2023 NMEA Conference/In-Service Clinic

November 16-18, 2023 (Thursday - Saturday)

Each November NMEA provides professional development for music educators at its "Conference/In-Service Clinic." The 2023 event will be held November 16-18 (Thursday-Saturday) in Lincoln, Nebraska. Registration headquarters and Expo are at the Embassy Suites, 1040 P Street, with conference sessions across the street on UNL's main campus (Westbrook Music Building) and at the Lied Center for Performing Arts. The Cornhusker Marriott Hotel will also be used for sessions.

PAGE QUICK LINKS

Keynote Speaker
Call for Session Proposals
Call for Performing Ensembles
Exhibit Information
Conference Policies
Future Dates
 

2023 KEYNOTE SPEAKER

FRANKLIN J. WILLIS
Community Impact Director, CMA Foundation

For fourteen years, educator, and leader, Franklin Willis has served the students and families of Nashville. Through music, Willis has educated, mentored, and developed young minds to be forward-thinking contributors to society. A three-time CMA Foundation Music Teacher of Excellence with more than a decade of experience in the classroom, Franklin Willis is a trailblazer and catalyst for change in the music education space, as well as a rising leader within the music industry at large. Not only does he lead the way in culturally responsive teaching techniques, but also, in his new post as Community Impact Director at the CMA Foundation, paves the way for students to experience equitable access to opportunities in the music industry beyond the classroom.

As the former elementary music instructional coach for Metro Nashville Public Schools, Willis focused on equipping teachers with instructional support and necessary resources to strengthen their professional acumen and enhance their classrooms. Including, shepherding colleagues and teachers through the reality students are faced with around equity, inclusion, and racism. Through his work, he has developed a passion in the cultivation of musicianship for young minds as every child has musical potential and deserves a music teacher who will see the best in them. Willis believes that music education is a vital tool to teach students about other cultures, create community, and inspire a love for learning. Willis consistently uses his network to provide opportunities for students to utilize their passion for music for all to see. This includes producing music videos and stadium performances at CMA Fest, a four-day music festival in Nashville, TN.

2023 CALL FOR SESSION PROPOSALS

NMEA invites session proposals to be submitted for consideration for the 2023 NMEA Conference/In-Service Clinic in Lincoln, NE on November 16-18, 2023. Conference participants come from all educational levels and include K-12 students and teachers, pre-service collegiate students, and higher education faculty in the fields of general music, band, chorus, jazz, orchestra, guitar, piano, popular music, and music technology. 

The Call for Session Proposals for the 2023 NMEA Conference/In-Service Clinic has now closed. Thank you to all those who applied! The committee will review and invite speakers/clinicians to present at Conference. All submitters will be notified of the status of their proposals by April 14.

2023 CALL FOR PERFORMING ENSEMBLES

The Call for Performing Ensembles for the 2023 NMEA Conference/In-Service Clinic has now closed. Thank you to all those who applied! The committee will review and invite ensembles to perform at Conference. All submitters will be notified of the status of their applications on June 3rd.

CONCERT HOUR INFORMATION

  • Selected choral ensembles will share a concert hour and will be given 30 minutes for each concert (25 minutes of music, 5 minutes for applause and time on/off stage).
  • Selected large instrumental ensembles will be given 45 minutes for their concert (40 minutes of music, 5 minutes for applause and time on/off stage).
  • Video or audio recording of any session or performance is strictly prohibited unless it is NMEA authorized personnel.
  • Performing ensembles are responsible for creating and copying their own concert program for audience members.
  • All expenses, travel risks, and chaperonage of ensembles are to be covered entirely through local efforts. 
  • Only the ensemble that auditions (other than soloists or accompaniment chamber ensemble) may perform at the conference, if selected. 

2023 EXHIBIT INFORMATION

Become an exhibitor for the 2023 NMEA Conference In-Service Clinic November 16-18, 2022. The exhibit hall will be located in the Embassy Suites in downtown, Lincoln, NE. Attendees for our 3-day conference come from across the state of Nebraska. Conference participants are music educators from all levels including K-12 teachers, pre-service collegiate students, and higher education faculty in the fields of general music, band, chorus, jazz, orchestra, guitar, piano, popular music, and music technology. High school students who participate in our four All-State ensembles also have designated times in their schedule to peruse the exhibit hall.

The attendance breakdown for our 2022 Conference/In-Service Clinic is listed to below to give an idea of what type of reach to expect.

General Conference Attendance High School All-State Student Attendance
685 Teachers & Guests 161 in All-State Band
132 Exhibitor Personnel 440 in All-State Choir
259 Collegiate Students 19 in All-State Jazz Band
TOTAL: 1,076 125 in All-State Orchestra
  TOTAL: 745

 

EXHIBITOR REGISTRATION
Exhibit registration for the 2023 NMEA Conference/In-Service Clinic will open in August 2023. 

Registration fees for exhibit booths for the 2023 NMEA Conference/In-Service will be:

  • $275 for the first booth (8x8 booth comes with one 6' table, two chairs, and a wastebasket)
  • $225 for each additional booth
  • $25 for each extra table
  • $75 for electricity

Exhibitors will receive 2 badges to the NMEA Conference for each booth purchased. For example, if you purchase two booths, you will receive 4 badges for your booth workers. Any additional badges needed beyond what is included with your booth(s) will be $45 per additional badge. NMEA will also need the names of all badge holders so that they can be printed prior to the conference.

Exhibit spaces will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis on order of registrations received.

NMEA sponsors receive early access to registration as well as discounted booth prices:

  • Platinum Sponsors - 1 FREE booth with exclusive early registration 
  • Gold Sponsors - 75% off a booth with early registration exclusive to Gold Sponsors after Platinum Sponsors
  • Silver Sponsors - 50% off a booth with early registration exclusive to Silver Sponsors, after Platinum and Gold Sponsors
  • Bronze Sponsors - 25% off a booth with early registration exclusive to Bronze Sponsors, after Platinum, Gold, and Silver Sponsors

For more information about sponsorship benefits, please visit our Sponsorship page.

CONFERENCE POLICIES

IMAGE CONSENT:  NMEA records video and takes photographs during the Conference to use in our publications and broadcasts, such as the Nebraska Music Educator magazine, the NMEA website, etc. Submitting an application or registration requires consent to allow any images taken during the conference to be used by NMEA. 

RECORDINGS:  Video or audio recording of any session, rehearsal or performance is strictly prohibited unless it is NMEA authorized personnel.

CANCELLATION POLICY:  There will be no refund of conference registration fees, unless the refund request is due to a personal or family emergency (defined as death or illness of an immediate family member, or other similar circumstance). If the NMEA Board of Directors deems the request a legitimate emergency, the refund will consist of half the registration fee paid by the individual.

FUTURE CONFERENCE DATES

  • 2024 - Wednesday-Friday, November 20-22
  • 2025 - Thursday-Saturday, November 20-22

NMEA conference dates were chosen to take advantage of the availability of hotels and conference facilities. Please put the dates of the NMEA Conference on your school calendars and notify all necessary school officials; working several years ahead will help avoid conflicts with other school activities.