Conference Chair

Ihope that you have been able to take some time during the summer months to relax and “recharge” in preparation for another wonderful school year We all know from experience that this year, like each that has preceded it, will bring plenty of new challenges and obstacles These hurdles simultaneously make music education the stressful and rewarding occupation that it is These hurdles can also make attending the conference mid-year so refreshing and reassuring . With this in mind, I want to take a minute to discuss a few items pertaining to the 2015 conference

Firstly, I want to say thank you to the members of the 2015 Conference Planning Team These individuals are already hard at work ensuring that the upcoming conference is a success for both teachers and students alike They have been working all summer to secure conductors, hotels, sessions, transportation, and more When you make it to the January conference please take a minute to thank all those involved as they certainly deserve our appreciation

As we head into this conference filled with opportunities for educators and students, please make sure you are very aware of all applicable deadlines Cut-offs for both conference registration as well as audition materials will be strictly enforced The stringency associated with these dates is necessary in order to keep the behind-the-scenes planning and preparation on track . Every year there are students and teachers who are not able to participate fully in the conference because of a failure to adhere to these deadlines

Branden Hansen 2nd Vice President

Please make sure you have checked the OMEA website (https://www oregonmusic . org/), and understand all conference registration and honor group dates clearly Also, Executive Directors Jim and Jane Howell will be sending frequent “e-blasts” with this information . In order to ensure you receive these helpful communications, please make sure to keep your e-mail address updated by logging in to the OMEA website and updating your profile accordingly

Although the majority of the planning and structuring of the 2015 conference is already in place, I am still very interested in hearing your ideas for this and future conferences If you have thoughts or concerns, please feel free to share them with me at bhansen@roseburg k12 or us I will do my best to implement as many ideas as possible and will forward necessary communications to our 2016 Conference Chair, Dr Frank Diaz

With all of this being said, I want to express how excited I am with the slate of sessions, concerts, and conductors we have for 2015 We are working hard to make sure this is an enriching and re-energizing opportunity for all involved I look forward to seeing you all in Eugene this January!