2024 Annual WVMEA In-Service Conference

Charleston Civic Center and Municipal Auditorium
February 29 - March 2, 2024

“INCLUDE, INVOLVE, and INSPIRE”

ONLINE REGISTRATION is now CLOSED for the 2024 Annual WVMEA In-Service Conference.

The Conference will be in-person at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center in Charleston, WV, on February 29 - March 2, 2024. Registrants must be current WVMEA members at the time of registration and during the conference dates. Membership will be verified at the time of registration. Questions about NAfME membership may be directed to MemberServices@nafme.org. Join or renew your membership at https://nafme.org/join-renew/.

Information for the three (3) credit hour WVU Professional Development Class for teachers attending the 2023 WVMEA Conference is available HERE.

Note: All teachers must be pre-registered in order to take students to participate in any conference activity. Failure to comply will result in an increased registration fee and students will be removed from conference activities until evidence of conference registration is verified with the chair of the respective affiliate.

Questions about registration may be directed to executive@wvmea.org.

Conference Overview

The annual WVMEA In-Service Conference is held in the spring of each year. It encompasses every segment of the organization and has emerged as a major in-service activity for all teachers, as well as providing unique performance opportunities for gifted students. In addition to workshop sessions on all levels of music instruction from kindergarten through college, several inspiring concert hours are held to spotlight the top honors performing organizations in the state, including honors finalists from the regional solo and ensemble festivals.

The gala finale of the In-Service Conference traditionally has been the performances of the All-State Band, Orchestra, and Chorus, usually under the direction of nationally known conductors. The In-Service Conference is supported by exhibitors who have displays and by the registration fee paid by members who attend. WVMEA members also have the opportunity to participate in the national and divisional NAfME in-service conferences, which are held during alternate years These meetings offer a wealth of possibilities for improved training and provide additional educational opportunities to all who attend.

Order All-State Tickets:

Image

Friday, March 1. 2024 - 5:00pm
@ the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center

All-State Middle School Band, Middle School Orchestra, and Children's Chorus Concert

Saturday, March 2, 2024 - 1:30pm
@ the Clay Center

All-State High School Chorus, High School Orchestra, and High School Band Concert

Keynote Speaker

Image

Dr. James Weaver

Dr. James Weaver is the Director of Performing Arts and Sports for the National Federation of State High School Associations. Originally from Aberdeen, SD, Dr. Weaver is a 2001 graduate of Aberdeen (SD) Central High School. He has been a teacher and administrator at the district, state, and national level.

Weaver began his professional career in 2005 as director of orchestras for the Perham (Minnesota) Public Schools for two years, followed by a four-year stint as director of orchestras for the Aberdeen (South Dakota) Public Schools. Under his leadership, the Aberdeen program grew to record levels, and his orchestras have consistently been given high marks at local and regional contests.

Weaver began his tenure at the NFHS in 2016 as the director of performing arts and sports with the charge of increasing participation, professional development, and awareness of performing arts activities throughout the nation’s high schools. He has created partnerships with several national arts organizations to create a robust advocacy network. Formed several committees to create professional development courses for music and speech adjudicators, new music teachers and contest managers, as well as safety programs for marching band and theater use. The NFHS created the standard for copyright education and compliance under Weaver’s leadership with the creation of the NFHS Copyright and Compliance Learn Course and the Copyright Compliance Database.

Dr. Weaver served as the co-chair of the International Coalition for Performing Arts Aerosol study. The study was influential during the COVID-19 global pandemic, giving guidance to schools, states, national and international organizations for a return to performing arts activities. Bringing together 125 performing arts organizations this effort involved the largest coalition of performing arts organizations for a single purpose. Dr. Weaver currently serves as the president of the National Music Council as well as on several other national music boards and policy committees.

As the district administrator of the fine and performing arts programs for the Sioux Falls (SD) schools, Weaver administered the K-12 curriculum for music, visual arts, speech, debate, theatre, journalism, student council and special education adaptive arts. He was responsible for 140 staff members across 37 buildings, rewriting of the K-12 fine arts curriculum and a multi-million-dollar budget.

Before he joined the Sioux Falls schools in August 2015, Weaver was assistant executive director in charge of fine arts for the South Dakota High School Activities Association (SDHSAA) for four years. In addition to handling four all-state music ensembles, speech, debate, theatre, journalism and student council, Weaver started a visual arts component within the SDHSAA. He also transferred all of the association’s music programs to an online ballot system, which increased the speed and improved the accuracy of the music adjudication processes.

Dr. Weaver earned a bachelor of music degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, a master’s degree in educational administration and leadership from Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and his doctorate in school district administration and educational leadership from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, South Dakota. In 2011 Weaver was named “Outstanding Arts Educator” by the Aberdeen Area Arts Council. In 2021 Weaver was inducted as an honorary lifetime member of Kappa Kappa Psi, and received the Distinguished Service Award from the SDHSAA.

All-State Guest Conductors:

Image
Children's Chorus
KEN BERG
Image
Middle School Band
DR. DEBORAH CONFREDO
Image
Middle School Orchestra
SARAH BALL
Image
High School Band
DR. PETER LOEL BOONSHAFT
Image
High School Chorus
DR. ANDRÉ J. THOMAS
Image
High School Orchestra
JAMES PALMER
2024 WVMEA In-Service Conference February 29, 2024 08:00 am EST 19 19 Hrs. 55 0 Mins.
Image