Kentucky Music Educators Association
Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA) is the Kentucky state-level affiliate of The National Association for Music Education. KMEA consists of over 1,000 professional music educators at all levels from kindergarten to the university level. It serves as a voice for Kentucky's music educators and maintains an active involvement with groups such as the Kentucky Citizens for the Arts, The Kentucky Alliance for the Arts, and The Kentucky Coalition for the Arts.
Mission statement
"To advance the cause of music education throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky by encouraging the study and making of music by all of the population and by serving as a strong advocate for issues affecting the accomplishment of that mission."
Programs
- Choruses
Kentucky high school students are provided the opportunity to participate in "Kentucky All-State Choruses [SATB, SSA, TTBB]." For elementary and middle school children, KMEA offers the "Kentucky Children's Chorus," and the "Kentucky Junior High Chorus."
- Bands and orchestras
Kentucky high school students also are provided the opportunity to participate in "All-State Bands [Concert, Symphonic, Jazz], and the "All-State Orchestra" or "Commonwealth String Orchestra," for which the students are chosen from a rigorous audition on their principle instruments.
- Marching band
See Kentucky State Marching Band Championships
- Festivals
KMEA provides opportunities for students to receive ratings for their performances as soloists or in small ensembles at eleven district sites throughout the Commonwealth in the Solo and Ensemble Assessment. Qualified evaluators rate a students performance and offers suggestions for improvement of their playing skills. For a student to participate in the events, his/her music teacher must be a member of the Kentucky Music Educators Association. Large Ensemble Assessment allow bands, orchestras and choral groups to play for evaluation at twleve district sites. Bands or choirs receiving Distinguished (I) ratings may participate in the State Concert Band or State Choir Festivals held in early May each year.