Students and faculty from the Iowa Wesleyan College music program had a significant presence at the Iowa Music Educators Association all-state convention held this past week on the Iowa State University campus in Ames.
Fourteen IWC music majors attended the annual IMEA in-service conference and all-state events. Students attended workshops and were able to observe choir, band and orchestra rehearsals throughout the three-day event.
At the convention, state-wide elections were held for offices in CMENC, the collegiate division of the music educators association. Iowa Wesleyan junior Madeline Sloat of Fairfield was elected state CMENC president for the second consecutive year. Sophomores Natalie Cunningham of Marion, Iowa, and Floyd Lewis of St. Louis, Missouri, were elected to serve as secretary and treasurer, respectively.
Iowa Wesleyan music professor Dr. David Johnson, state CMENC chair and coordinator for CMENC events at this year’s convention, said, “Friday was a wonderful day for Wesleyan students and students from colleges and universities across the state. I am grateful to all of the presenters including nationally recognized author and speaker, Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser; Wartburg professor Dr. Scott Munterfering, Iowa Wesleyan alumnus Jim DePriest, Iowa Music Mentor coordinator Leon Kuehner, Dr. Tim Taylor and Ames public school administrators and others that offered excellent and varied presentations, sharing real-world insights to future music educators.”
Iowa Wesleyan vocal music professor Dr. Jamie Spillane, Iowa Choral Directors Association Summer Convention Chair, met with directors from across the state finalizing plans for the ICDA convention in July.
Other highlights of the week included a performance by Opus, the honor choir made up of the state’s best fifth and sixth students, at ISU’s Stephens Auditorium. IWC alumna and Mt. Pleasant Community Middle School choir director Marlene DePriest was chosen as this year’s guest conductor. DePriest’s choir was accompanied by Dr. Joel Brown, Iowa Wesleyan College music professor who taught DePriest as a student. The select choir performed Thursday, November 18, to a capacity crowd of 2,700.
