We strive every day to provide the highest quality instruction of musical skills, concepts, and techniques to students at all levels. But we also know there are many other things happening in our classrooms that contribute to learners’ success in school and in life. At this year’s conference, we’ll examine not only what makes for quality musical instruction, but also what happens when we go beyond the notes. How does our work support and teach the durable skills of NC’s Portrait of a Graduate? And how are we shaping the future of music education to address changing needs and make music accessible to all learners? Let’s explore and celebrate the myriad ways NC music educators can positively impact the lives of students and the wellbeing of communities.
NCMEA invites session proposals to be submitted for consideration for the 2025 NCMEA Professional Development Conference in Winston-Salem, NC on November 8-11, 2025. Conference participants come from all educational levels and include K-12 students and teachers, pre-service collegiates, and higher education faculty in the fields of general music, band, chorus, jazz, orchestra, guitar, piano, popular music, and music technology.
We invite proposals that cultivate a vision of music education that is inclusive, collaborative, and expansive, keeping in mind the ideals set forth by NCMEA’s strategic framework:
- Reflect diversity in our profession and represent the wide and changing spectrum of our population. This representation may include various cultures, abilities, economic backgrounds, and gender identities;
- Develop leadership to advocate for music education in the classroom, in school programs, and in the community and represent current trends in education policy at the local, state, and federal level;
- Provide opportunities for all students to create, perform, respond, and connect to various styles of music;
- Enhance music teaching through combining effective and dynamic new practices with proven strategies.
The deadline for submission is February 28, 2025 at 11:59pm EST. Incomplete proposals will not be considered.
NCMEA Section and Committee Chairs will review and invite speakers/clinicians to present at Conference. All submitters will be notified of the status of their proposals in April 2025.
PROPOSAL GUIDELINES
- The standard session length is 50 minutes. Applicants have the opportunity to request longer session times.
- Sessions should be standards-based, interactive, and engaging.
- NCMEA is committed to representing diverse voices at our conference. We encourage those who identify as people of color, gender nonconforming, having a disability, LGBTQIA+, and other under-represented members to apply.
- NCMEA encourages submissions from all ages and experience levels.
- Multiple presenters per proposal are welcome.
PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS
- Provide a title and brief overview description of your proposed session as it would appear in the conference program.
- Identify the type of session and intended audience.
- Include a short bio for each presenter in the proposed session.
- Identify the NC Essential Music Standards or 2014 National Core Music Standards used in your presentation.
- Identify action items or strategies from your session that will impact the instructional practices of attendees.
- Identify whether your session includes consideration of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (DEIA) and, if applicable, describe specific ways it addresses these issues.
- Identify what technology will be integrated into your session, if applicable.
The Barbara Bair Scholarship is a one-time award of $2,000.00 and will be paid directly to the recipient and the college of choice at the beginning of the school year.
The scholarship is awarded to a graduating North Carolina high school senior who has been accepted by, and will be entering, a North Carolina college or university the following fall as a Music Education major. The applicant's music teacher must be a current member of NCMEA/NAfME.
A completed scholarship application must be submitted online no later than midnight March 1. The scholarship winner will be recognized at the NCMEA Professional Development Conference in November.
Criteria and Application
The scholarship award will be based on the following:
- Musical Talent
- Disposition to teach music
- Academic standing
- Extra-curricular and curricular activities
- Character
- Interest and/or actual experience in teaching
The Barbara Bair Scholarship application shall consist of:
- List of musical activities which the applicant participated in during high school.
- Letter of recommendation from the music teacher.
- A digital recording of the applicant’s performance of three selections of varying styles.
- Essay on “Why I Want to Become a Music Educator.”
To all applicants:
Your music teacher will need to send a letter of recommendation to the NCMEA office on school letterhead.
You will need to upload a Word document or PDF describing the following activities, plus an additional essay with this form:
1) Your HS musical activities
2) Your extra-curricular and community activities
Also, you are required to provide three audio files of you performing in varying styles.
The Bill McCloud Scholarship is awarded to a collegiate member of NCMEA who is a resident of North Carolina and who has successfully completed 2 1/2 years in a music education degree program in North Carolina, with a GPA of 3.0. The scholarship is a one-time award of a minimum of $2,000. The award is paid in a lump sum directly to the recipient and the North Carolina college or university they are attending. A check will be sent to the college/university at the beginning of the recipient’s fourth year of undergraduate study.
A completed scholarship application must be submitted online no later than midnight March 1. The scholarship winner will be recognized at the NCMEA Professional Development Conference in November.
Criteria and Application
The scholarship award will be based on the following:
- North Carolina resident
- Music Education major in a North Carolina college or university
- Member of a Collegiate NAfME Chapter
- Actively involved in CNAfME
- Must have successfully completed 2 ½ years in a music education degree program at a North Carolina college or university
- GPA of 3.0
- Participation in music activities during college
- Extra-curricular and community activities during college
- Musical talent
- Leadership
- Disposition to teach music
- Character
The Bill McCloud Merit Scholarship application shall consist of:
- Description of CNAfME involvement, collegiate musical activities and extra-curricular and community activities.
- Essay on your decision to become a music educator.
- Digital recording of the applicant’s performance of three selections of various styles.
- A letter of recommendation from music school faculty reflecting the applicant’s musical talent, leadership, personality and character.
- Copy of official College/University transcript.
To all applicants:
Besides sending your official transcript to the NCMEA office, please be aware you will need to upload a Word document or PDF describing these three activities, plus an additional essay with this form:
1) Your collegiate NAfME involvement
2) Your collegiate musical activities
3) Your extra-curricular and community activities
You are also required to upload three audio files of you performing in varying styles.
The Ruth Jewell Scholarship is awarded to a Music Education major who is a resident of North Carolina attending a North Carolina college or university. The scholarship is a one-time award of $2,000.00 and will be paid in a lump sum to the recipient and the college or university at the beginning of the recipient’s senior year.
A completed scholarship application must be submitted online no later than midnight March 1. The scholarship winner will be recognized at the NCMEA Professional Development Conference in November.
Criteria and Application
The scholarship award will be based on the following:
- Applicant must be a Music Education major who is a resident of North Carolina attending a North Carolina college or university.
- Must have successfully completed 2 ½ years in a music education degree program at a North Carolina college or university
- Applicant must have maintained a 2.8 academic average on a 4.0 scale, or a 1.8 average on a 3.0 scale
- Applicant must be a current member of NCMEA/NAfME
- Musical talent
- Leadership
- Service to school and community
- Academic achievement
- Financial need
The Ruth Jewell Scholarship application shall consist of:
- Copy of official College/University transcript.
- List of musical activities in which applicant participated in high school.
- List of musical activities during applicant’s college career including positions in ensembles, solo performances and offices held in music fraternities or CNAfME.
- Essay describing reasons for entering the field of music education.
- Applicant must be recommended by the Music Department Chair or Dean.
To all applicants:
Besides sending your official transcript to the NCMEA office, please be aware you will need to upload a Word document or PDF detailing these three criteria, plus an additional essay with this form:
1) List of HS musical activities, awards, etc.
2) List of collegiate musical activities, awards, etc.
3) List of scholarships/grants received, or expect to receive, and other financial needs
The Hortense N. Reid-Kerr scholarship is awarded to a Music Education major of a racial or ethnic minority who is a resident of North Carolina attending a North Carolina college or university. Hortense N. Reid-Kerr was the first full-term President of NCMEA and the first minority president of NCMEA (1971-1973). Hortense Reid-Kerr taught at Howard University, an HBCU in Washington D.C. During her tenure at there, she developed several generations of music educators, and although it is not a requirement, students from HBCUs are encouraged to apply. The scholarship is a one-time award of $2,000.00 and will be paid in a lump sum to the recipient and the college or university at the beginning of the recipient’s senior year.
A completed scholarship application must be submitted online no later than midnight March 1. The scholarship winner will be recognized at the NCMEA Professional Development Conference in November.
Criteria and Application
The scholarship award will be based on the following:
- Applicants must be a Music Education major who is a resident of North Carolina attending a North Carolina college or university.
- Applicant must have maintained a 2.8 academic average on a 4.0 scale, or a 1.8 average on a 3.0 scale
- Musical talent
- Leadership
- Service to school and community
- Academic achievement
- Financial need
The Hortense N. Reid-Kerr Scholarship application shall consist of:
- Copy of official College/University transcript.
- List of musical activities in which applicants participated in high school.
- List of musical activities during applicant’s college career including positions in ensembles, solo performances and offices held in music fraternities or CNAfME.
- Essay describing reasons for entering the field of music education.
- Applicants must be recommended by the Music Department Chair or Dean.
To all applicants:
Besides sending your official transcript to the NCMEA office, please be aware you will need to upload a Word document or PDF detailing these three criteria, plus an additional essay with this form:
- List of HS musical activities, awards, etc.
- List of collegiate musical activities, awards, etc.
- List of scholarships/grants received, or expect to receive, and other financial needs
Grant Description
The Music Program Materials and/or Project (MPMP) Grant Program is intended to afford music teachers an opportunity to purchase materials, supplies (including consumables) or to develop special projects to increase the existing potential for a quality music education program. Materials, supplies, or special projects can include but are not limited to:
- Instrumental care materials (reeds, valve oil, corks, pads, etc.)
- Technology (subscriptions, Recording equipment, sound design equipment, etc.)
- Print material (rudimentary books, octavos, etc.)
- Focused ensembles, programs, and experiences.
Materials, supplies, or projects may be proposed for funding on a matching or non-matching basis at the applicant’s discretion. The total amount of funding requested from NCMEA may not exceed $1,000.00. No individual will be awarded more than one MPMP grant within a five-year period.
Grant Criteria
- Applicants must be a current member of NCMEA. Preference will be given to active teachers in North Carolina.
- The proposal must show clearly its relation to a new or ongoing program and compliance with the program outlined in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. The proposal should be designed to improve teacher competencies and/or opportunities for students enrolled in the music program.
- Application must include a budget indicating how funds will be spent.
- Considerations will be given to requests supporting materials/programs relating to:
- High potential communities with low resources.
- Positively impact or increase the number of marginalized students/groups in the music education program.
Grant Process
- Applications must be submitted online by midnight March 1.
- All completed applications will be forwarded to the Chair of the Grants Committee for action.
- Applications will be reviewed by a committee appointed by the President and approved by the NCMEA Board of Directors.
- Priority will be given to materials and/or projects which in the opinion of the committee, will result in positive improvements of the overall program both local and statewide.
- Prior to the spring NCMEA Board of Directors’ meeting, the committee chair will forward the approved applicant’s name/s to the Executive Director, listing them in order of preference.
- In preparing the budget, the Finance Committee will determine how many of the proposals can be funded for the next fiscal year and make their recommendations to the NCMEA Board for approval at the spring meeting.
- The successful candidate(s) will submit a letter of acceptance for the funds no later than 4 weeks prior to the beginning of the project, but no later than July 1 of the year of application.
- The NCMEA Executive Director will issue checks directly to the Grant recipients. Grant funds will be available July 1 of the year of application.
- The recipient(s) will be recognized at the annual NCMEA Professional Development Conference held in November.
Grant Reporting
- A report assessing the outcome of the project and an itemized financial report must be submitted by the recipient to the NCMEA Executive Director within six weeks of the stated completion date.
- Awardees may be contacted to share a testimonial of the grant’s impact to be shared among NCMEA members and audiences.
The Professional Development Grant is intended to provide funding to NCMEA members seeking to offer professional development activities specific to music education via an organized event for several teachers.
The total amount of funding requested from NCMEA may not exceed $3,200.00. No individual or activity will be awarded more than one grant within a three-year period. Every effort will be made by the committee to award the grant(s) equitably among sections of NCMEA.
(NOTE: This grant is not intended to provide funding to individual teachers to attend a professional development activity.)
Applicant(s) must have current membership in NCMEA. Preference will be given to active teachers in North Carolina. A teacher or group of teachers may apply in collaboration with a school system, arts organization, or higher education institution.
The proposed professional development activity must:
- Meet the North Carolina Standards for Professional Learning.
- Address one or more music competency goals in the NC Essential Standards.
- Occur during the fiscal year following the award (July 1-June 30) and be made available at no cost to participants. (Some exceptions may be considered if the applicant notes reasons for participant fee in the grant application).
- All participating teachers must be NCMEA members.
- A written report assessing the outcome of the activity must be submitted to the Chair of the Professional Development Grant Award Committee within four (4) weeks of the stated completion date of the activity. Within the same period, a financial report with attached invoices reflecting all expenditures of funds for the activity should be submitted to the Executive Director.
Selection Process
- Applications open Feb. 1.
- Application Deadline is March 1.
- Funds will be used in the following fiscal year (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026).
- A committee appointed by the NCMEA President and approved by the NCMEA Board of Directors will review applications for possible approval. Priority will be given to professional development activities that will result in the improvement of teachers’ instructional competencies.
- Prior to the Spring Board meeting, the committee will forward the approved application(s) to the Executive Director. In preparing the budget, the Finance Committee will make a recommendation to the NCMEA Board for approval at the Spring meeting.
- The Executive Director shall notify all applicants of their status following the board meeting. The successful candidate(s) will be required to make a written request for the funds prior to the beginning of the project.
Attention
Besides providing details about the project desired, please be aware you will need to provide a budget as well. We recommend you have all your information ready before filling out the online form.