Email from The Midwest Clinic Our monthly round-up of news and happenings at the Midwest Clinic Well, February flew by! There is only one more week to submit your application to perform or present at the 80th Annual Midwest Clinic, and we’re eagerly waiting to see all of the incredible performances and clinics we somehow have to choose from for December. Plus, check out features on AI’s impact on music creators, a new opportunity for grants, and more! Stay sharp, The Midwest Clinic Clinic News & Happenings Clinics may focus on all areas of instrumental music education: Band, Orchestra, Chamber Ensembles, Percussion, Jazz Ensemble, and general musicianship. Anyone with expertise in music education and performance may apply to present a clinic, and clinics may have up to five total clinicians as panelists or presenters. Typically, clinics are presented by educators at all levels, including directors, program administrators, and teachers; by professional musicians and conductors; or by music education industry veterans and innovators. We highly encourage anyone interested in presenting a clinic to apply. For more details on how to apply as a clinician, visit our FAQs page. Performances have always been at the heart of the Midwest Clinic, serving as a means to showcase not only the best ensembles around the world, but also to introduce directors to new repertoire for their students. Each year, the conference presents over 50 performances and new music reading sessions. Any ensemble may apply to perform. Performing groups fall into different categories based on their instrumentation, membership, and size. For full details, visit our performance application requirements and FAQs pages. Learn more 2026 Sponsorships Available Now Reach Midwest’s 18,000+ attendees with our conference sponsorships: reservations for all spots are open now, including our new digital packages! Options include the digital program book and conference mobile app, event and special program sponsorships, and onsite visibilities at McCormick Place. Reserve Now Coming Soon: New Online Learning Videos! K-12 Music Educators, earn CEUs online with the Midwest Clinic Learning Portal! Subscribe for a low monthly or annual price to get access to over 70 hours of clinics presented at Midwest in the last 2 years. Topics covered include general and single-instrument pedagogy, panel discussions on accessibility, LGBTQ+, leadership, and more, plus sessions on conducting, wellness, program development and repertoire selection, and other areas of interest. Learn more A Tempo: State Advocacy Resources Foundation Support & Arts Education Policy Thanks to generous grants from the Music Man Foundation and the CMA Foundation, NAfME recently developed a new suite of free, downloadable state advocacy resources through their Advocacy Leadership Initiative. These tools were thoughtfully designed to support advocates at every stage, whether they’re just beginning to explore policy work or are already deeply engaged at the state level. At the center of these resources is the MAESTRO Act (Mandating Arts Education Standards, Training, and Resources Overall), an adaptable template for advocates to advance new state-level legislation. It addresses critical areas including funding, instructional requirements, graduation standards, educator licensure, and workforce development, meeting states where they are while keeping equity and access front and center. Learn more On Beat: Generative AI and Music The National Music Council has a helpful series of YouTube Shorts focusing on the impact of generative AI on music and publishing. Learn more from Eddie Schwartz and other experts on how AI is changing the music publishing landscape, how composers can protect their work while using these new tools, and key developments in the generative AI landscape. Watch videos Coda: Congratulations to Lisa MacDonald! Midwest Board Member Lisa MacDonald is a 2026 She Rocks Award Winner, receiving the Groundbreaker Award! The She Rocks Awards honors trailblazing women from all areas of the industry–from educators, to label execs, manufacturers, non-profits, media, performers, engineers, and more. Lisa is a passionate advocate for women in music, serving as inaugural Chair and current Advisory Board member of the Women of NAMM Council, mentoring emerging leaders, and championing initiatives that increase access to music education nationwide. The presentation of her Groundbreaker Award took place on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. Watch her full speech here, starting at 2:08. Got news to share? We want to hear about it—and you could be featured in our next newsletter. Submit your content here. The Midwest Clinic | 1340 Internationale Pkwy Suite 200 | Woodridge, IL 60517 U.S.
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