2026 NAfME Council of Music Program Leaders Forum

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2026 NAfME Council of Music Program Leaders Forum

“From Budget to Brilliance: Building Strong Music Programs”

The NAfME Council of Music Program Leaders is excited to announce the 2026 NAfME Music Program Leaders Forum will be held in Phoenix/Mesa, Arizona, from January 28-29, in conjunction with the Arizona’s Music Education Association Conference.

The NAfME Music Program Leaders Forum will provide a space for music program leaders to network and discuss ideas to help them support the music programs in their own district. Participants will gain valuable knowledge and insight on a variety of topics of interest to music program leaders.

The Music Program Leaders Forum will:

1. Offer administrator/leadership-oriented sessions
2. Support and advance diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging (DEIAB) at all levels in the field of music education
3. Share innovative ideas that are helpful to music program leaders/fine arts coordinators in their roles of leading music/arts programs to success
4. Foster interaction and interdisciplinary connections across NAfME’s vibrant network of communities, affiliates, councils, and societies

Schedule Overview:

• January 28-29, 2026: Music Program Leaders Forum
  • January 28:  9 AM – 5 PM
  • January 29:  9 AM – 12:00 PM followed by an optional visit to the Musical Instrument Museum
• January 30-31, 2026: Arizona Music Educators Association Conference (forum participants will be offered a discounted rate to the AMEA Conference if they would like to attend).

Sessions:

Wednesday, January 28:

Integrating Technology and AI into the Music Classroom to Build Stronger Programs
Presented by Chad Cygan

The modern music industry is fundamentally digital, yet many high school programs still operate within traditional instrumental/vocal paradigms. This session provides music program leaders with a strategic framework for integrating AI and digital tools to modernize curriculum, enhance student engagement, and drive program enrollment growth. We will explore cost-effective platforms for personalized practice (e.g., SmartMusic, Yousician), generative AI for composition (e.g., Logic Pro X, Hookpad), and the use of technology to create relevant new courses (e.g., Music Production, Songwriting). Leaders will leave with actionable steps for developing equitable technology policy, budgeting for digital resources, and positioning their music programs as essential pathways to 21st-century careers.

Blueprints for Brilliance: The Art of Strategic Planning in Fine Arts Leadership
Presented by Dr. Markeise Russell

What does it take to lead an arts program from good to extraordinary? In this session, Dr. Markeise R. Russell—Superintendent-endorsed school leader, performing artist, and transformational strategist—unpacks a proven framework for designing visionary arts programs that balance creativity, culture, and accountability.  Drawing from leadership experiences across multiple educational settings—including urban, charter, suburban, private independent, and Catholic schools—Dr. Russell shares how he has successfully grown Fine Arts programs, strengthened interdisciplinary collaboration, and built systems that sustain innovation. His journey includes roles as an Assistant Principal for Teaching and Learning, Fine Arts and Career & Technical Education Department Chair, and music educator recognized as a multi-year Grammy Music Educator Award quarterfinalist.  Through this lens, participants will explore how to lead with both strategy and soul—blending data-informed decision-making, change management, and creative leadership to turn vision into measurable progress. Using real-world examples from department-wide strategic planning initiatives, including the use of Wagner’s 4Cs Framework and SMART goal alignment, Dr. Russell provides a roadmap for unifying teams, amplifying visibility, and securing long-term growth.  Attendees will leave with actionable tools, planning templates, and a renewed understanding of how the arts can drive institutional excellence. Designed for music and arts administrators ready to elevate their impact, this session equips leaders to think like CEOs, inspire like artists, and build programs that truly shine—from budget to brilliance.

It’s Never Not Political: Leading for Music Education in Complex Times
Presented by Russ Sperling and Dr. Brad Van Patten

Leading a music program today means more than managing teachers, schedules, and budgets—it requires navigating an increasingly political educational landscape. Whether addressing curriculum mandates, budget constraints, or cultural shifts, music education leaders must balance advocacy with diplomacy to sustain and grow their programs. This session explores how every decision—from repertoire to resource allocation—exists within a political context and how leaders can operate effectively within it. Participants will examine real-world scenarios, identify strategies to build alliances with administrators and policymakers, and learn to reframe advocacy as a daily leadership practice rather than a crisis response. Attendees will leave with practical tools and perspectives for leading courageously and strategically on behalf of music education.

Artful PD: Designing High-Impact PD Workshops
Presented by Dr. Jameon Moss and Stephanie Nantell

How can music leaders design professional development workshops that are hands-on, research-backed, and co-constructed while ensuring immediate classroom application and alignment with teacher, student, and music program needs? This session offers practical answers. Participants will leave with the knowledge, tools, and experience needed to design high-impact professional development workshops grounded in Education Through Music’s research and Desimone’s (2009) framework. Through both group and individual design challenges, attendees will practice applying the four essential elements of impactful PD workshops: active learning, collective participation, coherence, and sustained duration. Attendees will begin drafting PD workshop sessions for their own community of learners and encounter strategies for assessing effectiveness, fostering buy-in, and aligning workshops with broader music program goals. By the end of the session, participants will have tangible strategies, draft outlines, and the confidence to continue refining their designs. This interactive session models professional development that educators and leaders actually use. Expect movement, small-group collaboration, and hands-on experimentation. Participants will have opportunities to reflect, apply learning immediately, and leave with tools and PD plans that are practical, responsive to teacher and student needs, and rooted in research.

Orchestrating Purposeful Leadership
Presented by Dr. Joan Ashcraft

The constant threat of school district reduction or elimination of music programs for our students demands leadership that is capable of addressing competing educational initiatives, accountability, budget reductions, and high-quality music instruction. Music leaders must be equipped to position music as an essential tool for learning, social growth, creativity, and problem solving. This session will center on making music leaders champions for change by demonstrating the power of music utilizing student achievement data, creative budgeting, diverse curriculum offerings, relevant professional development, meaningful collaboration, and personal assessment.

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*The forum is geared towards music program leaders/fine arts coordinators and anyone who is interested in a leadership position related to music program administration.