On February 17, 2015, the musical Hamilton premiered in an Off-Broadway theater. Within a few short months, it transitioned to Broadway’s Richard Rodgers Theatre, where it quickly became a cultural phenomenon. This contemporary portrayal of the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton captivated audiences with its powerful narrative and innovative blend of musical styles. When I experienced Hamilton for the first time, I was grateful for closed captions—some of the lyrics moved so rhythmically fast that my percussion-damaged ears struggled to keep pace. Still, I was deeply moved by the musical journey Lin-Manuel Miranda created. It was a vivid reminder of the transformative power of music.
While many of the show’s songs have become iconic, it was the final number, “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story, “That resonated most deeply with me. In it, Hamilton’s wife, Eliza, recounts his life and continues his legacy by telling his story. Reflecting on this, I began to think about the stories that music has stored in my own heart—stories of students, colleagues, mentors, and moments that shaped my journey. I carry those stories with me, and I share them often.
Have you considered what stories your students will one day tell about their time making music with you? Whether you teach elementary or high school, band, choir, orchestra, or general music, every moment in your classroom contributes to a legacy that will be remembered. Let’s continue building that legacy, one rehearsal, one performance, and one meaningful connection at a time.
Southern Division Meeting
In early September, the Southern Division of NAfME assembled in Atlanta, GA. The Southern Division is the largest division of NAfME and is made up of representatives from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. Representing AMEA were Dr. Travis Bender, president-elect, Dr. Rob Lyda, past-president, Dr. Rusty Logan, executive director, and me. Led by the past-president of AMEA, Susan Smith, the Southern Division reported on the great things happening in their states and discussed challenges we all face. At the beginning of the meeting, we were joined by the NAfME president, Dr. Cecil Adderley, Scott Sheehan, past-president, and other NAfME staff, and given updates on the national association. Following the meeting with the national office, topics of discussion for the Southern Division included collegiate voting, data collection, mentorship of our newest colleagues, advocacy of our programs and associations, sponsorships, and ways to reach out to connect with more collegiates, and general challenges to overcome. Did you know NAfME has an entire resource library of professional development webinars on just about any topic you may need help? Check out the library here. https://nafme.org/publications-resources/resource-library/
2026 Professional Development Conference
In just a few short months, we will be preparing to trek to Birmingham to attend the 2026 professional development conference, hoping that extreme weather will not impede us. Congratulations to those ensembles who were selected to perform, and to those who will be sharing their expertise with us in clinics. If you have not already done so, please renew your NAfME membership, which grants you membership to AMEA, and then register for the conference and book your hotel. All of this can be done via the website at https://myamea.org/professional-development-conference/
We are excited to host the Alabama Symphony Orchestra led by Maestro Carlos Izcaray. For the first time, we will premiere the AMEA Elementary All-State Choir conducted by Dr. Scott Sexton. We are also excited to host our very first digital music showcase facilitated by Dr. Shane Colquhoun. Just as a reminder, this showcase is not a competition, but an opportunity for students across the state to show their talents in the digital music field. To apply for your student to participate in the digital music showcase, please visit https://myamea.org/digital-music-showcase/. We are also excited to begin offering, for purchase, some AMEA swag—more specific details to come.
This spring, we will be electing the 2026-2028 AMEA President-elect and recording secretary. A nominating committee has been formed and will present a slate of candidates at the conference. Over the years, many of our past presidents in AMEA and its divisions have retired during their term as past president. According to our current bylaws, retired members are ineligible to vote and hold office. To allow members to complete their service, the AMEA governing board is proposing the following changes to our bylaws. Proposed changes are in red.
Article III – Membership
● Section 1. Active Membership. Active membership in the AMEA with the right to vote and to hold office shall be open to persons engaged in music teaching or other music-related educational work in Alabama. Annual dues shall be the amount stipulated for NAfME membership, plus the amount specified in the AMEA Bylaws. Only active members may have voting privileges or hold office.
The only exception to this rule applies if a division or AMEA’s immediate past-president retires from full time teaching during their term of service. A retired immediate past-president of a division or AMEA will have the right to vote only on the governing board which they serve.
● Section 2. Retired Membership. Retired membership shall be open to former music educators who have retired from teaching, administrative, or research positions in music education and are members of NAfME at the time of retirement. Retired members shall have the same privileges as active members except the right to vote and to hold office.
The only exception to this rule applies if a division or AMEA’s immediate past-president retires from full-time teaching during their term of service. A retired immediate past-president of a division or AMEA will have the right to vote only on the governing board on which they serve.
Rationale: Several former board members and past presidents of divisions of AMEA have retired from full-time teaching during their terms of service. This change will allow immediate past- presidents in each division and on the AMEA board to complete their terms of service as voting members.
In actuality, this does not change anything in AMEA. Many people have continued to serve and vote during their term as past-president. This proposed amendment allows our policy to match our actual practice.
In the past, we have experienced very low voter turnout during new administrative voting. I strongly encourage you to be on the lookout for voting information and instructions following the conference, particularly for the positions of President-elect and Recording Secretary. Your voice is essential, so please use this opportunity to let your voice be heard.
We will also be awarding professional development credit to conference attendees through Powerschool. Please check with your school administration before the conference to ensure you have access and are familiar with the platform. For the past few years, the East Alabama Regional In-Service Center has entered the information into Powerschool for us, after receiving information from you, and we are grateful. If you are retired and need a certificate, we will also provide one. Please be sure to watch our social media, and more importantly, the website for all things related to the conference, including professional development.
Capital Tunes 2026
As some of you may know, Andy Meadows, who served as the Arts Education Specialist for the Alabama State Department of Education and held an ex officio seat on our governing board, has recently retired. We thank Andy for his service to our association and the arts programs in the state. Since his departure, the State Department is in the process of hiring a new arts specialist. I have been working with the state department to ensure programs like Capital Tunes will continue during the transition period at the department. I am happy to report that the Alabama State Department of Education, the Alabama Music Educators Association, and the Alabama Institute for Education in the Arts will continue our partnership to provide this meaningful opportunity to our student musicians. We encourage you to apply for your small ensemble to perform in the Rotunda of the Alabama State Capitol Building during the 2026 Legislative sessions in February or March. This opportunity is for public schools in the state to travel to Montgomery to showcase their small ensembles (20-25 students). Please see the AMEA website for more details and to apply. https://myamea.org/capitol-tunes-celebration/. The deadline to apply and be considered is November 1, 2025.
In April of 2025, my dear momma passed away. While the sadness visits me daily, I am reminded of the legacy she left with our family. How important certain things were to her and how they are now important to me. Each day, a word, an object, or a smell reminds me of a story of our time together. Those stories, and her legacy, will live on forever in my heart. Every kid who passes through your door will only be in your presence for a short time. Sing the song that matters. Play the tune that they’ll remember. Provide every opportunity you can to make music and memories. You determine who lives, who dies, who tells your story.
As always, please reach out if we can do anything to assist you in building your legacy.