Monday Notes

Welcome to March and the official beginning to spring (winds in NM)! As we reach the midpoint of the semester, please review the following announcements to help prepare for the end of the semester and next year. Have a great week and don't forget this is Music in our Schools Month!

Mark your calendars and watch for more information about the NMMEA Summer General Music Workshop to be held on June 21st. The workshop will feature headliner Lisa Odom and be held in the Albuquerque Metro area. Watch for registration information!

It is time to register for the 2nd Annual State Marching Contest to be held on October 25th. Remember that schools can register for comments only or to be entered into the competition class. Registrations received prior to May 1 will be entered into a drawing for performance order - so don't procrastinate!

• Registration link
• Adjudication Panel
• Registration Fee - tentatively $250 (same as last year)

Consider submitting a recording of your ensemble for consideration as a 2026 Honor Ensemble. All directors are welcome to apply, but the preferred rotation for the 2026 conference is outlined below:

• Alternative/Guitar - No rotation
• Choir & Orchestra - Large school preference
• Band - Small school
• General Music - Elementary ensemble
• Jazz - Small school

Application and more information can be found here.

Please see the upload window for All-State auditions below. Audition material will be posted on April 1st.

• Choir, Guitar, and Orchestra - October 16 - 25 (3:00 pm)
• Band and Jazz - October 29 - November 8 (3:00 pm)

The committee proposal for aligning Choral MPA Sight Reading protocols across all districts was presented, voted, and approved at the All-State Choral Section meeting for formal implementation beginning Spring 2026 allowing time for districts to update procedural language in their handbooks and prepare for utilization. HERE is the accepted formal proposal for reference.

The National Coalition for Arts Standards (NCAS) is launching its first review of National Arts Standards in over a decade, examining standards across all artistic disciplines —dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts.

The arts world has evolved dramatically since 2014. Now is your chance to help shape what comes next.

• Survey Link