About Us

The first meeting of the Connecticut Music Education Association took place on October 28, 1932 at the Hartford City Club with 114 people present. Formed by a merger of Connecticut’s State Music Supervisors and Music Teachers Associations, the new association’s purpose was three-fold, serving music on an educational, cooperative and social basis. Educational in placing before its members the most advanced pedagogical thought relating to their profession: Cooperative in bettering general teaching conditions by extending the sphere of influence of its members through the prestige of the organization and in securing a wider recognition of the educational value of music: Social in promoting good fellowship and encouragement among its members.

Festivals became a part of association activities with the first All-Connecticut Festival which was held on April 18, 1936 at the Connecticut State College in Storrs. It involved 300 students from 20 cities and towns making up two ensembles, a chorus and an orchestra. Waterbury hosted the second festival and by the time the third was held in Greenwich in 1939, CMEA had changed “Education” in its title to “Educators” with the intent of creating a new aspect of belonging and improved group value.

The 1940s became a propelling decade with many initiatives including the creation of a camp, an association newsletter and the beginning of audition festivals. By the mid forties, there were 384 music teachers in the state and half were members. In May of 1948, a resolution was filed to incorporate as a non-profit organization, and the name changed to the Connecticut Music Educators Association, Inc. As CMEA continued to grow so did its relationship with the Music Educators National Conference, which would later become the National Association for Music Education.

CMEA celebrated its’ 80th anniversary in 2012 making it one of the oldest state music educators associations in the nation. With more than 1,000 active members today, CMEA has grown to be the principal organization in Connecticut representing every level of music education, in every discipline and continues to fulfill its commitment to music education in our state.

Since its inception in 1932, Connecticut Music Educators Association (CMEA) has been dedicated to providing programs and activities for professional educators, students and future music educators striving to enhance the quality of music education for all children.

CMEA believes in equitable access for Connecticut music teachers and students to all CMEA related events, student activities, and professional development. CMEA welcomes all teachers and students regardless of race, ethnicity, disability, religious background, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, neurodiversity and other exceptionalities. We strive to embed diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) into the core values of CMEA, so that positive musical outcomes may flourish for all.

Goals:

• To promote and recognize effective music teaching
• To promote quality learning opportunities for all Connecticut students N-12
• To provide a unified voice on behalf of music educators in Connecticut
• To maintain a vital, effective, and efficient organization