Reston, VA (October 20, 2008) - Breaking with its practice of staging staff-managed biennial conferences for music educators, MENC has announced an expansion of its relationship with In Tune Partners to include production of a new annual event called "Music Education Week in Washington". IN Tune also publishes MENC's Teaching Music magazine and represents The Music Educator's Journal and menc.org.
Music Education Week in Washington is a collection of MENC membership, advocacy, performance, educator awards and conference events co-located at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Virginia on June 17-24, 2009. "We're delighted to be working with In Tune on this unprecedented national event in support of music education," said MENC Executive Director Dr. John Mahlmann. "Music Education Week will bring our members and their families to our nation's capitol at the end of the school year for activities in support of professional development, the advancement of music education, and a connection with our partners and sponsors."
"We're building an event unlike any that currently exists on the state or regional level," said In Tune Partners CEO Irwin Kornfeld. "The "academics" for educators, the performance and entertainment evens and the interface with government and music industry executives are all unique in format and content. This is the national music education event we've all been waiting for from MENC."
Music Education Week plans include MENC's National Executive Board Meeting, its National Assembly, a rally on the grounds of the U.S. Department of Education, the singing of the national anthem on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial by thousands of students with a coordinated appearance on morning television, performances by bands, orchestras and choruses throughout Washington organized by MENC Events in cooperation with American Musical Salute as the precursor to an adjudicated program with national awards beginning in 2010, a performance by a major musical act, a trip to Annapolis to see the kick-off performance of the Drum Corps International season, a gala concert from the U.S. Air Force Band side-by-side with talented students from around the ensembles, a meeting of music executives in support of music education initiatives and a ceremony to celebrate the new MENC National Music Educator Awards.
