Monday Notes - November 17

Happy Monday! Wishing everyone a great start to the week. As All-State auditions wrap up and final rosters are posted later this week, it’s the perfect time to finalize your conference plans. Get things set now so you can relax and enjoy all the fun ahead!

This is the week to tackle those tasks so you can truly relax over break! Take a look at the All-State reminders below and mark them off your to-do list.

• Make sure PO is in place for student All-State participation fees.
• Turn student participation invoice into the business office (Choir, Guitar, and Orchestra).
• Secure music for students (vendor information).
• Reserve hotel (link).
• Band & Jazz - make sure you get a PO in place as soon as rosters are posted. Invoices will be sent around December 6th.

Just a quick heads up. The conductor for Concert Orchestra sent the incorrect bowed parts for Estampas. She will send correct parts over the break and we will send the parts directly to teachers and students.

Don't let things slip through the cracks as you make preparations for the 2026 All-State Music Festival & In-Service Conference. Check the following off the list!

• Make sure PO is in place for your registration.
• Register for the conference.
• Purchase luncheon ticket (link).
• Reserve your hotel room.

Congrats to the 2026 NMMEA Award winners (video)! Thank you for your contributions to music education in New Mexico!

Daniel Holmes

Educator of the year

Cat Woo

John Batcheller Award for Elementary Education

Evan Aguilar

New & Emerging Teacher of the Year

Dustin Seifert

Daniel Fear

Donna Schmidt

Hall of Fame

Bruce Dalby

Emeritus Teacher of the Year

New Mexico Activities Association

Rollie Heltman Exemplary Service Award

Brian Luck, Roswell Independent School District

Administrator of the Year

Albuquerque Public Schools

Award of Distinction

Rio Rancho Public Schools

Certificate of Recognition

Congratulations to the 2026 NMMEA Honor Ensembles (video). Make sure to add concert times to your schedule. You don't want to miss these!

Alternative Ensemble

NMSA Percussion Ensemble

New Mexico School for The Arts, Santa Fe

Jesse Parker, Conductor

Band

Highland Middle School Symphonic Band

Highland Middle School, Hobbs

Roxy Sanchez, Conductor

Choir

Centennial High School Chamber Choir

Centennial High School, Las Cruces

Jeonai Batista, Conductor

General Music

Lovington Elementary Honor Choir

Yarbro Elementary, Lovington

Linda Cauthen, Director

Jazz

Los Alamos High School Jazz 1

Los Alamos High School, Los Alamos

Steve Iliff, Director

Orchestra

Centennial High School Orchestra

Centennial High School, Las Cruces

Hyerim Mapp, Conductor

Once Jazz and Band rosters are posted, don’t wait, order your music right away! Musicality is handling everything again this year for both Band and Jazz Ensembles, but heads up - they’ve gone fully online.

And just a friendly reminder: emailing to ask when the lists will be posted won’t make them appear any faster (we promise).

Thank you to everyone who joined the “Fun with Advocacy” town hall on November 12. A special thanks to Daniel and Virginia for an excellent presentation. If you couldn’t make it, you can watch the recording and view the PowerPoint at the links below. The slides include live links to additional resources.

• Slide Deck
• Recording