2025–2026 Music In Our Schools Month Composition Call
Calling all Music Educators and Students!
NAfME encourages all music educators to UNITE and celebrate Music In Our Schools Month® (MIOSM) together. Share with us a 60- to 90-second original composition video that reflects what the MIOSM theme, United Through Music, means to you and your students. Be creative!
NAfME Councils will review submissions to make sure all the criteria has been completed. Videos will be shared on social media throughout March in celebration of Music In Our Schools Month.
Learn more about the 2025–26 MIOSM Lesson Plan Framework and Criteria, and submit your video by January 16, 2026.
Passing of Glady Stone Wright
She was one of the most influential women in the history of American bands in the twentieth century. A pioneering conductor, educator, author, and advocate, she passed away yesterday, October 29, 2025, at the age of 100.
Born on March 8, 1925, in Wasco, Oregon, Gladys began her musical path with a year of free piano lessons and a five-dollar clarinet in a small lumber camp. She graduated from Lebanon High School in 1943, studied at Willamette University, and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education from the University of Oregon, with a minor in psychology. Her principal instrument was the clarinet. At a time when few women were appointed to lead school bands, Gladys became a true pioneer. She directed ensembles at several high schools. Across more than three decades of teaching, her large ensembles earned more than 60 superior ratings, while her solo and small ensembles received over 1,500 superior ratings at district and state contests.
Gladys was the third woman elected to the American School Band Directors Association and, in 1984, became the first woman elected to the American Bandmasters Association and was the first woman to be honored as an ABA Life Member in 2023. She also served the Sousa Foundation in many administrative roles and was the first woman guest conductor of both the United States Navy Band and the Goldman Band. Her artistry, leadership, and advocacy made her a model of excellence for generations of women in the profession. In 1969, she served as the founding president of the Women Band Directors National Association (WBDNA)—now Women Band Directors International (WBDI)—an organization created to support and promote mentorship and leadership opportunities for women in the band profession. She later served as editor of WBDI’s The Woman Conductor and remained deeply involved in WBDI activities throughout her life. She was inducted into the WBDI Hall of Fame in 1995, and today, the Gladys Stone Wright Scholarship continues to support women pursuing careers as band directors.
JodyJazz DV JC JODY CUSTOM Alto Mouthpiece Wins “Best New Product of the Year” at Music China 2025
The new JodyJazz DV JC JODY CUSTOM Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece was selected as the 2025 Best New Product of the Year in the Woodwinds Category at the recent Music China show held in Shanghai. The annual Best New Product Awards are presented by the Music China Organizing Committee, recognizing outstanding innovation, design, and craftsmanship in the global musical instrument industry.
The DV JC JODY CUSTOM Alto mouthpiece is the latest addition to JodyJazz’s acclaimed DV Series. Based on Espina’s own custom-modified DV mouthpiece, the model delivers exceptional versatility, power, and warmth, making it ideal for professional performers across a wide range of musical genres.
Just Announced: Music for All National Honor Ensemble European Tour
Outstanding high school musicians from across the United States will soon have the opportunity to perform on some of Europe’s most renowned stages. The Musicians Abroad National Honor Band & Choir, in collaboration with Music for All, will embark on its inaugural European Performance Tour in July 2027, a 12-day international experience featuring concerts in Munich, Vienna, Bratislava, and Prague. The tour will be led by Richard Saucedo and Dr. Jennifer Sengin, both highly respected conductors with extensive international experience.
Membership in the National Honor Band & Choir is determined by audition and teacher recommendation, with selection criteria emphasizing musical excellence, character, and leadership. Auditions open December 1, 2025 and close March 31, 2026.
Sweetwater Ranked Among Top US Companies for Customer Service by Newsweek
Sweetwater achieved its highest customer service ranking in company history. In the latest Newsweek magazine list of America’s Best Customer Service Companies, Sweetwater ranked eighth overall, placing ahead of iconic service leaders such as the Four Seasons, Disney Parks & Resorts, American Express, Nordstrom, Chewy, and many others. Newsweek also named Sweetwater number one for customer service in the music industry, reinforcing its reputation as the nation’s leading online retailer for musical instruments and pro audio gear. Sweetwater stands among the most trusted and admired service organizations in America, scoring 94.09 out of 100 on Newsweek’s evaluation.
