MTSU’s School of Music had to cancel its 34th annual Winter Music Education Conference for current and future music educators statewide, planned for Saturday, Jan. 13, due to inclement weather.

Snow and icy conditions convinced university officials to close campus Jan. 12. The university reopened Jan. 13, but conference organizers decided to cancel the music event because of continuing rough weather for travelers in some areas of Tennessee.

The Winter Music Education Conference at MTSU provides a full day of professional development for music educators and future music educators across Tennessee. Clinicians are nationally and internationally recognized experts in music education and related areas.

Dr. Jamila McWhirter

“Music educators travel from across the state annually to attend this event,” said Dr. Jamila McWhirter, coordinator of the event and an associate professor and coordinator of music education for the School of Music.

“Several make it a weekend adventure in Murfreesboro each year. Those studying music education at both MTSU and other institutions across Tennessee also regularly attend.”

Mark Lawley, whose teaching career has spanned more than three decades and included students from kindergarten through university levels in choral, band and general music settings, had been scheduled as the 2018 conference clinician. His first 25 years were spent teaching secondary music, where his students consistently earned superior ratings at district and state music festivals and presented invitational performances at national and regional American Choral Directors Association gatherings.

Mark Lawley

After award-winning tenures at Drury University and Missouri Baptist University, Lawley currently serves as director of choirs and department chair at New Covenant Academy in Springfield, Missouri, and as vice president for the Southwestern American Choral Directors Association.

Past conference clinicians are a who’s who of music education, including MTSU’s own Cedric Dent, who teaches music theory, music arranging and vocal jazz and directs the MTSU Singers.

For details on special events and concerts in the MTSU School of Music, call 615-898-2493 or visit www.mtsumusic.com.

— Gina E. Fann (gina.fann@mtsu.edu)

MTSU School of Music professor Jennifer Vannatta-Hall, center, demonstrates some attention-getting teaching tactics for music education students during her “Music for the Young Child” course in the Saunders Fine Arts Building in this February 2017 file photo. The School of Music is hosting its 34th annual Winter Music Education Conference for current and prospective music educators Jan. 13. (MTSU file photo by J. Intintoli)