention Center (TCC) to

enhance the conference experience for the students and attendees.

Great News!

In order to help keep attendees safe, there will be a heightened security presence throughout

the TCC and at various hotels. All entrances to

the TCC will be patrolled by uniformed officers of the Tampa Police Department and uniformed Allied Security personnel. They will be

patrolling the TCC as well. The Tampa Police Department will be at the crosswalks between Marriott Tampa Water Street and the TCC, at concerts, and patrolling some of the downtown hotels during rehearsals.

All attendees (this includes members, exhibitors, chaperones, and

student participants) must wear their conference badge during the conference once the authorized registrant obtains the conference packet.

Please be prepared for random bag and/or purse searches. It is

encouraged, if at all possible, to use a clear bag, similar to those used at sporting events, for entrance to conference events.

Enjoy the Conference Experience.

26

FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

FMEA is dedicated to providing a positive attendees, including members, students, parents, speakers, clinicians, exhibitors, sponsors, staff, volunteers, and guests.

All attendees are asked to follow all

applicable laws and conference policies

and to refrain from physical and verbal

harassment, bullying, disorderly conduct, or any actions or behaviors that create unsafe conditions or interfere with presentations or performances. Harassment, bullying,

and sexual language and imagery are not appropriate for any conference venue,

including clinics, workshops, concerts,

rehearsals, social events, online, and social media. Violations should be reported to

convention center security or conference staff in a timely manner. Violators and

their registered students may be expelled from the conference without a refund

at the discretion of the FMEA Executive Committee.

Indemnity Clause

Session Attendance Verification Reports Provide proof of the sessions you attended to your administration with Session Attendance Verification Reports!

FMEA reserves the right to

change the conference/workshop

content, timing, speakers, or venue without notice. The event may

be postponed or cancelled due

to acts of terrorism, war, extreme weather conditions, industrial action, fewer than expected

delegates, pandemic, or any event beyond the control of FMEA. If

such a situation arises, FMEA will

Each of our presenters will be provided a QR code and asked to display it on

however, FMEA cannot be held

dance and add the session to your Verification Report.

endeavor to reschedule the event; responsible for any cost, damage,

or expenses that may be incurred

by the registrant as a consequence of the event being postponed

or cancelled. Some registrants

consider travel insurance to cover the cost of the registration, travel, and expenses for these types of

situations. FMEA is not responsible for any registrant’s personal injury (i.e., physical, psychological, or emotional stress) or property

damages while attending an FMEA conference or event. Conference

registrants assume all risks inherent in attending an FMEA conference for which the registration covers,

whether before, during, or after the conference.

the last slide of their presentation. Scan that QR code to confirm your atten-

***

Scan the QR Code using the appropriate process for your phone. Do this with the

Camera app on your phone or a separate QR Code Reader app, NOT the FMEA App.

w Register for the conference, either via preregistration or on site. w Make sure you can log in to the FMEA website using the web browser on your

Requirements

phone. Use the username and password you chose when you renewed your

membership. If you are from outside of Florida, you should have chosen your

w Learn how to scan a QR code with your phone. With iPhones and newer username and password when you registered for the conference.

Androids, you just need to open your camera, point it at the code, and a box will appear for you to click.

***

FMEA does NOT automatically submit your hours for you. It is up to you to follow the process outlined by your school or school district to apply for the professional development points toward your certificate renewal.

DECEMBER 2025

27

Concert Ticket Reservation and Payment

ON L IN E

Ticket Policies & Procedures Purchase All-State Tickets

CLICK HERE NO TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE AT THE MARRIOTT. To attend a concert at the Marriott Water Street, you must pre-purchase electronic tickets online using the button above, or plan to visit the second floor of the Tampa Convention Center to purchase your tickets before walking to the Marriott.

Ticket Frequently Asked Questions Do I get free tickets for my students’ family members to attend the concert?

No.

Can I get free tickets to any concerts?

No. Registered attendees (directors, chaperones, students) are allowed admission to concerts with their name badge, so no ticket is necessary. Attendees that are not registered for the conference (parents, family, etc.) must purchase tickets.

Can I buy extra tickets anytime?

Anyone can purchase tickets online. Electronic tickets will go on sale in September, and sales will close 30 minutes after each concert’s scheduled start time. Paper tickets will be sold at the FMEA Registration Desk during its regular hours Thursday through Saturday.

Can I buy tickets on site at the Marriott?

No, on-site paper ticket sales are only available at Tampa Convention Center in the secondfloor registration area. If your concert is in the Marriott Water Street, you must prepurchase your tickets online or make plans to first visit the convention center to buy tickets and then walk over to the Marriott.

Does my young child need to buy a ticket?

Everyone who will be taking up a seat will need a ticket. Babies that are being held by a parent or sitting on a parent’s lap for the duration of the concert are welcome without a ticket, but children who are old enough to sit in their own seat will need a ticket.

28

FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

All-State Ticket Policy 1. Registered (BADGED) attendees do not require tickets

on Thursday morning and continue Friday and Saturday

members, directors’ non-teaching spouses, performing

that the director or any other registered attendee be the

to attend any all-state concert. This includes directors/

all-state students, registered chaperones, collegiate stu-

dent members, retired members, and VIP guests that you entered as part of your conference registration.

2. All nonregistered (NONBADGED) attendees (parents,

family members, guests, etc.) are required to purchase tickets for any all-state concert they wish to attend.

3. There are no “free” or “allotted” tickets. All concert

attendees must either wear their conference badge or purchase a ticket.

4. Tickets will be electronic and sold online utilizing a

mobile-friendly website. The link will be available on the conference website well in advance of the conference,

and directors are encouraged to share the link with all

of their all-state students and their parents or guardians.

On-site at the conference, the links and QR codes will be posted on signs in the venue so attendees may purchase tickets using their smartphones. Anyone who wishes to

attend a concert can purchase an electronic ticket online anytime up until 30 minutes after the concert’s pub-

lished start time.

5. There is no longer a need for directors to pre-purchase any tickets for their students or their families. Instead, they should direct the student and their family to the

online ticket sales website. Any directors who still wish

to purchase tickets should take care to correctly enter the names and email addresses of the people who will be

at the FMEA registration desk. There is no requirement

person purchasing these tickets. If a concert starts after the registration desk is closed, only electronic tickets

will continue to be sold before that concert. No tickets will be available for sale at the Marriott. To attend a

concert at the Marriott Water Street, you must pre-pur-

chase electronic tickets online or plan to visit the Tampa Convention Center’s second floor to purchase your tickets before walking to the Marriott.

7. All ticket sales are final. There are no refunds for any

concert tickets. Tickets may be transferred or exchanged using the online ticket sales portal only.

8. For entrance, ticket, and concert purposes, a concert

is defined as the pair or group of ensembles that are

performing in the same venue in a common, defined

block of time. An example of a “concert” for purposes

of entrance and ticketing would be the 5:30 pm concert

that features both the Treble Chorus and Mixed Chorus,

or the 2:30 pm concert that features the Middle, Concert, and Symphonic Bands.

Concert Re-Entry Procedure

Once a ticket’s barcode is scanned to gain entry, that ticket

is marked as “used” and will no longer be eligible for another entry into the concert. Attendees who need to exit and

re-enter the concert should be prepared to show their ticket

and a photo I.D. to confirm they are the ticket owner to gain

using the tickets into the online sales portal, or transfer

re-entry.

their correct name and email address in the online ticket

All-Ticket Sales are Final. No Refunds.

the tickets to those who will be using the tickets using sales portal.

6. Paper tickets will be on sale at the FMEA registration

desk on site at the conference for attendees who would

like to pay by cash or who do not want to use electronic

tickets. Paper ticket sales for all-state concerts will begin

Please make sure you know the exact name of the all-state

ensemble for which you need tickets before approaching the ticket sales window. Exchanges may only be made through the online portal.

DECEMBER 2025

29

Conference Hotels FMEA has contracted with several Tampa hotels to provide you with the best rates possible.

BOOK ONLINE

w A maximum of five (5) guest rooms may be reserved per w Credit cards are required for online reservations, and the name/credit card. w Directors should try to reserve rooms for all-state credit card name must match the name on the reservation. w If paying by check, reservations must be made over the students and chaperones in the hotel where they are phone, and a check for the full amount must be mailed rehearsing. w FMEA is not offering a housing bureau service. All directly to the hotel to arrive no later than December 15. w You do not need to register for the conference before participants MUST reserve online or call the hotel reserving your hotel rooms, but this is something we are directly to secure reservations. w If calling, be sure to request the “Florida Music considering for future conferences. w Each hotel will have contract terms, such as parking Education Association” room block rate and confirm the CLICK HERE

Hotel Policies

charges, etc., on its reservation link.

guest room rate posted online.

Hotel Frequently Asked Questions Why are the FMEA hotels so expensive?

The prices we contract with the hotels are much lower than their standard room rates during the same dates. In many cases, it is less than half their normal rates.

When the blocks first open, everyone tries to get as many rooms as they can in case they Why is it so hard to get a room?

need them for all-state students and chaperones, so they fill up very fast. If you wait until after the all-state results come out, many people will have cancelled their rooms and it’s much easier for everyone else to get a reservation.

Why don’t you wait and open the hotel block after all-state auditions are released?

I tried calling, but it was busy or they put me on hold forever.

Our hotel partners are uncomfortable waiting until we are so close to the start of the conference to book room reservations.

We recommend booking online instead. Otherwise, try again in early November after the all-state results are released. Many people will cancel rooms they no longer need if their students aren’t accepted.

No, as long as you cancel all the rooms you no longer need by the listed cancellation Is there a cancellation fee?

deadline, you will not be charged any type of cancellation fee. After the cancellation

deadline, a deposit of one night per room in your reservation will be charged to your credit card, and that deposit is nonrefundable.

Someone at the hotel told me that cancelled rooms don’t go back into the FMEA block, and they are sold at full price instead. Is that true?

The price on the hotel’s booking

Only after December 15. Before that date, all the cancelled hotel rooms in the FMEA blocks will be returned to the FMEA blocks and can be reserved by other FMEA conference attendees at the low FMEA rate.

If the FMEA block is full at that hotel, they may be showing you available full-price rooms

outside of the FMEA block. Try again in November after all-state results come out to see if listed on the FMEA’s hotel page. anyone cancelled rooms in the FMEA block. page doesn’t match the price

30

FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

Beware of Room Block Scams The hotels listed on the FMEA Hotel List are the only official housing providers for the FMEA conference.

Cancellation Deadline We urge any guest holding surplus reservations/rooms to cancel the excess reservation(s) as soon as possible and no later than 5 pm on November 3, 2025, and you must secure a cancellation

confirmation number. This courtesy will make surplus rooms available to other FMEA members and conference attendees.

Nonrefundable Deposit On November 11, each room reserved and not cancelled by

November 3 will be charged a nonrefundable deposit in the amount of the posted rate for one night plus tax. It will be

charged to the credit card used to secure the reservation. Invalid credit cards risk reservation cancellation.

Transportation Not Provided Not all hotels are within walking distance of the convention center. FMEA does not provide any transportation. Transportation and parking (

CLICK HERE) are the responsibility of each

attendee. Directors are asked to share this with their chaperones and students.

If Hotels Are Full

The Florida Music Education Association is not affiliated with any third-party hotel brokers. If you are

contacted by someone claiming to represent the FMEA offering discounted housing or alternative housing arrangements, be aware it is a scam. If you receive

such communication, please contact Val Anderson at

val@FMEA.org. The only way to ensure you

have a valid hotel reservation is to book your room

with one of the listed hotels and mention group code

FMEA, or if you are an exhibitor, please use the Hotel Reservation Form on the page.

Exhibitor Information

Credit Card Scams at the Hotels Imagine this scenario: You arrive at your hotel and check in at the front desk. When checking in, you give the front desk your credit card information (for all the

charges for your room or just incidentals). You get to

your room and settle in. Someone calls the front desk and asks for room 620 (which happens to be your

room). Your phone rings in your room. You answer, and the person on the other end says the following:

Every year, the hotel blocks fill up almost immediately upon

“This is the front desk. When checking in, we came

will need for all-state students and chaperones. They cancel the

Please re-read me your credit card number and verify

w Try again in late October or early November after all-state

charge card.”

opening due to teachers overestimating how many rooms they

across a problem with your charge card information.

rooms they don’t need after the audition results are released

the three-digit number on the reverse side of your

(late October and early November).

results are released and teachers cancel rooms for students

w Try again after the cancellation deadline. All cancelled rooms will return to the FMEA blocks until December 15. w Please do not reserve a room outside of the FMEA blocks! who don’t need them.

Not thinking anything unusual, you might give this

person your information since the call seems to come

from the front desk. But actually, it is a scam. Someone is calling from someplace other than the hotel’s front

desk. They ask for a random room number, and then, sounding very professional, they ask you for credit

We must fill most of our allotted room blocks to receive

card information and address information. They are

If we do not meet our required minimum number of hotel

employee at the front desk.

rates to compensate for the added cost of the rehearsal

will come down to the front desk to clear up any prob-

discounts for the ballrooms we use for all-state rehearsals.

so smooth, you will think you are talking to a hotel

nights sold, we will need to raise conference registration

If you ever encounter this problem, tell the caller you

w If the price listed on the hotel’s website is not the same space.

lems. Then, go to the front desk and ask if there was a

as the price listed on the FMEA hotel page, the FMEA

hotel that someone acting like a front desk employee

full-price rooms instead. Try again in November after

This type of scam may also happen with room service

problem. If there was none, inform the manager of the

block for that hotel may be full, and they are showing you

called to scam you of your credit card information.

all-state results come out.

charges. Be alert!

DECEMBER 2025

31

All-State Conductors

Dr. Jeffrey L. Ames

All-State Concert Chorus Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11am Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A

Mrs. Dayna Cole

All-State Middle School Band Saturday, January 17, 2026, 2:30pm Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A

Ms. Jennifer Donovan

All-State Elementary Orff Ensemble Friday, January 16, 2026, 1pm Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A

32

FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

Mr. Ken Berg

All-State Middle School Mixed Chorus Friday, January 16, 2026, 5:30pm Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A

Mr. Christopher Creswell

All-State Middle School Jazz Band Friday, January 16, 2026, 7:30pm Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom

Ms. Tiffany English

All-State Elementary Orff Ensemble Friday, January 16, 2026, 1pm Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A

Dr. Mark Butler

All-State Reading Chorus Saturday, January 17, 2026, 8:45am Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A

Dr. Frank Diaz

All-State Concert Orchestra Saturday, January 17, 2026, 6:30pm Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A

Dr. Ricky Fleming

All-State Intercollegiate Band Friday, January 16, 2026, 4pm Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom

All-State Conductors

Dr. BettyAnne Gottlieb

High School Honors Orchestra Saturday, January 17, 2026, 2:30pm Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom

Mr. Paul Morton

Middle School Honors Band Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11am Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom

Mr. Bob Ponto

All-State Concert Band Saturday, January 17, 2026, 2:30pm Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A

Dr. Lori R. Hetzel

Dr. Sherrie Maricle

All-State SSAA Chorus Friday, January 16, 2026, 7:30pm Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A

All-State High School Jazz Band Friday, January 16, 2026, 8:30pm Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom

Mr. Vincent Oakes

Dr. Christopher Peterson

All-State Elementary Chorus Thursday, January 15, 2026, 1:30pm Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A

Dr. David Pope

Middle School Honors Orchestra Saturday, January 17, 2026, 2:30pm Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom

All-State TTBB Chorus Saturday, January 17, 2026, 8:45am Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A

Dr. Clint Randles

All-State Popular Music Collective Thursday, January 15, 2026, 6pm Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom DECEMBER 2025

33

All-State Conductors

Dr. Elizabeth A. Reed

All-State Middle School Orchestra Saturday, January 17, 2026, 6:30pm Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A

Mr. Ian Schwindt

High School Honors Band Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11am Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom

Mr. William Hart Wells

All-State Middle School Guitar Ensemble Thursday, January 15, 2026, 12:30pm Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom

34

FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

Dr. Kami Rowan

All-State High School Guitar Ensemble Thursday, January 15, 2026, 12:30pm Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom

Dr. Jennifer Sengin

All-State Middle School Treble Chorus Friday, January 16, 2026, 5:30pm Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A

Dr. Tammy S. Yi

All-State Symphonic Orchestra Saturday, January 17, 2026, 6:30pm Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A

Colonel Don Schofield

All-State Symphonic Band Saturday, January 17, 2026, 2:30pm Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A

Mr. David Springfield

High School Honors Big Band Friday, January 16, 2026, 8pm Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom

All-State Rehearsals All-State Elementary Orff Ensemble

Concert – Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A Friday, January 16, 2026......................1pm Rehearsals – Tampa Convention Center, West Hall B Thursday.............10am-11am, Registration Thursday................................... 11am-6pm Friday.....................................8am-11:30am

All-State Concert Band

All-State Concert Orchestra

Saturday, January 17, 2026.............2:30pm

Saturday, January 17, 2026.............6:30pm

Reseating Auditions Hotel Tampa Riverwalk, Riverwalk Ballroom

Reseating Auditions – Marriott Water Street, Florida Ballroom, Salons 5-6 Thursday...........7:30am-8am, Registration Thursday...............................8am-11:30am

Concert – Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A

Thursday....................................9am-11am Rehearsals – Hotel Tampa Riverwalk, Riverwalk Ballroom Thursday..................................... 1pm-5pm Thursday................................ 7pm-9:30pm Friday................................8:30am-11:30am Friday........................................... 1pm-5pm

All-State Concert Chorus

Concert – Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A Saturday, January 17, 2026................ 11am Rehearsals – Tampa Convention Center, Room 114 Thursday...........8am-8:30am, Registration Thursday..........................8:30am-11:30am Thursday........................... 1:30pm-4:30pm Thursday................................ 6:30pm-9pm Friday................................8:30am-11:30am Friday...................................... 1:30pm-4pm

Concert – Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A

Rehearsals – Marriott Water Street, Florida Ballroom, Salons 5-6 Thursday...........9am-9:30am, Registration Thursday..........................9:30am-11:30am Thursday..................................... 1pm-5pm Thursday..................................... 7pm-9pm Friday................................8:30am-11:30am Friday........................................... 1pm-5pm

All-State Elementary Chorus Concert – Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A

Thursday, January 15, 2026...........1:30 pm Rehearsals – Tampa Convention Center, Room 111 Wednesday........ 12noon-1pm, Registration Wednesday.................................. 1pm-6pm Thursday..........................7:45am-12:45pm

All-State High School Guitar Ensemble

Concert – Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom Thursday, January 15, 2026..........12:30pm Rehearsals Tuesday....................................... 7pm-9pm Marriott Water Street, Meeting Room 10 Wednesday............................. 8:30am-5pm Marriott Water Street, Meeting Room 8 Thursday..........................8:30am-10:30am Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom Thursday........................ 10:30am-11:30am Marriott Water Street, Meeting Room 5

All-State High School Jazz Band

Concert – Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom Friday, January 16, 2026.................8:30pm Rehearsals – Tampa Convention Center, Room 407 Wednesday............................. 2pm-5:30pm Wednesday.................................. 7pm-9pm Thursday..........................8:30am-11:30am Thursday..................................... 1pm-5pm Friday..................................8:30am-12noon

Continued on page 36 DECEMBER 2025

35

All-State Rehearsals Continued from page 35

All-State Intercollegiate Band

All-State Middle School Jazz Band

All-State Middle School Treble Chorus

Friday, January 16, 2026......................4pm

Friday, January 16, 2026.................7:30pm

Friday, January 16, 2026.................5:30pm

Rehearsals – Barrymore Hotel Tampa Riverwalk, Crown Ballroom Thursday................8am-9am, Registration Thursday...............................9am-11:30am Thursday............................... 1pm-4:30pm Thursday..................................... 6pm-9pm Friday.......................................8am-12noon

Rehearsals – Westin Tampa Waterside, Conch Room Wednesday............................. 2pm-5:30pm Wednesday................................. 7pm-9pm Thursday..........................8:30am-11:30am Thursday..................................... 1pm-5pm Friday..................................8:30am-12noon

All-State Middle School Band

All-State Middle School Mixed Chorus

Rehearsals – Hilton Tampa Downtown, Bayshore Ballroom 5-7 Thursday........10:30am-11am, Registration Thursday............................... 11am-1:15pm Thursday........................... 2:45pm-4:45pm Thursday............................6:15pm-8:15pm Friday................................ 8:45am-11:30am Friday........................................... 1pm-3pm

Concert – Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom

Concert – Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A

Saturday, January 17, 2026.............2:30pm Reseating Auditions – Hilton Tampa Downtown, Palma Ceia Ballroom

Concert – Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom

Concert – Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A Friday, January 16, 2026.................5:30pm

Rehearsals – Hilton Tampa Downtown, Palma Ceia Ballroom Thursday..................................... 1pm-5pm Thursday..................................... 7pm-9pm Friday................................8:30am-11:30am Friday..................................... 2pm-5:30pm

Rehearsals – Hilton Tampa Downtown, Bayshore Ballroom 1-3 Thursday........ 11am-11:30am, Registration Thursday.......................... 11:30am-1:30pm Thursday..................................... 3pm-5pm Thursday........................... 6:30pm-8:30pm Friday................................ 8:30am-11:15am Friday............................... 12:45pm-2:45pm

All-State Middle School Guitar Ensemble

All-State Middle School Orchestra

Thursday, January 15, 2026..........12:30pm

Saturday, January 17, 2026.............6:30pm

Rehearsals Tuesday....................................... 7pm-9pm Marriott Water Street, Meeting Room 8 Wednesday............................. 8:30am-5pm Marriott Water Street, Meeting Room 5 Thursday..........................8:30am-10:30am Marriott Water Street, Meeting Room 5 Thursday........................ 10:30am-11:30am Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom

Reseating Auditions – Marriott Water Street, Meeting Room 8 Thursday...........7:30am-8am, Registration Thursday.............................. 8am-11:30am

Thursday....................................9am-11am

Concert – Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom

36

FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

Concert – Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A

Rehearsals – Marriott Water Street, Meeting Room 8 Thursday..................................... 1pm-5pm Thursday..................................... 7pm-9pm Friday................................8:30am-11:30am Friday........................................... 1pm-5pm

Concert – Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A

All-State Popular Music Collective

Concert – Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom Thursday, January 15, 2026................ 6pm Rehearsal – Tampa Convention Center, Room 403 Wednesday.................................. 8am-6pm

All-State Reading Chorus

Concert – Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A Saturday, January 17, 2026.............8:45am Rehearsals – Embassy Suites Downtown, Gandy Meeting Room Thursday...........8am-8:30am, Registration Thursday..........................8:30am-11:30am Thursday........................... 1:30pm-4:30pm Thursday............................... 6:30pm-9pm Friday................................8:30am-11:30am Friday...................................... 1:30pm-4pm Friday...................................4:15pm-5:15pm Tampa Convention Center, Room 120

All-State Rehearsals

All-State SSAA Chorus

Concert – Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A

All-State TTBB Chorus

Concert – Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A

Friday, January 16, 2026.................7:30pm

Saturday, January 17, 2026............8:45 am

Rehearsals – Westin Tampa Waterside, Oasis Ballroom Thursday...........8am-8:30am, Registration Thursday..........................8:30am-11:30am Thursday........................... 1:30pm-4:30pm Thursday............................... 6:30pm-9pm Friday............................... 8:30am-11:30am Friday...................................... 1:30pm-4pm

Rehearsals – Embassy Suites Downtown, Bayside Ballroom Thursday...........8am-8:30am, Registration Thursday..........................8:30am-11:30am Thursday........................... 1:30pm-4:30pm Thursday................................ 6:30pm-9pm Friday................................8:30am-11:30am Friday................................. 1:30pm-4:30pm

All-State Symphonic Band

High School Honors Band

Concert – Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A

Concert – Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom

High School Honors Orchestra

Concert – Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom Saturday, January 17, 2026.............2:30pm Rehearsals – Embassy Suites Downtown, Skyway Room Thursday...........8am-8:30am, Registration Thursday..........................8:30am-11:30am Thursday..................................... 1pm-5pm Thursday..................................... 7pm-9pm Friday................................8:30am-11:30am Friday........................................... 1pm-5pm

Middle School Honors Band

Concert – Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom Saturday, January 17, 2026................ 11am

Saturday, January 17, 2026.............2:30pm

Saturday, January 17, 2026................ 11am

Reseating Auditions – Tampa Convention Center, Room 122

Reseating Auditions – Hotel Tampa Riverwalk, Bayshore Ballroom

Thursday..........................8:30am-10:30am

Thursday....................................9am-11am

Rehearsals – Tampa Convention Center, Room 122 Thursday......................... 12:30pm-4:30pm Thursday................................ 6:30pm-9pm Friday................................8:30am-11:30am Friday........................................... 1pm-5pm

Rehearsals – Hotel Tampa Riverwalk, Bayshore Ballroom Thursday..................................... 1pm-5pm Thursday................................ 7pm-9:30pm Friday................................8:30am-11:30am Friday........................................... 2pm-5pm

Rehearsals – Hilton Tampa Downtown, Esplanade Suite Thursday..................................... 1pm-5pm Thursday................................ 7pm-9:30pm Friday................................8:30am-11:30am Friday........................................... 2pm-5pm

All-State Symphonic Orchestra

High School Honors Big Band

Middle School Honors Orchestra

Concert – Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A Saturday, January 17, 2026.............6:30pm Reseating Auditions – Tampa Convention Center, Room 124 Thursday...........8am-8:30am, Registration Thursday..........................8:30am-11:30am Rehearsals – Tampa Convention Center, Room 124 Thursday..........................8:30am-11:30am Thursday..................................... 1pm-5pm Thursday..................................... 7pm-9pm Friday................................8:30am-11:30am Friday........................................... 1pm-5pm

Concert – Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom

Friday, January 16, 2026..................... 8pm Rehearsals – Embassy Suites Tampa Airport Westshore, Cypress Room Wednesday............................. 2pm-5:30pm Wednesday................................. 7pm-9pm Thursday..........................8:30am-11:30am Thursday.................................... 1pm-5pm Friday..................................8:30am-12noon

Reseating Auditions – Hilton Tampa Downtown, Esplanade Suite Thursday....................................9am-11am

Concert – Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom Saturday, January 17, 2026.............2:30pm Rehearsals – Hotel Tampa Riverwalk, Riverview Room Thursday...........8am-8:30am, Registration Thursday..........................8:30am-11:30am Thursday..................................... 1pm-5pm Thursday..................................... 7pm-9pm Friday................................8:30am-11:30am Friday........................................... 1pm-5pm

DECEMBER 2025

37

F E AT U R E

e th e r A ts n e d tu S e Th

n o i t a r i p s In

A Conversation With Educator and Composer Jeffrey Traster

BY MARC DECKER , DMA

J

Jeffrey L. Traster, DMA, is music professor emeritus at The University of Tampa

where he served as director of bands and head of music education for 19

years, including music department chair for six years. Dr. Traster has taught in

Texas, Ohio, and Florida. He is an active guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, composer, tuba player, and low-brass instructor.

Dr. Traster began composing and

founded Allegrezza Music Publications

in 2015. Much of his music is composed

for his students, honor bands, and special occasions. His oeuvre includes music

for concert band, low-brass choir, jazz band, voice, a VBS curriculum with

original songs (created and produced in

collaboration with colleagues from Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church in Tampa,

Fla.), and solos for trumpet, trombone,

euphonium, or tuba with piano. Twentynine pieces by Traster have been added

to the Florida Bandmasters Association

(FBA) Solo & Ensemble List. On the

FBA Concert Band List is his composition WAY DOWN for Concert Band,

commissioned by the FBA for the Nine Star Honor Band.

38

FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

Jeffrey Traster guest conducts the Rhinelander Community Band during their RiverWalk Concert.

What inspired you to

begin composing ?

From my earliest memories, music has been there—songs my mom would sing or play at the

piano, hymns, choir and organ music at church, Broadway musicals playing on the stereo—and I was singing right along with all of it. Music

was exciting, stimulating, calming, captivating.

Hundreds of those tunes and lines of lyrics still

loop through my mind, along with their harmo-

nies, rhythms, and musical styles that ranged from popular to classical, and sacred to swing.

Always a singer, I started piano at age 6, sang in choirs, and joined the band in eighth grade.

During my teaching career, I did several

arrangements for marching, pep, and concert band, but little of that was original. Still, that

work got me familiar with music notation

software and over time headed me toward composition. As I neared retirement from The

University of Tampa, I felt drawn to try my hand at composing as a means to broaden my musical

engagement. The first opportunity to compose was presented by the two middle school bands

at the 2015 University of Tampa Summer Band Camp.

The younger band was a mix of rising seventh graders,

provided the inspiration for most of my pieces on the FBA

and had only one semester of training coming into camp.

fun, and the students feel special to have a piece of music

many who had started on their instruments in January The other middle school band was mostly rising eighth graders. Those two bands premiered “Latinique,” a grade

1, and “Mixolydian Overture,” grade 2. It was exhilarating

to rehearse and perform with those kids as the composer!

Looking back, I have gravitated toward opportunities

to compose for specific ensembles like the camp bands,

honor bands, commissions, and students that I have been directly involved with. Knowing who I am writing for

and the expectation of an imminent performance bring an immediate focus to my work and usually a musical spark of inspiration for what the piece will be.

After retirement, the private students and low-brass

ensembles in the schools I began to work with weekly

Solo & Ensemble List. Writing music for S&E has been

composed for them to premiere. I’ve always been an advocate for solo and ensemble participation (Traster, 1999), so writing these pieces is another way to encourage students

to try it. S&E provides each student unique opportunities

for individual musical growth and independence; it chal-

lenges them beyond the usual musical demands of the full ensemble and rewards personal musical achievement, which encourages self-motivated practice! After participa-

tion in S&E, students tend to listen differently, sight-read better, and play with more confidence. To everyone’s

benefit, their new, higher level of musicianship transfers directly to the full ensemble.

continued on page 40 DECEMBER 2025

39

continued from page 39 In seeking music for the low-brass sections I was work-

a melody that pushes them a step or two higher or lower

the FBA list for an ensemble of trombones, euphoniums,

fortable in. Placed in a musical context, these technical

ing with, I quickly discovered there wasn’t much music on

and tubas. Consequently, writing for that instrumentation has been a particular focus of mine in order to keep my

low brass working as a unit beyond their full-band and

in range, or a key-center I want them to get more com-

challenges are approached “through the side door” and become somehow easier to learn.

Sometimes inspiration for a piece comes “out of the

sectional rehearsals, and it has begun to fill a niche in the

blue.” In the summer of 2020, my wife, Denise, and I were

programs.

across a trail sign that read “Harmony Lane.” That musi-

S&E list that I hope will benefit low-brass players in many

It sounds like when you compose

you start with an ensemble or student in mind. What comes next in your creative process ?

With my students, I know their personalities, what they

like to play, and their musical strengths and weaknesses.

These usually spur musical ideas that I think they will enjoy playing and also show off their musical strengths.

While composing, I intentionally weave techniques I want them to work on into the fabric of the music so they are

challenged in a musical context. Those techniques could

be articulation patterns, arpeggiated or angular intervals,

hiking in the mountains of West Virginia and happened

cal name immediately sparked a happy, barber-shoppy,

swing lick that I sang into my phone’s voice-memo app. A few months later, it became a low-brass ensemble piece of the same title for my Gaither High School students.

I also like to introduce great composers to my students

by making musical allusions to their music in my com-

positions. For example, the stylings of George Gershwin inspired another piece for low-brass ensemble entitled

“Gershwinesque.” The first movement, “Melancholy,” is a soulful tune along the lines of Gerswhwin’s “Second

Prelude.” The second is called “Fascinatin’” with elements

owing to “Rhapsody in Blue” and “Fascinatin’ Rhythm.”

Other examples are a grade 3 jazz band piece I wrote in 2018 for a “meet the composer” event set up by Jay

Dedon at Coleman Middle School called “Monkish” that emulates the unique stylings of Theolonius Monk and a 2022 low-brass duet for trombone or euphonium and

tuba entitled “After Bach and Ellington” for my Alonso High School tuba student Briana Real-De Oliveira and a

euphonium buddy. This duet has an opening section of J. S. Bach-styled counterpoint that flows into a swing sec-

tion. Here, the melody is improvisatory in character and placed over a walking bassline on the harmonic changes

of Ellington’s “Take the A Train.” Hopefully, students who

perform these pieces will listen to and read something of these pioneering composer-performers while practicing in their musical styles.

The Florida Bandmasters Association commissioned

me to write a piece for the 2020 Nine Star Honor Band.

I was thrilled to learn that Kelly Dorsey would be the conductor; she is a wonderful musician and was a helpful sounding board during the compositional process. Brian

Dell chaired the Commissioning Committee at that time and suggested that I base my composition on the state song, “Old Folks at Home.” The result was “Way Down”

for concert band, which was added to the FBA Concert Band List in 2022.

40

FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

“Old Folks at Home,” written by Stephen Foster, is

popularly known as “Swanee [sic] River.” I wasn’t at all

inclined to do an arrangement in the song’s original,

upbeat-vaudeville style or a theme and variations, yet I

didn’t have a strong musical idea otherwise. Having never seen the Suwannee River except at 70 miles-per-hour

from an I-75 bridge that crosses it, Denise and I made a

drive north from Tampa to see the river at a few different

Which of your compositions offer

is relatively short, so I was surprised at how wide and

the best introduction to you and your work ?

ing the river at this location, I began to imagine Stephen

I wrote for the youngest University of Tampa Summer

locations on its winding path from headwaters in South Georgia to the Gulf of Mexico. As rivers go, the Suwannee muddy it becomes not far west of the interstate. In viewFoster’s tune emerging in a slow-moving, meandering

line over lush harmonies in keeping with the placid river scene. This idea developed into the first section of the piece, subtitled “On the River.” Near the end of this sec-

tion, a short phrase with the lyrics “comin’ for to carry me home” from the spiritual “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” is

quoted. In the context of “Way Down,” the phrase “carry

me home” relates to the river as a means of transportation

For young bands there’s “Latinique,” a fun grade 1 piece Camp Band. In the intermediate range of difficulty is “Flight of the Gryphon” (grade 3), written with full brass

instrumentation for the combined brass of the second

and third bands at Sickles High School, then directed by Heather Lundahl and Keith Griffis (Keith suggested the title!). With bold character and rhythmic independence in all parts, it’s fun to play!

For advanced bands, I recently composed two pieces

and loosely connects with the nostalgia of Foster’s lyrics

for the outstanding Florida Wind Band conducted by

The second section of “Way Down” quotes the notes

tled “With Liberty and Justice” (grade 4) for band and

“… far from the old folks at home.”

of “Swanee River,” but in a knee-slappin’ “barn-dance”

rhythm that disguises Foster’s tune. This section is sub-

titled “Crackers,” a name ascribed to Florida cowboys in the late 1800s because of the sound of the small whips

they used to herd cattle. The crack of their whips resounds in the piece, and there’s a percussion break that depicts a group of cowboys around a campfire clanking out a

rhythm on pans, metal cups, and whatever else might be handy.

Dr. Matthew McCutchen. One is a patriotic work enti-

narrator, built around quotes from seven famous figures including Abraham Lincoln, Susan B. Anthony, and

Nelson Mandela. The other is a holiday piece with colorful scoring and a lot of percussion entitled “The Kings”

(grade 5), a mixed-metered mash-up of “We Three Kings” and “I Saw Three Ships.”

Certainly, my solos and ensembles on the FBA list

provide a broad spectrum of music I’ve done at various grade levels. My first solo piece with piano was a grade 1 composed in 2018 for a Walker Middle School tuba player

named Tanishq Kalra. He was a bright and determined young man. After a few weeks of working on the piece, I

asked Tanishq what the title should be, and without hesitation he replied, “The Road to Freedom.” Interestingly,

when he finished performing at S&E MPA, his judge,

Travis Henry, asked him what the title meant to him.

Tanishq then described his experience moving to America and how grateful he and his mom were to be here. That

brought home for me the power of music, the influence it

has on young people, and the importance of what we do as music educators and adjudicators.

continued on page 42 DECEMBER 2025

41

continued from page 41

What thoughts do you

are, and will continue to be,

have for directors that are programming your music ?

your resource for ideas, avid listeners, and a safety net

with emotional support for whatever you’re facing. We

There’s usually some kind of descriptive con-

were all first-year teachers

nection between the music I write and a mean-

and have experienced some

ingful phrase, story, outdoor scene, mood, or

feelings of “starting over”

attitude. Titles and subtitles of my pieces often

with each new job. By tap-

give insights about the character of the piece.

ping into your professional

For example, one of my works for low-brass

resources, you will discover

ensemble, “Hill Island,” has two movements

a person on the other end of

with descriptive subtitles: “Bay Vista” and

“Island Tango.” Asking students to imagine

themselves sitting in the sand looking out over calm

understanding, empathy, and experience, then respond

likely bring out the right flavors of this music! For me,

tail-with-love we sometimes need.

waters, then dancing a coconut-tango on the beach will music captures and reflects some aspect of who we are,

with joy, thoughtfulness, and the occasional kick-in-theWherever you teach, you are the captain of music in

what we feel, and experiences that shape us.

your domain! You’ve been hired to take charge of and

the 2016 Hillsborough All-County Band called “Poco

that accompany every music position. Trust that you

Soon after my retirement from UT, I wrote a piece for

Adagio.” At the time, I was thinking a lot about what was next for me. I didn’t intend for retirement to halt my music involvement, but rather to give me the opportunity

to somehow redirect and reboot. Although I had a few engagements on the near horizon, I was searching for

what might be sustaining. Composing “Poco Adagio” became an emotional catharsis of this personal journey.

I believe that knowing something of the thought

and circumstances that go into writing a piece of music makes a difference in the rehearsal and performance of it.

Program notes are always helpful; from there, I trust that the conductor and musicians will follow on with their

own research initiatives, interpretations, and feelings to

bring the music to life and make it meaningful for themselves and others.

As a retired band director and

experienced music educator, what advice do you have for new teachers in Florida ?

“own” the situation, space, equipment, and materials

know what to do, who you are, and what brought you to this point. You are ready! Rely on your knowledge, make

long- and short-term plans, and follow your plan. In the day-to-day, meet your students where they are musically, reinforce and reteach what was learned yesterday with

high expectations, and lead them to where you want

them to be by the end of the period. Make every class about beautiful, energized music, and your students will buy in.

As a composer and a conductor,

how do you view the future of music education ?

The value of music is inherent in its omnipresent existence; archaeology and anthropology suggest that music

is written into humanity’s DNA! The techniques and means of music-making have evolved over millennia and

will continue to do so. In the most direct terms, I believe the future of music education largely depends on what we do in our music rooms and how we interact with our stu-

You’re not alone! It may seem that there is not another

dents inside and outside of class each day.

you’re “all alone” in a new town. The reality is you’re only

music, year-ahead planning, long-term pedagogical goals,

music professional within 100 miles of your school or a call, text, or email away from mentors and friends. They

42

the line who will listen with

FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

What we do is fueled by our thoughtful selection of

day-to-day planning, and creating an environment for

Clearwater Community Concert Band rehearsal

musical growth to happen every time we meet with stu-

dents. What we value is revealed by what we teach. What we emphasize, our students will deem important; what we love about music and the music we love, they will love

as well. Therefore, we must bring music of substance that

coming eight months in celebration of the church’s 100th

it in the same moments we work out correct notes with

Also in the composition mill is a concert band piece for

we love into the classroom and teach about why we love

anniversary.

ringing intonation and rhythms styled in the character of

a long-time friend and colleague, Pamela Towry Church,

How we interact with students is equally important and

teaching in New Mexico. She is currently directing one of

the piece.

unique to each of us. Courtesy, respect, and leadership are returned in the measure given. Engaging students is enhanced by knowing something about them: asking

what music they listen to, staying current with popular

music trends, personally encouraging individual students

to audition for an honor band or prepare a solo or duet

for S&E, learning about their interests and involvements

who is a highly regarded band director retired from the concert bands at the University of Texas at El Paso. I was thrilled that her band played “Way Down” at one of

their concerts last spring. Shortly afterward, Pam asked

if I could write something for her students with a Latin flavor. My goal is to have that piece done in time for them to perform it in the 2026 spring semester.

Additionally, this fall marks my fifth season directing

other than music, reaching out to “loners” by asking one

the Clearwater Community Concert Band, a marvel-

help them find a place in the choir, band, or orchestra. We

who represent numerous career paths, including music,

of your student leaders to take them under their wing and

in music education have the great privilege of working

with students as they mature over multiple years. The next steps are just as important: follow up with them often

by casually commenting on the music group they like, or

ous group of musicians ranging in age from 20s to 80s and come with a broad range of musical skills and life

experiences. It is an honor and great pleasure to join in music-making with these folks each week!

On a personal level, Denise and I love spending time

ask, “How’s it going with that solo? Let me hear some of it

with our four grown daughters and their families: three

To paraphrase from Maya Angelou, our students will

enjoying systematically traveling to at least one national

on Thursday before school.”

forget much about what they learned, but “will never forget how we made them feel” in the rehearsal room, on

stage, and in the hallway. Truly, the students we are teach-

ing will determine the future of music education based

upon their experiences with us now. We are the unique element of our programs. What we do in our music class-

es matters to our students every day; they come to us with excitement to make music, share music with each

live in Orlando and one in Tampa. Additionally, we are historic site and/or park in each of the contiguous states.

This travel strategy has led us to places we might not

otherwise have selected and resulted in many other interesting stops along the way. We have found that each state

we’ve visited has a unique character and identity that are an essential part of who we are together as the United States of America.

other, and feel the “buzz” that only music can bring. Our

Marc Decker, DMA, is an associate professor

and inspiration.

he serves as associate director of bands. He was

opportunity is to be the catalyst for their musical growth

of music at Florida Atlantic University where previously a high school band director at South

What’s next for you ?

Haven High School in Michigan and is an active

first of a set of six pieces for the Trinity Handbell Choir

Reference

performance dates for each piece are spread across the

Traster, J. (1999). Chamber music magic for your students, your program. Florida Music Director, 14–15.

I just finished a handbell piece entitled “Rejoice!” It is the at Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church in Tampa. Target

arranger, drill writer, guest conductor, and adjudicator.

DECEMBER 2025

43

FLORIDA MUSIC EDUCATION ASSOCIATION 2025-2026 DONORS

Thank you to all of the donors who have shown their dedication to the improvement of music education in Florida by supporting our Mission through financial contributions.

Our donors support specific causes by donating to the FMEA funds of their choice: FMEA Scholarship Fund

June M. Hinckley Scholarship

Music Education Advocacy

Professional Development for Members

General Fund

Mel & Sally Schiff Music Education Relief Fund

The following have graciously donated to FMEA from April 1, 2025, through November 9, 2025.

ARTIST’S CIRCLE

MAESTRO’S CIRCLE $10,000 and up

No current donors at this time.

All County Music

$1,000 – $9,999

Artie Almeida In Honor of my sister, Joyce Slatton, & my niece, Katie Grace Miller

Russell Robinson Fred Schiff In Memory of Mom & Dad

SUSTAINERS $100 – $999

Carlos Abril In Honor of Ms. Terry Paulen

Virginia Densmore In Memory of Gene Densmore

John Nista In Memory of Stanley Dmitrenko

Sandra Adorno

Virginia Dickert In Memory of Lindsay Keller & Debbie Liles

Mary Palmer

Lucinda Balistreri In Honor of music & arts educators in Sarasota County Gordon Brock Trent Brown In Honor of J. Mark Scott Kasia Bugaj Judith Bula Wise In Honor of Dr. Josh Bula

Michael Dye In Honor of Michelle R. Tredway William Fredrickson Kathleen James In Memory of Dr. Dale Blackwell Beth & Steven Kelly Sheila & John King

Dale Choate In Memory of Dr. Colleen Kirk

Jason Locker In Memory of June M. Hinckley

Dayna Cole In Memory of Linda Mann

Joseph Luechauer

Alice-Ann Darrow

Deborah Mar In Memory of Barbara Kingman David Martinez-Cooley

44

FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

Douglas Phillips In Memory of Dr. Bobby Adams Kyle Prescott Jeanne Reynolds In Honor of Pinellas County Performing Arts Teachers Mary Catherine Salo In Memory of Gary Rivenbark & Wes Rainer Steven Salo In Memory of John “Buck” Jamison & John Aiello & in Honor of Dr. Bill Prince Alicia Romero-Sardinas In Memory of John Rose

SUSTAINERS (Continued) $100 – $999

Kathleen Sanz In Memory of June Hinckley J. Mark Scott In Honor of Jason Locker, Michael Dye, Dr. Judy Bowers, Dr. Judy Arthur, & Dr. André Thomas

Jeannine Stemmer In Memory of Barbara Kingman & Lauren Alonso Leiland Theriot In Memory of Clayton Krehbiel Richard Uhler

D. Gregory Springer

Howard Weinstein In Memory of Barry Weinstein Kenneth Williams Anonymous Anonymous In Memory of Joan Lee Alkyer

PATRONS Meghan Alfaro In Memory of Carol Boyce David Bayardelle In Memory of Dr. George Sparks Mark Belfast In Memory of Dr. Mark A. Belfast, Sr. Greg Carswell In Memory of all deceased members of the FMEA William Castillo Jeff Cayer Zachary Chowning Patrick Cooper In Memory of Martha Matteson Dewey Dodds

Patrick Dunnigan

$25 – $99

Joshua Langston

Diana Rollo

Judith Evans

Christine Lapka

William Rose

Margaret Flood

Matthew McCutchen In Honor of John Carmichael

Susan Smith

Lisa Foltz In Memory of Rev. V. Ron Feener

Amelita McGrath Kelly Miller

Bradley Franks In Memory of Gary W. Rivenbark

Katie McGuire Menges

Tina Gill In Honor of Gary Rivenbark

Terry Pattishall

Reiko Niiya Edward Prasse

John Grau

Arthur Pranno

Ron Guzzo

Marie Radloff In Memory of Charles F. Ulrey

Cynthia Heidel Bernie Hendricks

Clinton Randles

Marsha Kindall-Smith

Cheri Sleeper Eddie Steadman Andrea Szarowicz On Behalf of Byrdie L. Jackson Katelyn Taylor In Memory of Jared Benyola Valerie Terry Anonymous (4) Anonymous In Memory of Archange Fils-aime

FRIENDS up to $24

James Bruce

Angela Hartvigsen

Sarah-Christina Larose

Sierra Silvia

Jamie Bryan In Honor of J. Mark Scott

William Hazlett

Jessica Moore In Memory of Dr. Nancy Barlar

John Southall

Jeff Cayer Denise Dumala Timothy Eaton Amanda Gilbert

Lisa Hewitt Sara Hofschneider In Honor of Adaline Burwell

Connor Oneacre

Angel Irizarry

John Parris

Jason Jerald

Ian Schwindt

Brandon Oliva

Kelly Southall Ajori Spencer Noiree Weaver Anonymous (8)

DONATE TODAY FOR A STRONGER TOMORROW.

With your support, FMEA will continue to grow its programs for teachers and students, strengthen united advocacy efforts, and improve your professional development opportunities.

Visit FMEA.org to learn more information about each fund and to make a donation.

DECEMBER 2025

45

FLORIDA MUSIC SUPERVISION ASSOCIATION

John J. Dupuis President

Celebrating Achievement and Planning Ahead

N

ow that we’re well into the school year, let’s

examine some first semester reflections: students are settling into the rhythm of the

academic year, winter performances are on the horizon,

teachers are already thinking

about who will be registering for their courses next year, and students and teachers

alike are reflecting on growth and highlights from the first semester.

A few items to add to your

w Winter Performances:

planning list:

Concert season is in full

swing. This is an opportunity to showcase your students’ progress through

holiday concerts, winter

recitals, parades, and com-

w Professional Planning

for Spring: This involves concert music selection, assessment preparation for MPAs, end-of-year

banquets, and possibly

the arts, the seal is placed on a student’s diploma

as a permanent mark of distinction.

According to the Florida

spring trip logistics. This

Department of Education,

full list of goals for your

that the arts are not “extras”

is an opportunity to set a next performance and educational cycle.

Celebrating Achievement Through the Florida Seal of Fine Arts

A new area of momentum in music education is the continued growth of the

Florida Seal of Fine Arts.

Established to recognize

high school graduates who

demonstrate excellence and

w Reflection: This is an

munity performances. opportunity to reflect

on student achievement,

growth, performance, and highlights from the first

w Register for the FMEA half of the year.

Conference: Attend the conference to connect with colleagues, gain

new teaching strategies, explore repertoire and

resources, and be inspired by performances and sessions that promote music education across Florida.

46

sustained participation in

FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

the district and state levels.

Educators are encouraged

the Fine Arts Seal affirms

to guide students in

but central to a complete

qualifications for the seal,

education. Research supports this: a report by the Arts

Education Partnership (2022) found that students engaged in the arts demonstrate

higher levels of academic achievement, improved social-emotional skills,

and increased community

engagement. The Fine Arts

Seal is one way to formally

recognize these outcomes at

documenting their

which may include specific courses, performance

participation, community

engagement, and portfolio submissions. For students, the seal is not only a

celebration of their artistic

journey but also a valuable

credential that communicates creativity, perseverance, and collaboration to colleges and employers.

Preparing for the Spring

selected to challenge and

Careful planning ensures

learning. And through it all,

Assessments and Beyond

meeting the technical and

the preparation it deserves

our music programs remailn

Semester: Performance Even as winter concerts conclude, educators must turn quickly

toward spring planning.

For many programs,

district and state music

performance assessments

(MPAs) represent the next significant benchmark.

These assessments are not merely about ratings, but also provide structured

opportunities for students to demonstrate growth,

inspire students while stylistic requirements of the adjudicator’s

rubric. Rehearsals should

performance literature with

As 2025 concludes, Florida

the continued development of fundamental skills.

Educators must also prepare

students emotionally, helping them view assessment

ratings as both a goal and a learning opportunity.

Beyond MPAs, the spring

respected adjudicators.

opportunities like solo and

Preparing for assessment

Repertoire must be

students or teachers.

Looking Forward: A

balancing the refinement of

semester often includes

requires careful planning.

without overwhelming

be planned carefully,

apply musicianship skills,

and receive feedback from

that each event is given

a range of additional

ensemble, spring musicals, community performances,

and graduation ceremonies.

careful planning ensures that a visible and valued part

of school and community culture.

The months ahead will

Collective Commitment

require dedication, creativity,

music educators have much

also promise moments of

to celebrate and much

to anticipate. The FMEA Professional Learning

Conference provides renewal and community. The Fine

Arts Seal elevates the profile of student achievement.

Winter productions showcase

and collaboration. But they joy, pride, and inspiration.

As educators, we share a

common goal: to provide every student in Florida with the opportunity to

experience the power and joy of music.

In the words of Leonard

the artistry and joy of

Bernstein, “Music can

semester invites us to prepare

communicate the unknowable.”

performance. The spring

thoughtfully for assessments and celebrations of student

name the unnameable and

Let’s continue to inspire through music.

DECEMBER 2025

47

FLORIDA NAfME COLLEGIATE

Mark A. Belfast, Jr., PhD Advisor

Level Up Your Professionalism … Again!

C

ongrats on putting a button on another semester of your

college career! Over the next several weeks, I hope you’re

able to find time to rest (mind, body, and soul!) and refill your tank before the spring semester. Make time to chat with old friends. Plan to be on task with your family when you’re at

home with them. Binge-watch that show that’s been on your watchlist for months. Sleep!

Before you return to campus in January, make sure you visit

the FMEA Professional Learning Conference website (or use

the FMEA app), log in, and bookmark the following sessions sponsored by Florida NAfME Collegiate: Wednesday, January 14, 2026 7 pm

Florida NAfME Collegiate Presidents Forum (for presidents and members of chapter executive boards)

Thursday, January 15, 2026 1 pm

Through Your Eyes: How to Survive & Thrive in the College Music Ed Degree

5:30 pm

Florida NAfME Collegiate General Business Meeting #1

Friday, January 16, 2026 10:30 am

The Goldilocks Principle: How to Find a Job That’s “Just Right”

Saturday, January 17, 2026 10 am

Florida NAfME Collegiate General Business Meeting #2 (state executive board elections)

Partners Make It Possible

Join or Renew TODAY …

For more information, visit:

FMEA.org/partners 48

FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

Component Memberships

Last month, I provided information related to collegiate

membership eligibility requirements and privileges for the Florida Bandmasters Association (FBA) and the Florida

Elementary Music Educators Association (FEMEA). Now, in Part 2 of that message, you’ll find information related to the Florida Orchestra Association (FOA) and Florida

Vocal Association (FVA). You’ll need to ensure your FMEA membership is up-to-date before you register for January’s

FMEA Professional Learning Conference. When you do so,

consider adding one of these component memberships to your collegiate membership:

FOA Collegiate Student Membership ($15)

w be enrolled in a college or university music program and not yet be employed as a full-time educator. w be pursuing a degree in music education

To be eligible for the FOA collegiate student membership, you must:

w access to workshops, clinics, and educational sessions

Membership privileges include:

focused on orchestral pedagogy, conducting, classroom

w opportunities for networking with in-service music educamanagement, and string teaching methodologies

tors, FOA board members, district chairpersons, and fellow

w opportunities to attend FOA-sponsored events collegiate students

The Florida Corporate and Academic partners help strengthen music education in Florida through their tireless work to support teachers.

FLORIDA NAfME COLLEGIATE

Jason Lane President

w discounted registration rate ($20) for the annual FOA Fall Conference w direct access to district chairpersons through the FOA website (

myfoa.org)

Huge Shoes to Fill

BY GR ACE WIECKOWSK I fter our January conference, I will have the honor of stepping

in as president of Florida NAfME Collegiate and leading an

organization that has given me so many opportunities to grow as a music educator and a leader. Seeing the work our current executive

FVA Collegiate Student

board members and our current president, Jason Lane, have done, I

Membership ($10)

know I have huge shoes to fill.

To be eligible for the FVA

Last January at our FMEA conference, finding out I was elected

collegiate student membership,

and would one day be serving as president of the largest state

w be enrolled in a college or uniyou must:

NAfME collegiate body felt surreal, and my time to step into the

versity music program and not yet be employed as a

w be pursuing a degree in music education full-time educator.

w access to bulletins, minutes, and materials distributed by the FVA w discounted registration rate ($25) for the annual

Membership privileges include:

three-day FVA Summer Conference

presidency seemed a million years away. However, as we approach our January conference, I can say with certainty that time flies.

I would like to thank Kathryn Lang, Loanne Masson, Elizabeth

Kennedy, and Alana Pittman—without all of you, I don’t think I’d be the leader I’ve become in this role. I would also like to thank

Jason Lane for his mentorship, without which I don’t think I’d be ready to step into my role as president. Finally, I’d like to thank

Megan Robichaud, our immediate past president, who encouraged me to run and to get involved with Florida NAfME Collegiate in

the first place. Without her, I definitely would not be writing this article today.

I’m so excited to build upon the work of our previous board

and to show my fellow collegiates that we are the future of music education. The time to get involved is now. Throughout my time Finally, here is my annual holiday decree:

When you go home for the holidays, don’t let your family listen to cheesy holiday music! I

don’t know ALL the great holiday music, but

here’s a bunch (let me know what else should be included):

as president-elect, I’ve had opportunities to interact with Deb

Confredo, our national president. Something she is often quoted

as saying is “As music educators we are not simply teaching music;

we are teachers of people through music.” I believe Florida NAfME

Collegiate shares a similar sentiment. We are not just advocating for the future of music education in Florida; we are building a network of lifelong connections that will serve us throughout and past our teaching careers.

Holiday Playlists

I’m so honored to step into my role as president, and I’m excited

to see what the future of this organization holds. I look forward to meeting more current, future, and retired music educators at our CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE

See you in Tampa!

conference in January.

Go, Florida NAfME Collegiate!

Grace Wieckowski is a junior music education major at Stetson University and president-elect of Florida NAfME Collegiate.

DECEMBER 2025

49

CONTEMPORARY MEDIA COMMITTEE

Clint Randles, PhD Chairperson

Elevating Contemporary Music-Making in Florida’s Schools s music education

evolves across Florida,

contemporary music

programs are redefining what it means to be a

musician in the classroom.

Today’s students live in a

world of digital tools, diverse genres, and self-produced sound. For contemporary

music educators, songwriting stands at the heart of this

transformation—connecting students’ creativity, cultural

identities, and musical skills

in ways that resonate deeply

and produce their own

BandLab. Bringing those tools

cases” or release student

rock, hip-hop, R&B, indie, or

the gap between personal

room learning into real-

songs—whether in pop,

electronic styles—they’re not just learning music theory

or rhythm patterns. They’re applying those skills to

create something personal

and authentic. Songwriting

self-expression, and critical listening skills.

One of the greatest strengths

education is about

empowerment through

creation. Instead of focusing solely on reproducing

existing works, songwriting invites students to become active creators, blending listening, performing,

composing, and producing

into one holistic process. This

aligns perfectly with Florida’s

Students’ Lives

of contemporary music-

making is its ability to reflect

the diverse musical culture of Florida. From Miami’s Latininfused beats to Tampa’s

indie scene and Jacksonville’s hip-hop roots, students

are surrounded by vibrant

musical influences. Inviting them to draw from these

sounds in their songwriting

makes learning relevant and inclusive.

Songwriting also validates

Next Generation Sunshine

students’ identities. Many

which emphasize creative

composing, producing, and

State Standards for Music,

thinking, collaboration, and innovation.

When students write

50

young people are already sharing music outside of

school using platforms like

Soundtrap, GarageBand, and

FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

world music experiences.

These approaches

align with modern music

increase.

promoted by organizations

engagement and motivation

You don’t need a professional

emotional intelligence,

EPs online, turning class-

see that their ideas matter,

and form while developing

Why Songwriting Matters

Contemporary music

learning. When students

Practical Ways to

explore harmony, melody,

Connecting Learning to

Education

creativity and academic

becomes a powerful way to

with their daily lives.

in Contemporary Music

into the classroom bridges

Integrate Songwriting

studio or advanced training in composition to start a

education frameworks

like Music Will and the

Association for Popular Music Education, which emphasize accessibility, creativity, and student choice.

songwriting program. Here

The Bigger Picture:

your contemporary music

Musicians

are a few ways to bring it into

w Collaborative Creation:

classes:

Encourage small groups to co-write songs, blending

lyric writing, beat making,

w Genre Exploration: and performance.

Assign projects where

students reinterpret songs in different styles or fuse genres, helping them

understand structure and

w Digital Production: Use production.

free or school-approved platforms to record and

arrange student originals, connecting songwriting

to music technology stan-

Building Creative

Songwriting transforms students from passive

learners into active artists. It teaches them to take risks, collaborate meaningfully, and express their unique

voices. For teachers, it opens

the door to dynamic, studentdriven classrooms where creativity fuels growth.

By weaving songwriting

into contemporary music-

making, Florida educators can prepare students not

only to understand music, but to shape its future. In

an age when creativity and innovation define success, helping students discover

w Performance and Sharing: most powerful lessons we dards.

Host school “song show-

their own sound is one of the can offer.

DIVERSE LEARNERS COMMITTEE

Christine Lapka, EdD Chairperson

So Many Sessions …

And You’ll Want to Be at All of These!

I

f part of what brings you to conference each year is the chance to connect, swap ideas, and get real answers from fellow edu-

cators—this is your year. The Diverse Learners Committee is

hosting two highly interactive sessions created for exactly that

purpose. Come ask questions, share challenges, and leave with practical strategies you can use Monday morning.

Come Talk With Us! Two Conversations You Won’t Want to Miss: Including Everyone: A Conversation With the Diverse Learners Committee

Friday January 16, 2026 1pm

Christine Lapka Cody Puckett Nerissa Rebagay

Join the Diverse Learners Committee for an interactive panel discussion on fostering inclusivity in music education. This session will provide a platform for attendees to ask questions, share experiences, and learn effective strategies for integrating students with disabilities into music classes and ensemble rehearsals.

The Power of Collaboration: Teaching Our Diverse Learners

Friday January 16, 2026 11:35am

Daniel Beilman Edward Ercilla Christine Lapka Cody Puckett Nerissa Rebagay

Are you a passionate music educator, a dedicated therapist, or someone eager to better support diverse learners? Join us for an insightful expert panel discussion. We will facilitate this event to help ensure all questions are answered.

More Can’t-Miss Sessions Supporting Diverse Learners: Exceptional Music Education: Collectively Enhancing Outcomes for Students With Autism

Thursday, January 15, 2026 3:10pm

Katie Kovalsky

Beyond the Senses: Creating Pathways to Musical Excellence!

Friday, January 16, 2026 7:55am

Edward Ercilla Matthew Weihmuller

Harmonizing Inclusion: Making Musical Connections Among Students With Disabilities

Friday, January 16, 2026 7:55am

Julia LaPierre

One Size Fits … Some: Differentiation in Band Repertoire

Friday, January 16, 2026 7:55am

Laura Bock Suzanne Charney Micah Killion

Music for Every Body: Inclusive Music Education Strategies for Blind/Visually Impaired and DHH Students

Friday, January 16, 2026 4:15pm

Samuel Estes Valerie Núñez-Caicedo

Special Guest Spotlight: Dr. Alice Hammel

We are thrilled to welcome one of the leading voices in inclusive music education!

Connecting Social Justice, Music, and Disability

Thursday, January 15, 2026 2:05pm

Alice Hammel

You Have Questions, We Have Answers! Including Students With Disabilities and Differences in Band

Thursday, January 15, 2026 3:10pm

Alice Hammel Nerissa Rebagay

DECEMBER 2025

51

2026 FMEA Awardees AWARDS COMMITTEE

Sondra A. W. Collins Chairperson

M U S I C E D U C AT O R OF THE YEAR

E L E M E N TA R Y A D M I N I S T R AT O R OF THE YEAR

long with the rest of FMEA, your FMEA Awards

Committee is excited to see you in January at our FMEA Professional Learning Conference! This year’s

awards recognition at the Second General Session will shine a

spotlight on our awardees, and you will have an opportunity

to hear a short message directly

from them. You will get a glimpse into the hearts and minds of the

Janine Jones

Melinda Cunningham

music education and the role they

Elementary Music Educator Osceola Magnet School School District of Indian River County

Principal, Hawkes Bluff Elementary School, Broward County Public Schools

at all schools, receive quality and

(nominated by Sherry St. Petery, on behalf of FEMEA)

(nominated by Jessica Gronberg, on behalf of FEMEA)

COLLEGE MUSIC E D U C AT O R O F T H E Y E A R

SECONDARY A D M I N I S T R AT O R OF THE YEAR

awardees regarding the value of

play in assuring that all students, comprehensive music education.

And don’t forget to check out

the digital FMEA Professional

Learning Conference Program,

as each awardee has a spotlight

biography and photo so you can get to know them better. I hope you are as excited as we are

about celebrating our honorees.

Your Awards Committee is also

currently working hard to award those of you that have applied

for the Music Education Service

Awards and the Music Education Enrollment Awards—these

awesome individuals will be

announced in the Conference Program as well.

Please join me in applauding

your 2026 FMEA award winners!

Dr. Mark A. Belfast, Jr. Assistant Professor of Music Education Florida State University (nominated by Steven N. Kelly)

52

FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

Dr. Marcus Scott Principal, Augusta Raa Middle School Leon County Schools (nominated by Dr. Arnekua Jackson, on behalf of the Multicultural Network)

SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR

LE A D E R S H I P AWA R D F O R M U S I C E D U C AT I O N

Kevin K. Hendrick

Lisa Hewitt

Superintendent Pinellas County Schools (nominated by Ajori Spencer)

All-State Orff Ensemble Coordinator Florida Elementary Music Educators Association (nominated by Madison Kerr, on behalf of FEMEA)

SCHOOL BOARD OF THE YEAR Pinellas County School Board

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE OF AN INDIVIDUAL IN M U S I C E D U C AT I O N

Elisabeth (Lisa) J. Olson Voice Instructor (nominated by Michelle Tredway, on behalf of FVA)

E XEMPL ARY MODEL MUSIC PROGRAM Instruments of Change

CEO Glen Schubert Kevin K. Hendrick, Lisa N. Cane, Dawn M. Peters, Caprice Edmond, Laura Hine, Stephanie Meyer, Katie Blaxberg, Eileen M. Long (nominated by Meghan Alfaro, on behalf of FEMEA)

in conjunction with Hillsborough County Public Schools, Music Supervisor Jon Sever (nominated by Dr. Jeffrey Cayer) DECEMBER 2025

53

FLORIDA ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION

Andrea Szarowicz President

Happy Holidays and Greetings From FOA! s we approach winter

from their first rehearsal to

the achievements we’ve made

one of the most rewarding

break, let’s celebrate

so far and look forward to an even brighter start to

2026. With the holidays right

around the corner, the Florida Orchestra Association invites you to reflect, recharge, and

prepare for another incredible year of music-making.

Mark your calendars for

the 2026 FMEA Professional Learning Conference—a premier event offering

inspiring insights, powerful performances, and

opportunities to grow both

professionally and personally.

Early registration closes

on December 12, 2025—don’t miss it!

This year, we’re thrilled

to host some of the

most celebrated all-state

conductors, each bringing their artistry, energy, and

expertise to our ensembles and students. Watching

these renowned conductors lead our young musicians

YI

54

their final performance is

experiences of our conference.

Our 2026 all-state

w Symphonic (11–12) Orchestra – Dr. Tammy Yi w Concert (9–10) Orchestra – Dr. Frank Diaz w Middle School (7–8) Orchestra – Dr. Beth Reed w High School (9–12) Honors

conductors include:

Orchestra – Dr. BettyAnne

w Middle School (7–8) Gottlieb

Association extends heartfelt congratulations to all

students selected for the 2026 all-state orchestras! Your

dedication, preparation, and musicianship represent the best of our state’s young

reach out directly to your

a unique perspective and

ensemble’s coordinator.

passion to the podium. The

transformation these students undergo over the course of a

few days—from nervous first notes to confident, unified performances—is nothing

short of inspiring. Let’s come together to support these

and celebrate their dedication

FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

The Florida Orchestra

or have questions, please

Each conductor brings

DIAZ

2026 All-State Students!

If you need assistance

Dr. David Pope

and artistry.

Congratulations to the

artists.

Honors Orchestra –

remarkable young musicians

s n o i t a l u t a r g Con

Coordinator contact

information can be found

under the Board List section

w 11–12 Symphonic Orchestra: Steven Bossert w 9–10 Concert Orchestra: Katherine Ng w 7–8 All-State Middle at

REED

myfoa.org.

School Orchestra: Marcey Sperr

GOTTLIEB

w 9–12 High School Honors Orchestra: Samantha

w 7–8 Middle School Honors Felber

Orchestra: Jennifer Erickson

Your coordinators are here

to guide and support you

through every step of your all-state experience.

Reignite Your Passion: Session Highlights

The conference isn’t just about performances—it’s about

rejuvenation and inspiration!

This year’s lineup of expert

clinicians offers sessions that will invigorate your teaching

w It CAN Be Just as (If Not

and spark new ideas.

More) Fun! Incorporating

Band Culture & Rehearsal Techniques in the

Orchestra Classroom – Andrea Reynolds, Calogero Fanara

POPE

w From Rehearsal to

Revelation: Insightful

Strategies Inspired by Master Teacher Cliff

w Habits of a Successful

Colnot – Matthew Davis Beginning Strings Class

w What the MPA Judges Are – Sarah Ball, Margaret Selby

Listening For – Kasia Bugaj,

w The Ultimate Warm-Up Jennifer Haber

Remix – Portia Bradby,

Antoine Khouri, Christian

w Help Your Students (and Davis

Yourself) Navigate Stage Fright & Thrive Under

w Rehearsal Techniques to Pressure – Susanna Klein Elevate Your Orchestra

w Prompt & Circumstance:

– Keith Dodson, Jason Jerald Mastering AI in Your Music Classroom

w Elementary Strings

– Tian Sanchez-Ballado Success & Shenanigans – Caroline Senko,

Plan to attend the FOA General Membership

Meeting on Thursday,

January 15, at 5:15 pm in TCC, 301.

The Power of Connection Don’t forget to make time for conversations in hallways, over coffee, and between

sessions. The wisdom and

encouragement exchanged among colleagues often

become as valuable as the

formal presentations. You’ll

leave the conference feeling uplifted, supported, and proud to be part of this

vibrant community of music educators.

A Note of Gratitude

As we conclude the first half

of the school year, take pride in your accomplishments— both big and small. Your dedication continues to

w Taking the Next Step: How musicians and leaders.

Rebecca Senko

shape the next generation of

to Become an FOA Leader – Lauren Pardee, Cheri

TODAY!

Sleeper, Andrea Szarowicz,

w Transferable Tasks for Laurie Bitters

the Emerging Orchestra

w Getting Beyond Page One: Teacher – Adaline Burwell

Have a safe and restful winter

Tools & Helpful Hints for

ones, and return refreshed

the Non-String Educator – Cheri Sleeper,

w String Techniques Dakeyan Graham

for Band Teachers

– Anne Marie Patterson

START OR RENEW YOUR CHAPTER

break, enjoy time with loved

Join the only national music honor society for students in grades 6-12

for all that 2026 holds. We’re

Learn more about this program:

such a passionate community

Contact us:

deeply grateful to be part of

of music educators—and we can’t wait to see you at the

nafme.org/Tri-M

Tri-M@nafme.org

conference!

DECEMBER 2025

55

FLORIDA ELEMENTARY MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION

Meghan Alfaro President

D

ecember is here, and that means so are the holiday concerts! As you prepare for your

upcoming performances, please remember to take

a moment to reflect on all you’ve accomplished this first semester. You’ve seen kindergarteners grow and learn what it means to be in school. You’ve

shared the joy of music with your first and second graders, and maybe saw that one student master

steady beat for the first time. Your third and fourth graders have learned new rhythms and melodies

and are enjoying the experience of more challeng-

ing music. And maybe you’ve noticed certain fifth

graders who have begun to identify themselves as young musicians. The work you do every day in

your classrooms makes a lasting impact on a child for the rest of their life.

January conference is right around the corner!

FEMEA is excited to bring you phenomenal professional learning opportunities. We

highlighted our headliners in last month’s issue, so now let’s look at all the other amazing events

w FEMEA Annual Curriculum Fair Thursday, January 15, 2026

— Come share or gather ideas from our incredible elementary music colleagues across the state! Contact Shannon Stem if you want to

w All-State Elementary Chorus performance w Ani Silva-Berrios – FEMEA West Music headliner w FEMEA session presenters participate at

shannon@femea.flmusiced.org.

— Dr. Megan Sheridan

w NEW TIME – FEMEA Annual Business Meeting & Meet and Greet at — Emerson Oliver 12noon

w Level Up! Group Games With Beth Ann Hepburn at 7:15pm — Door prizes!

— Lots of fun and MORE door prizes!

w All-State Elementary Orff Ensemble performance w Melissa Fuller Flores – FEMEA Peripole headliner w FEMEA session presenter

Friday, January 16, 2026

— Javel Perriel

w FEMEA session presenters

and sessions planned for you! Make sure to join

Saturday, January 17, 2026

Elementary Music Meet & Greet and Annual

— Ernesta Chicklowski

us on Thursday, January 15, at 4:15 pm, for the

Business Meeting, and then stick around after

dinner for our fun Thursday night session. It’s a

great chance to connect and share ideas with the

people who really get what it’s like to make magic in the music room every day!

56

FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

— Dr. Rob Lyda

— Lisa Langston Remember to stop by our partners in the Exhibition Hall for great

elementary music products and discounts!

FLORIDA VOCAL ASSOCIATION

Jeannine Stemmer President

Tidings of Comfort and Joy

W

hen I was about 10

years old, my family

and I went to the movies

on Christmas night. I wish

there I was, standing alone,

knowing that even

of the house.

uncertain, we are not

heart pounding, at the front Thankfully, I wasn’t

I could tell you what movie

harmed, but I was shaken. It’s

no recollection. What I do

fear and uncertainty can leave

we saw, but I honestly have remember vividly is what

happened when we got home.

As usual, I was the last

one to get out of the car. I’ve always marched to the beat

of my own drum. My father

when things feel alone.

There’s a reason the old

funny how just 10 seconds of

carol says “tidings of comfort

a mark that lasts a lifetime.

Comfort comes first. Joy

music, how with it we can

anchored in comfort, in hope,

safety, and hope. Through

and joy,” not joy and comfort.

That Christmas became one

cannot truly exist until it’s

not because of the presents

in peace, in support.

of my most vivid memories, or the laughter, but because of that moment when I felt

And what is joy?

Joy isn’t the same as

completely alone and unsafe.

happiness. Happiness

inside. My mom followed

to hear my mother’s voice

circumstances, but joy is

course, my sister was right

“Focus on the beautiful

noticed that the house alarm had gone off and rushed quickly behind, and of

Over time, I’ve come

reminding me:

on her heels. Meanwhile,

moments, the ones filled with

sweet time, probably singing

of strife.”

little old me was taking my “Part of Your World” or

love instead of fear, peace instead She used to drive me crazy

can come and go with

deeper; it’s unshakable. Joy

can exist even in sadness; it

ask yourself:

Are you sharing that joy in

it’s grounded in peace and

found your comfort, your

man jumped from behind

our Christmas tree, waving

a stick. He pushed me aside and leapt over the fence

before disappearing into the

night. My family was around the back of the house, and

comfort.

What a simple but

powerful truth.

So, what is comfort?

Comfort is hope. Comfort

is strength. Comfort is

but a deep and steadfast joy that endures long after the final notes of their winter concerts fade.

I am so proud of our

for their all-state tests and

life, but she was right. True

joy can only take root when

discover not just happiness,

This Christmas season, I

encourage you to pause and

door.

Then, out of nowhere, a

of helping our students

Florida Vocal Association

fear.

with her constant “rose-

colored glasses” outlook on

music, we have the privilege

can rise up in moments of

“Wind Beneath My Wings”

as I strolled toward the front

create spaces of comfort,

Is there joy in your life?

your classroom? Have you strength, your peace, your

hope? Because once you do, joy can surely follow.

As we gather in song and

celebration this season, may we remember the power of

as we prepared students auditions. The all-state

adjudicators and committee, led by Michelle Tredway,

were amazing. Thank you for

your service to the students of our state. I am honored to be part of this incredible group

and hope to see you at FMEA in Tampa, where we can

continue to share the timeless tidings of comfort and joy with one another.

INTERESTED IN TEACHING MUSIC IN FLORIDA?

We can help!

Learn more at: FMEA.org/Teach DECEMBER 2025

57

Please take time to thank and support our 2025-2026 Academic Partners.

GOLD PARTNERS

SILVER PARTNERS The College of Idaho

BRONZE PARTNERS Florida Gulf Coast University Florida Southern College Partners as of November 4, 2025.

Rollins College

*Please visit FMEA.org/partners for partnership details or call 850-878-6844.

58

FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

Research Puzzles

FMEA RESEARCH COMMITTEE

D. Gregory Springer, PhD, Chairperson Florida State University

FOR MUSIC TEACHERS

This on-going column seeks to stimulate awareness of research issues for FMEA teachers and researchers.

Retaining Early-Career Music Teachers

I

t is well documented that many music educators leave the field within the first few years of teaching. Furthermore,

many states have a shortage of music teachers as evidenced by the number of unfilled music teaching

which could mean that they were no longer teaching or

that they continued teaching in another state. Results of the

survival analysis indicated that approximately half of music

teachers in the state of Maryland stopped teaching during their first five years, and years two and three seemed to offer the

positions (Hash, 2021). This growing

highest risk of attrition. There are many other important and

shortage of music teachers is a major

interesting results discussed in the study, so I encourage you

problem that should be addressed by

to access the article and read all of it.

music education writ large. Dr. David

Although the results of Miller’s (2025) study are

S. Miller recently conducted a study

representative of one state, they illuminate trends that are

analyzing the retention and attrition of

early-career music educators in one state

(Miller, 2025). As described in the article, “the

MILLER

purpose of this study was to examine the retention and attri-

tion patterns of early-career music teachers in Maryland” (p. 85).

To address this purpose, Miller (2025) analyzed data from

the Maryland Longitudinal Data System from the years 2013 to 2022. For this study, he defined early-career music educators

as those with fewer than five years of teaching experience. He analyzed the data using descriptive statistics and a survival analysis, the latter of which is an approach that allows

similar to other states. Therefore, they offer broad implications regarding music teacher recruitment, retention, compensation,

and certification/licensure requirements. Hash (2021) explained that “Effective music instruction depends on an adequate and consistent supply of qualified teachers” (p. 17), and Miller’s

(2025) findings indicate that much work needs to be done to ensure a full workforce of qualified music teachers. Future

research in this area is needed to inform ongoing conversations and policy decisions about teacher recruitment and retention nationally.

researchers to analyze and predict how long it takes for a given

References

teachers left the profession during those years. This study

Hash, P. M. (2021). Supply and demand: Music teacher shortage in the United States. Research and Issues in Music Education, 16(1), Article 3. https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/rime/vol16/iss1/3

event to occur. In the current study, that event was whether

involved careful, thorough, and rigorous data analysis, and the results are both trustworthy and compelling.

Miller (2025) found that just under three-quarters of music

teachers (74%) retained their current teaching position each year, whereas 8% moved to a different Maryland school. A

larger proportion of teachers (18%) left teaching in Maryland,

Miller, D. S. (2025). The retention and attrition of early-career music teachers: a survival analysis. Arts Education Policy Review, 126(2), 82–98. https://doi.org/10.1080/10632913.2024.2329699

Email your questions and feedback to dgspringer@fsu.edu with a subject heading Research Puzzles.

CONNECT FLMusicEd

FLMusicEd

FLMusicEd

FLMusicEd DECEMBER 2025

59

GOLD

SILVER PARTNERS Mark Custom Recording Service, Inc. Music & Arts Partners as of November 4, 2025.

*Please visit FMEA.org/partners for partnership details or call 850-878-6844.

60

FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

Please take time to thank and support our 2025-2026 Corporate Partners.

PARTNERS

BRONZE PARTNERS Cathy’s Choir Class Hal Leonard Head’s House of Music J.W. Pepper & Son, Inc. Music is Elementary

MusicFirst PACE Travel Sight Reading Factory West Music Company

DECEMBER 2025

61

Executive Director’s

FMEA Executive Director Kathleen D. Sanz, PhD

NOTES

The mission of The Florida Music Education Association is to promote quality, comprehensive music education in all Florida schools.

The Power in Our Profession: Music Education for Collective Impact

T

he Florida Music Education Association’s 82nd

Professional Learning Conference: The Power in

Our Profession: Music Education for Collective Impact

will be held in Tampa, January 14–17, 2026. This con-

ference, with its high-powered theme, will directly impact our ability to move music

education forward in our state as

we collaborate on a common agen-

da for teachers and students. There will be many exciting and inspir-

ing sessions, along with concerts and keynote presentations. This

year, our opening general session on Thursday will feature keynote

speaker Gerry Brooks, social media

advocate, followed by the United

States Air Force Band of the West.

Student Leadership Workshop and Student Conference Experience

In addition to the 24 all-state performing ensembles, students will have the opportunity to attend the

Student Leadership Workshop on Wednesday, from

1 pm to 4:30 pm, which will feature Jaymel “J. Dash” Johnson, producer, songwriter, film composer, and Jacksonville native, with additional sessions by

leading music educators. The Student Conference

Experience is scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

It will feature Summer Camargo, a trumpet player from the Saturday Night Live band and a former

Florida all-state student. Your students will not want to miss hearing and seeing her.

We sincerely hope you have already made your

plans to attend. Preregistration is now open, with an early registration deadline of December 12, 2025.

w Early registration closes at midnight, December

Please note:

12, 2025, after which prices increase to the regular registration rates. You may continue to register

w The postmark deadline for checks mailed to pay and pay online until the conference.

for conference registration is December 12, 2025.

After this date, all unpaid conference registrations must be paid by credit card online, or a check must be brought to the conference.

Advocacy and Government Relations

The 2026 Legislative Session will begin on January 13, 2026, and is scheduled to end on March 13, 2026. The

Florida Music Education Association, in collaboration with the Florida School Music Association (FSMA)

and the Florida Art Education Association (FAEA), is developing the Center for Fine Arts Education 2026 Legislative Platform. Please review the platform on

the FMEA website in January. If you have questions about the bills as they move through the process, please call Dr. Kathleen Sanz at the FMEA office.

It is crucial for you to personally engage in helping legislators make informed decisions that benefit

Florida students, including those in music education.

FMEA leadership and staff are looking forward to

seeing you in January at the 2026 FMEA Professional Learning Conference and All-State Concerts.

Have a restful and rejuvenating winter break.

Kathleen D. Sanz PhD

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FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR

F LO R I DA M U S I C E D U C AT I O N A SSO C I AT I O N

Officers and Directors

EXECUTIVE BOARD President

Harry “Skip” Pardee, EdD

Collier County Public Schools 5775 Osceola Trail; Naples, FL 34109-0919 (239) 377-0087; pardeh@collierschools.com Past President

Jason P. Locker

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS Historian/Parliamentarian & Executive Director...........Kathleen D. Sanz, PhD Hinckley Center for Fine Arts Education 402 Office Plaza Dr.; Tallahassee, FL 32301-2757 (850) 878-6844; Fax: (850) 942-1793; kdsanz@fmea.org

Student Engagement.....................................................Michael Antmann, EdD Freedom High School; 2500 W. Taft-Vineland Rd.; Orlando, FL 32837 (407) 816-5600; michael.antmann@ocps.net

Conference Planning Committee Chairperson...............John K. Southall, PhD Indian River State College; 3209 Virginia Ave.; Fort Pierce, FL 34981 (772) 418-9133; johnsouthall@me.com

FMEA COMPONENTS

FSMA President......................................................... Benny L. Bolden, Jr., EdD laruemusic99@gmail.com

President-Elect

Bernard “Bernie” Hendricks, Jr.

Florida NAfME Collegiate Advisor.............................. Mark A. Belfast, Jr., PhD (850) 644-3424; mbelfast@fsu.edu

1925 Ocoee Crown Point Pkwy.; Orlando, FL 34761

DOE Arts Education Consultant...................................................Erin O’Connor Florida DOE, Bureau of Standards & Instructional Support 325 W. Gaines St.; Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400 (850) 245-0762; erin.o’connor@fldoe.org

FBA President

FMEA COMMITTEES & COUNCILS

Marshall Middle Magnet School 18 S. Maryland Ave.; Plant City, FL 33563-6008 (813) 757-9360; president@fba.flmusiced.org

COUNCILS

(407) 905-3009; bernard.hendricks@ocps.net

Jeff Cayer, EdD

Secondary General Music...................................................................Ed Prasse Leon High School; 550 E. Tennessee St.; Tallahassee, FL 32308 (850) 617-5700; prassee@leonschools.net

Editor-in-Chief........................................................................ Kelly Miller, DMA University of Central Florida; 12488 Centaurus Blvd.; Orlando, FL 32816-8009; (407) 823-4545; kelly.miller@ucf.edu

Orange County Public Schools 445 W. Amelia St.; Orlando, FL 32801 (407) 317-3200; jasonlocker@fmea.org

Ocoee High School

Research.....................................................................D. Gregory Springer, PhD FSU College of Music; 122 N. Copeland St.; Tallahassee, FL 32306 (850) 644-2925; dgspringer@fsu.edu

Hall of Fame Chairperson......................................................Mary Palmer, EdD (407) 252-5172; mpalmerassoc@aol.com

FLORIDA COLLEGE MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION

FLORIDA BANDMASTERS ASSOCIATION President.................................................................................... Jeff Cayer, EdD president@fba.flmusiced.org Past President................................................. Bernard (Bernie) Hendricks, Jr. Ocoee High School; 1925 Ocoee Crown Point Pkwy.; Ocoee, FL 34761 bernard.hendricks@ocps.net Executive Director.......................................................................... Neil Jenkins Florida Bandmasters Association; P.O. Box 840135; Pembroke Pines, FL 33084 (954) 432-4111; Fax: (954) 432-4909; exec@fba.flmusiced.org Business Manager....................................................................... Jo Hagan, CPA 8975 San Rae Rd.; Jacksonville, FL 32257 (904) 379-2245; Fax: (904) 379-2260; jo@barefootaccounting.com

FLORIDA ELEMENTARY MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION President..................................................................................... Meghan Alfaro Pinellas District Office; 301 4th St. SW; Largo, FL 33770-3536 (727) 588-6055; meghan@femea.flmusiced.org

President............................................................................. Kyle Prescott, DMA Florida Atlantic University; 777 Glades Rd.; Boca Raton, FL 33431-6424 (561) 297-3826; kpresco2@fau.edu

Past President................................................................................ Ashley Peek Holley-Navarre Intermediate; 1936 Navarre School Rd.; Navarre, FL 32566-7504; ashley@femea.flmusiced.org

Florida Atlantic University 777 Glades Rd.; Boca Raton, FL 33431-6424 (561) 297-3826; kpresco2@fau.edu

FLORIDA NAFME COLLEGIATE

Executive Director...................................................................Jennifer Sullivan 1750 Common Way Rd., Orlando, FL 32814; (321) 624-5433; slljenn@aol.com

FEMEA President

FLORIDA MUSIC SUPERVISION ASSOCIATION

Pinellas District Office 301 4th St. SW; Largo, FL 33770-3536 (727) 588-6055; meghan@femea.flmusiced.org

MULTICULTURAL NETWORK

FCMEA President

Kyle Prescott, DMA

Meghan Alfaro

Florida NAfME Collegiate President

Jason Lane

Florida A&M University jason1.lane@famu.edu FMSA President

John J. Dupuis

Volusia County Schools 200 N. Clara Ave.; DeLand, FL 32720-4207 (813) 787-6790; jjdupuis@volusia.k12.fl.us FOA President

President...........................................................................................Jason Lane Florida A&M University; jason1.lane@famu.edu President..................................................................................... John J. Dupuis Volusia County Schools; 200 N. Clara Ave.; DeLand, FL 32720-4207 (813) 787-6790; jjdupuis@volusia.k12.fl.us Chairperson................................................................... Arnekua Jackson, PhD St. Thomas University; 16401 NW 37th Ave.; Miami Gardens, FL 33054 arnekuajackson@gmail.com

COMMITTEES Advocacy.................................................Jeanne W. Reynolds, Co-Chairperson (727) 744-7252; jeannewrey@gmail.com Advocacy................................................... Angela Hartvigsen, Co-Chairperson School Board of Sarasota County; 1960 Landings Blvd.; Sarasota, FL 34231 (941) 927-9000; angela.hartvigsen@sarasotacountyschools.net All-State Eligibility.................................................... Harry “Skip” Pardee, EdD Collier County Public Schools; 5775 Osceola Trail; Naples, FL 34109-0919 (239) 377-0087; pardeh@collierschools.com

Andrea Szarowicz

Awards................................................................................Sondra A. W. Collins sondra.collins@marion.k12.fl.us

5575 W. Lutz Lake Fern Rd.; Lutz, FL 33558-9234

Budget/Finance, Development................................. Harry “Skip” Pardee, EdD Collier County Public Schools; 5775 Osceola Trail; Naples, FL 34109-0919 (239) 377-0087; pardeh@collierschools.com

FVA President

Contemporary Media............................................................Clint Randles, PhD University of South Florida; 4202 E. Fowler Ave.; Tampa, FL 33620-9951 (813) 974-2311; randlesc@usf.edu

Florida Christian School 4200 SW 89th Ave.; Miami, FL 33165 (305) 226-8152; jeannine@fva.net

Diverse Learners...............................................................Christine Lapka, EdD University of Central Florida; 12488 Centaurus Blvd.; Orlando, FL 32816-2372; christine.lapka@ucf.edu

Steinbrenner High School

(813) 792-5131; aszarowicz@myfoa.org

Jeannine Stemmer

Member-at-Large

Steven N. Kelly, PhD

Florida State University School of Music, KMU 330; Tallahassee, FL 32306 (850) 644-4069; skelly@admin.fsu.edu

FLORIDA ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION President................................................................................Andrea Szarowicz Steinbrenner High School; 5575 W. Lutz Lake Fern Rd.; Lutz, FL 33558-9234 (813) 792-5131; aszarowicz@myfoa.org Past President..............................................................................Laurie Bitters Winter Park High School; 2100 Summerfield Rd.; Winter Park, FL 32792 (407) 622-3200; laurie.bitters@gmail.com Executive Director....................................................................Cheri A. Sleeper 1915 S. 47th St.; Tampa, FL 33619; (813) 363-4139; csleeper@myfoa.org

FLORIDA VOCAL ASSOCIATION President...............................................................................Jeannine Stemmer Florida Christian School; 4200 SW 89th Ave.; Miami, FL 33165 (305) 226-8152; jeannine@fva.net Past President...........................................................................David Pletincks Powell Middle School; 4100 Barclay Ave.; Brooksville, FL 34609-0860 (352) 403-8437; david@fva.net Executive Director....................................................................... David Verdoni verdoni@fva.net Business Manager....................................................................... Jo Hagan, CPA 8975 San Rae Rd.; Jacksonville, FL 32257 (904) 379-2245; Fax: (904) 379-2260; business@fva.net

CENTER FOR FINE ARTS EDUCATION 402 Office Plaza Dr.; Tallahassee, FL 32301-2757 (850) 878-6844; Fax: (850) 942-1793

President/CEO................................. Kathleen D. Sanz, PhD (kdsanz@fmea.org) Director of Operations............................ Valeria Anderson, IOM (val@fmea.org) Technology Director.........................................Josh Bula, PhD (josh@fmea.org) Marketing & Membership Coordinator..............................Jasmine VanWeelden (jasmine@fmea.org)

Emerging Leaders.................................... Dakeyan C. Graham, PhD, EdD, DMA Alachua County Public Schools; 3600 NE 15th St.; Gainesville, FL 32609 dregraham@gmail.com

Administrative Assistant...................................Siena Deaton (siena@fmea.org)

Florida Corporate & Academic Partners.......................................... Fred Schiff All County Music; 8136 N. University Dr.; Tamarac, FL 33321-1708 (954) 722-3424; fred@allcountymusic.com

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING CONFERENCE

Professional Learning................................................................... Ajori Spencer Pinellas District Office; 301 4th St. SW; Largo, FL 33770-3536 (727) 588-6055; spencera@pcsb.org

Exhibits Manager............................................................fmeaexhibits@fmea.org Local Chairperson.............Jon Sever (813) 272-4861; jon.sever@sdhc.k12.fl.us

DECEMBER 2025

63

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FLORIDA MUSIC DIRECTOR