COLUMBUS - Music education students from the Midview High School’s Tri-M Music Honor Society Chapter #2522 traveled to Columbus on Monday, November 2nd for the Ohio Tri-M State Leadership Conference. The theme of the conference was On the Path to Arts Education Advocacy.

 

Students began the day at the Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts with guest speaker Carey McDonald, Policy Analyst for the Democratic Party in the Ohio House of Representatives. Following Mr. Carey’s presentation and discussion with students, time was provided for students to share ideas for Tri-M Chapter activities. Arrangements were made by Donna Collins, Executive Director of the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education, for the students to visit their legislators. Students took full advantage of the legislative meetings to share powerful stories and messages about the value of arts education with legislators and their aides. 

 

Jim Dowdy, President of the Ohio Music Education Association, spoke to the students at the President’s Luncheon. High school students from six Ohio high schools combined to perform a short concert of vocal selections in the Rotunda of the Ohio Statehouse. As part of the civics lesson of the day, students toured the Ohio Statehouse, learned about the history of the building, viewed public art, and became more knowledgeable about the Ohio legislature. The closing ceremony of the day included presentation of the 2009 Tri-M State Chapter of the Year Award. Congratulations to Midview High School of Grafton, Ohio.

The advisor for the Midview High School’s Tri-M Chapter is Lisa Manning. The Ohio Tri-M State Leadership Conference was hosted by Brian Myers, Ohio Music Education Association Tri-M State Advisor. The conference was sponsored by the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education and the Ohio Music Education Association.

The Tri-M Music Honor Society is the international music honor society for middle/junior high and high school students. It is designed to recognize students for their academic and musical achievements, reward them for their accomplishments and service activities, and to inspire other students to excel at music and leadership. Through more than 4,500 chartered chapters, Tri-M has helped thousands of young people provide years of service through music in schools throughout the world.

Tri-M was founded in 1936 by Alexander and Frances Harley, incorporated and renamed Modern Music Masters in 1952, and in 1983 recognized as the Tri-M Music Honor Society, a program of MENC: The National Association for Music Education.

For more information about how to start a Tri-M Music Honor Society Chapter at your high school contact Brian Myers, OMEA State Tri-M Advisor at (419) 833-3611, x225.