Introduction from the OMEA President

Welcome to the 2022 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 impressive testament to our students’ perseverance and commitment, especially in light of the circumstances of these past two years These students have had the opportunity to rehearse with amazing conductors and world-class clinicians alongside the top student musicians in our state We are so fortunate that Oregon has an outstanding reputation for high quality honor groups with highly skilled and engaged students I am so very proud of the experiences the students have received in preparation for today’s concert

We have an incredible team of conference planners that volunteer their time to run an outstanding conference and all-state experience . This year’s team is led by our conference chair, Ben Lawson and the All-State Ensembles Co-Chairs Megan and Branden Hansen Congratulations to Ben, 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

I hope the memories created at this event will last a lifetime for these incredible students . Among many losses and missed opportunities from the past two years, many of us have been particularly impacted by the inability to make and listen to music in person Now that we are once again able to join together, I ask that you take a moment to reflect on the impact of music education. 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 performance and thank you for your continued support of music education in Oregon!

Gratefully, Jeremy Zander