.png)
Welcome Back MMEA!
- mcgillicuddyc
- Sep 2
- 4 min read
Welcome Back to School!
I have enjoyed seeing so many positive and engaging posts regarding the start of your new year! Additionally, our students are so lucky to have you working with them! What we do here in Massachusetts is seriously so incredible and I'm just honored to work alongside such invested and impactful music educators! Check out these important updates as we head into the new year!
The MMEJ Fall Issue!
Please check out another outstanding Massachusetts Music Educators Journal put together by our editor, Dr. Christy Whittlesey and her amazing team! MMEJ FALL ISSUE 2025
FUTURE MUSIC EDUCATORS AND MUSIC PROGRAM LEADERS SUMMIT
Information to register for the Future Music Educators Summit and Music Program Leaders Summit is now available on the MMEA Website. Last year over 50 high school students and 25 music program leaders (arts administrators) came together for a day of sharing, workshops, and wonderful keynotes as we continue to provide insight and pathways into this incredible profession of music education. This year's event will take place on Monday, November 17 at 9:00am at the Worcester Area Mission Society in Worcester, MA.
We also welcome nationally acclaimed music educator and speaker of leadership, Cameron W. Jenkins as this year's keynote speaker! Any colleges that would like to participate by having a table present and also providing workshops to our participants, please reach out to me (Jared Cassedy - president@massmea.org) for planning purposes.
ALL STATE CONFERENCE AND FESTIVAL UPDATES
All State Conference: March 19-20, 2026 at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA All State Festival: March 20-21 in Worcester, MA (various locations)
We know that there are a lot of questions around our upcoming auditions and festival! To make the communication more streamlined, later this week we will be sending a separate communication with information about the All State Conference and Concert, including information about auditions procedures for new ensembles, conference session proposals, registration, and our keynote speaker. Stay tuned for more information!
ANNOUNCING APPOINTED EXECUTIVE BOARD POSITIONS AND NEW ENSEMBLE MANAGERS/ASSISTANT MANAGERS
A huge congratulations and a tremendous amount of gratitude to the following individuals who have been appointed to Executive Board positions and new ensemble manager/assistant manager positions.
EXECUTIVE BOARD:
Clerk: Ilanna Tariff (Worcester - Burncoat)
MMEA Collegiate NAfME Advisor: Dr. Jacqueline Smith (Boston University)
All State Auditions Coordinator: Michael Coelho (Ipswich)
NEW ENSEMBLE MANAGERS/ASSISTANT MANAGERS
Contemporary Ensemble Manager: Dr. Kevin Coyne (Waltham)
Asst. Manager Still Open
Jazz Ensemble w/Vocalists: Amanda Howland (Northbridge)
Asst. Manager Still Open
SSAA Manager: Matthew Buono (Brockton)
SSAA Asst. Manager: Abi Varsos (Framingham)
Percussion Ensemble Manager: Allie Ross (Phillips Andover)
Percussion Ensemble Asst. Manager: Jill Boday (Milford)
Anyone interested in serving as assistant manager for the open ensembles can reach out to Allyson Rottman, Concert Coordinator, at concertcoordinator@massmea.org.
ADVOCACY
Our incredible Advocacy Chair for MMEA, Allyson Rottman (Worcester Youth Orchestras) is presenting a session via the Lowell Mason House titled "Amplify Your Advocacy Voice" on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025 at 6:30pm at the First Parish Meetinghouse, 26 North St. Medfield, MA. Check out this INFORMATIONAL FLYER for more details!
MMEA COUNCILS COMMITTEE INTEREST REQUEST
As voted on at our General Membership Meeting in March, our bylaws now state that we are changing how councils will work moving to having coalition chairs for each ares of music education acting as liaisons between the state association and their coalitions. We are looking for representation from each of the five MMEA districts to discuss what this will look like! Led by Matthew Buono (Brockton), there will be approximately three meetings to flesh this out. If you are interested in participating, please fill out the MMEA Councils Committee Interest Form by Sept. 30, 2025! We need your input and voice so please consider participating!
MTEL MUSIC OBJECTIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE
The MA DESE is looking for teachers to be nominated/considered to review the Music MTEL.
From MA DESE:
Why Educator’s Involvement is Important:
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is committed to the recruitment and retention of a diverse educator workforce; along those lines, the inclusion of a diverse group of voices and perspectives on the MTEL test development committees is crucial. In addition, review of test materials for potential bias is an important step in developing valid certification steps.
Benefits of Participation Include:
Receive substitute reimbursement for your school;
Receive Professional Development Points to public school educators for meeting participation;
Make a difference in Massachusetts teacher development and performance;
Have the opportunity for professional growth and collaboration with educators in your field.
If you are interested in being a part of this very important work please fill out this APPLICATION FORM.
SHORTLIST ITEMS
AVENIR - A reminder that updating your NAfME/MMEA membership does not automatically update in Avenir. Please be sure to get into Avenir updating who your director(s) are along with everyone's NAfME membership number and expiration date. This is a requirement for sending students to auditions and the All State Music Festival. Any teacher/director that is sending a student to auditions must have an up to date membership - in other words, one director's membership can NOT sponsor another teacher in their school who is sending students.
NEXT MMEA EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING - will be taking place on Monday, Sept. 8 at 4:30pm. If you would like to attend the Zoom meeting, fill out this form and a Zoom link will be emailed to you the day of the meeting. You can find the dates and board books of all upcoming meetings on the MMEA Website!
SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE - As you may have noticed, we are using social media more frequently to keep folks updated about all things related to our association! If you have anything you'd like us to post, celebrate, or share, please reach out directly!
If you haven't done so, please follow us on:
Instagram: @massachusetts_mea
With kindest and warmest regards,
Jared Cassedy
President, Massachusetts Music Educators Association
