The National Association for Music Education Membership Exceeds 100,000 Members

Membership in Worlds Largest Arts Education Association Reaches Historic High

RESTON, VA (PRWEB) July, 2003 – MENC: The National Association for Music Education membership reached a historic high of 101,234 at the close of the 2002-2003 fiscal year. The worlds largest arts education association, MENC has an active and diverse membership of K-12 public, private and parochial school music educators, university professors of music education, college students studying to become music teachers, high school honor musicians, corporate partners, and community supporters of music education known as MusicFriends."

MENC members reside and work in every state in the nation and also include Canadian, European, and other international educators.

MENCs leaders include National President Dr. Willie L. Hill, Jr. , who brings to MENC a dynamic background that includes more than twenty years of experience in the public school systems.

He has taught every level of music from elementary to college, served as a music supervisor for more than four years, spent eighteen years in music administration, authored numerous research publications, and is currently the director of the Fine Arts Center at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

As president of MENC for a two year term ending in 2004, Dr. Hill is committed to helping establish or position music as an essential part of a child's formal education in this country. His three primary concerns are recruitment, retention, and professional development issues; developing MENCs capacity to be a leader in music education; and continuing MENCs strong advocacy efforts.

MENCs executive director is Dr. John J. Mahlmann, who has served MENC in that position for twenty years. During this time, he has led MENC through a period of substantial membership growth and transformed the landscape of music education through innovative programs and vigorous advocacy of music education in our nations schools.

MENCs continued growth is a good indicator of awareness within education and among the public of the importance of music education," says Mahlmann. These are difficult times for arts education programs, but the intrinsic value of music, along with all the many social, developmental, and academic benefits it brings to life, make it something that every child deserves to experience in school.

Our members are committed to ensuring that every student in our nation receives an education that includes music."

MENC, the worlds largest arts education organization, is the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. More than 100,000 members represent all levels of teaching from preschool to graduate school.

Since 1907, MENC has worked to ensure that every student has access to a well-balanced, comprehensive, and high-quality program of music instruction taught by qualified teachers.

MENCs activities and resources have been largely responsible for the establishment of music education as a profession, for the promotion and guidance of music study as an integral part of the school curriculum, and for the development of the National Standards for Arts Education.
   
For more information, call MENC at 1-800-336-3768.

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