Introduction from the OMEA President

Welcome to the 2023 OMEA All-State Concerts

As President of the Oregon Music Education Association, I am immensely proud of our students’ achievements along with the tremendous music programs and teachers across the state Being selected to be in these ensembles is an honor that students received after countless hours of hard work and practice Thank you parents and educators for supporting your students’ desire to participate at All-State These students have spent the weekend working with some of the best conductors and clinicians across the country The experiences, memories and skills students have gained this weekend will last a lifetime, and will be taken back to their own music programs

We have an incredible conference planning team that volunteered their time to run an outstanding conference and All-State experience This year’s team is led by our Conference Chair, Sean Williams and the All-State Co-Managers Megan and Branden Hansen Congratulations to Sean, Megan, and Branden, their planning teams, and our ensemble managers This conference and our All-State performances would not be possible without their hard work and dedication

Coming out of the pandemic and returning to full in-person learning fills me with great joy Music is meant to be performed and shared with others While the COVID restrictions have lifted, the ramifications of the past three years still linger Music programs across the state need your support With reduced numbers, lack of sufficient funding and difficulties finding enough qualified educators, providing a quality musical education for ALL students is not an easy task, and we need your support Be vocal with your local school and state representatives and be sure to advocate for strong music programs in your area Parents of All-State students know better than anyone the impact music has had on the lives of these fine musicians. Enjoy the performances and thank you for your continued support of music education in Oregon!