Thank you to our sponsors:

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Regiter for the 2027 Conference Here

The 2027 MMEA All-State Professional Development Conference - Our Essential Sound: Every Child. Every Voice

MMEA, the Massachusetts Music Educators Association, in affiliation with NAfME, the National Association for Music Education, is pleased to present our annual All-State Conference and Exhibition on March 18th-19th, 2027 at the DCU Convention Center in Worcester, MA.

The annual All-State Conference features as many as 100 sessions, several concert hours and spotlight concerts, exclusive exhibit hall receptions, and is attended by more than 700 music educators and nearly 750 of the state’s top student musicians performing in Concert Band, Contemporary Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Band, Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, SSAA Choir, and SATB Choir.

For questions about the All-State Conference, please contact Maria Doreste Velazquez, Conference Chair, directly: conferencechair@massmea.org

Student Opportunities at the Conference

Contemporary Creators Festival: Thursday, March 18, 2027 (9:00 AM - 2:30 PM)

Student Composers Application - Coming Soon

Contemporary Ensemble Application - Coming Soon

Friday Spotlight Concert: Friday, March 19th, 2027 (10:00 AM or 12:00 PM)

Spotlight Concert Application - Coming Soon

Friday Concert Hour: Friday, March 19th, 2027 (2:30PM)

Friday Concert Hour Application - Coming Soon

If you have any questions about the registration process, or student opportunities, please contact Maria Doreste Valazquez, Conference Chair, at conferencechair@massmea.org

Graduate Credit Registration
Gordon College would like to offer graduate credit (1 credit) for MMEA Conference attendees. Details about tuition, registration, and course requirements are coming soon!

Conference Registration Fees:

REMINDER: If you are applying to be a presenter at this year’s conference and your session is accepted, you do not need to register (you will be automatically registered by MMEA) and your registration fee will be waived.

Early Bird Registration (June 15th - February 13th)

NAfME/MMEA Member: $210
NAfME Non-Member: $285
NAfME Retiree: $20

Regular Registration (February 14th - March 20th)

NAfME Member: $245
NAfME Non-Member: $310
NAfME Retiree: $25

Collegiate Member Registration (June 15th - February 13th)

NAfME Collegiate Member: $10
NAFME Non-Member Collegiate: $25

Please note: If you are paying by PO, you will be required to enter the PO Number and an Accounts Payable contact for your district. Please make sure you have this information prior to registration. There will no longer be an option for "PO Pending" as in past years.

Registration is non-transferable and non-refundable. Consideration for a refund in the event of a family emergency must be appealed to the Executive Director.

DEIA & Conference Sessions

Starting in the 2023-2024 school year, MMEA has adopted a new rubric for evaluating conference workshop session proposals. This was a cross-functional collaboration between the MMEA DEIA Committee and the MMEA Conference Committee.

Exhibitor Registration

Welcome to the 2026 Massachusetts All-State Conference Exhibitor Registration Form. Please make sure you read all questions clearly as they have changed.

We are excited to announce that this year's conference will take place for a second year in a row at the DCU Convention Center and Hilton Garden Inn from March 19th - 20th, 2026. Please explore our sponsorship opportunities, many of which include exhibitor space.

The 2026 registration form can be found here.

The deadline for Exhibitor Registration is February 1st, 2026, however, the application will close when we have sold all of our spaces. Registration is not confirmed without payment. Reservations made for exhibitor space must be canceled by February 14, 2026, in order to receive a refund.

For questions, please reach out to Katie Iatesta, MMEA Exhibits Chair at exhibits@massmea.org

Thank you for being part of this wonderful event filled with high school students, music educators, collegiates, and retirees from across the state of Massachusetts!

More Information:
When: March 19th - 20th, 2026

Where: DCU Convention Center in Worcester, MA.

Exhibit Hours:

Thursday, March 19th, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Friday, March 20th, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Please plan to be there until close on Friday

Set-up Times: TBD - waiting on the conference center to confirm (Likely Wednesday PM)

Load-in Instructions: When you arrive at the DCU center, you can load your items from Door 4A ONLY. This is a drop-off location, and as soon as your items are loaded into the building, you will need to park either in the garage across the street or find street parking.

NOTE: The DCU will not provide carts or dollys to move your items. Please bring your own if you need them to move your items around the DCU.

Shipping Instructions:

MMEA All-State Conference (3/19-3/20)
ATTN: Shari O'Connor
50 Foster Street
Door A
Worcester, MA 01608

Electricity: Electricity will be available for purchase through the venue. Please see Exhibitor Services - DCU Center.

Wifi: There is an unsecured network that is free from the network. When you arrive, you can log in and agree to the terms from the DCU. If you need a more secure WIFI connection, this can purchased through Exhibitor Services - DCU Center.

Venue/Booth Details: Exhibitors will be in the ballroom and along the upper atrium of the conference space, both of which are carpeted. Tables and booth spaces will include a tablecloth and 2 chairs. Tables are 8 feet wide and may not be turned. Booths are roughly 4 feet deep and 8 feet wide. There is no pipe and drape, and items may not be hung or attached to walls or airlocks. Please ensure that your display is free-standing.

Space: Exhibit Space is booked in 8-foot increments. Each exhibit space consists of (1) 8-foot open tabletop display area and two chairs (no pipe and drape). One (1) 8-foot table is provided per exhibit space.

Exhibit Fee: The standard exhibit fee is $400 per 8' space (6' table) for commercial enterprises or $300 for Colleges and Universities.

Number of Representatives per Exhibitor: Please note that a maximum of four (4) individuals may be registered to represent your firm or institution.

Registration Deadline: The deadline for Exhibitor Registration is February 1st, 2025 but could close beforehand if all booth spaces are sold.

Payment: Please see the registration form for all payment information.

Cancellation and Refund: Reservations made for exhibitor space must be canceled by February 14, 2025, in order to receive a refund.

For Questions: Please reach out to Katie Iatesta, MMEA Exhibits Chair at exhibits@massmea.org

2026 Hotel Information

We are excited to welcome everyone to Worcester for our annual All-State Conference and Concert Festival in March!

Travel to Worcester/Parking

Information about how to get to the DCU Center and nearby parking is located on their website:
https://www.dcucenter.com/venue-info/parking-directions/
Please note that if you put into your GPS "DCU Center" it will take you to 50 Foster Street, which is the entrance to the Arena. The entrance to the Convention Center is on Major Taylor Blvd, just around the corner.

Hotels

Hilton Garden Inn - Click Here for Room Block

Courtyard by Marriott Worcester - Click Here for Room Block

AC Hotel Worcester - Click Here for Room Block

Hampton Inn & Suites Worcester - Click Here for Room Block

Homewood Suites by Hilton Downtown Worcester - Click Here for Room Block

Residence Inn by Marriott Worcester - Click Here for Room Block

2027 Conference Sessions

We are excited to be back in Worcester at the DCU Center and the Hilton Garden Inn and use the CVENT platform for our registration, mobile app, and attendee hub website again this year. This year’s conference will be March 18-19, 2027.

Our theme will be Our Essential Sound: Every Child. Every Voice

Session proposals are now open until September 30th

Earning Professional Development Points at the Conference

The Massachusetts Music Educators Association is a registered professional development provider with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). We are excited to continue adding more value into your MMEA membership through providing professional development opportunities, such as the All-State Conference. In order to successfully receive PDPs from the All-State Conference, teachers must accumulate a minimum of 10 hours of sessions. If they participate in more than 10 hours of sessions, they will receive 1 additional PDP for each additional hour. They will need to submit a Google Form assignment for evaluation that will go live after the conference. If they participate in less than 10 hours of sessions, they will receive a certificate for "Professional Hours." Professional hours can be used to bundle with other professional development focusing on music that teachers attend in the future to make the 10-hour threshold required by DESE.

Observing the All-State ensemble rehearsals count towards professional development hours! Teachers may reflect on rehearsal observations.
The General Membership Meeting does not count for PDP's.
MMEA Professional Development Evaluators reserve the right to ask teachers to edit their submissions if reflections do not provide insights gained to improve practice and student learning outcomes.
MMEA Professional Development Evaluators will not keep copies of issued certificates. Teachers should make sure to download and print all certificates.