New Hampshire Music Educators' Association

06/07/2026

Congratulations to Rebecca Coughlin for being our NH Music Educator of the Year! We had a great time at the Edies last night and I’m glad I was able to catch her acceptance speech.

06/07/2026

Congratulations again! What a lovely evening we had at the Edies last night.

Countdown to Excellence: Award Winner Spotlight 🌟

Rebecca Coughlin exemplifies professionalism in every aspect of her work. She is a passionate advocate for music and arts education and for student well-being. She consistently contributes to a positive school culture at McKelvie Intermediate School, Bedford, NH and her enthusiasm, leadership, and collaborative spirit have had a lasting impact on both students and colleagues. Her dedication is a true inspiration to all music educators.

New Hampshire Music Educators' Association leads New Hampshire in music education, empowering generations to create, perform, and respond to music

05/21/2026

We’d love to congratulate Goffstown High School Tri-M as the NH Tri-M chapter of the year.

Each year NAfME recognizes a chapter from each state to recognize the amazing work of student chapters to support music education in their communities.

Congratulations to Christopher Belding, Joshua Desrochers, and all of the amazing Goffstown Music students!

Scholarships awarded to the national chapters of the year

04/18/2026

As we get ready for the start of our All-State Concerts, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate our students receiving their four year and top score awards! Congratulations!

04/16/2026

We can't wait to see you tomorrow for NHMEA's Spring Conference!

We're looking forward to is by Destiny Cooper's session on generating repertoire and voice builders for the classroom.

Destiny Cooper an is active performer, conductor and educator whose goal is to find ways to build community through music, education and performance. Graduating from Westminster Choir College, Destiny has been a Middle School Choral Director and Conductor for Boston Childrens Chorus since 2018. As a music educator and conductor, Destiny is passionate about getting students thinking creatively in their music-making; through improvisation, Circlesinging and songwriting; previously presenting her work with students for Massachusetts Nafme and ACDA. She an active judge and choral clinician and been invited to work with Junior Ensembles in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont.

bit.ly/NHMEASpringConf

04/15/2026

We're so excited to have Ms. Kelley Johnson present her session about designing the first nine weeks of middle school band!

The first nine weeks of school can feel overwhelming—especially for new band directors stepping into a middle school classroom for the first time. Expectations are high, time feels short, and everyone is wondering the same thing: How do I set my band up for success before the first concert even arrives? This session provides a clear and realistic blueprint for navigating the critical first nine weeks with intention and confidence. Designed for new teachers, early-career middle school band directors, and collegiate music education students preparing to enter the profession, this clinic walks through a practical, week-by-week framework that helps directors establish routines, build strong relationships, and develop sound fundamentals from day one.

Read her bio here: https://conference.nhmea.org/

Join us on Friday April 17 in Concord for a day of inspiration, collaboration, and professional growth! We can’t wait to see you there!

bit.ly/NHMEASpringConf

04/13/2026

What a fantastic tradition! Thank you Jean Nelson for your many years of service to our music education community here in New Hampshire!

04/13/2026

We’re excited to welcome Dr. Mariana Farah to the NHMEA Spring Conference!

Her session, “From First Note to Final Bow: Choral Auditions & Rehearsals that Really Work,” will offer practical strategies and fresh ideas to help music educators design meaningful auditions and build thriving ensembles from the first rehearsal to the final performance.

Join us on Friday April 17 in Concord for a day of inspiration, collaboration, and professional growth! We can’t wait to see you there!

bit.ly/NHMEASpringConf

04/10/2026

We're so excited to host Dr. Peter Boonshaft as our keynote speaker! He'll also be sharing this great session on warm-up and ensemble develment techniques!

Dr. Boonshaft is the author of the critically acclaimed best-selling books, Teaching Music with Passion, Teaching Music with Purpose, and Teaching Music with Promise. He also co-authors Alfred Music Publishing’s method book series, Sound Innovations. His weekly “Boonshaft’s Blog” for music educators continues to inspire teachers everywhere. He is currently on the faculty of Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY, where he is Professor Emeritus of Music.

bit.ly/NHMEASpringConf

04/09/2026

Can't wait for this session on making our students our best advocates by Christy Papandrea! Come check it out at the Spring Conference on April 17th!

Pre-registration discount ends today!

Christy Papandrea is a music educator, currently a Doctoral Candidate at Boston University pursuing her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Music Education at Boston University. Her dissertation topic focuses on Compassionate Music Teaching and Restorative Practices in a Secondary Instrumental Ensemble. She holds a Master of Music Education with an emphasis in Instrumental Conducting from The Hartt School, University of Hartford, a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Castleton University, and has completed additional graduate coursework in Ethnomusicology and World Music at Liberty University. She serves as the Music Educator and Band Director at Proctor Junior-Senior High School in Vermont, where she directs the instrumental and general music program spanning grades seven through twelve and leads numerous performing ensembles. Her innovative teaching and leadership have been recognized nationally through Music for All’s Advocacy in Action Award (2024–2025) and featured in statewide restorative practice initiatives through the University of Vermont as a professional development tool for staff, school boards, and parents. In addition to her work in public education, she has held multiple leadership roles within the Vermont Music Educators Association and Green Mountain District V. Her published articles and conference presentations explore topics in music education, restorative practices, and student engagement.

bit.ly/NHMEASpringConf