December 16-18, 2026 at McCormick Place West in Chicago, IL
The Midwest Clinic returns to McCormick Place West in Chicago, Illinois for the 80th annual edition of the country’s largest gathering for music educators and industry professionals. Over 18,000 attendees are expected this December for three days of learning, performance, and networking. 126 clinics and 52 performances will be offered, alongside 400-plus exhibits. View the full event schedule here.
The Festivities begin on Tuesday, December 15 at McCormick Place West with four Pre-Conference Intensive Programs, open only to Midwest attendees, and offering hands-on training in specific areas: Jazz, Strings, Percussion, and Audio Technology. Registration for any intensive can be added onto conference registration at midwestclinic.org.
Audio Technology for Music Educators, from 1-5pm, provides an introduction to music production and how to set up a sound system for live performance, what quality audio is, and the value of mixing the audio for the best results. This workshop is for music educators at all levels, from small classroom instruction to music production programs or touring music ensembles. Sessions include: Teaching Information with Technology, presented by Robby Burns; Microphone Basics for Music Educators, presented by Yuri Lysoivanov from Shure; Make Your Ensemble Sound Better: Practical Audio for Music Educators, presented by Alex May from Yamaha; and Record with Confidence: An Introduction to Recording Your Ensemble, presented by Scott Probst and Robby Burns.
From the Ground Up: Building Stronger Rehearsals and Improvisers through Jazz Essentials, from 1-5pm, is a hands-on, interactive workshop designed to support jazz educators as they build, develop, and refine their jazz programs. Led by renowned educators Bethany Robinson, Julius Tolentino, and Lisa Linde, this three-session workshop will provide practical strategies, foundational knowledge, and proven rehearsal techniques to help educators navigate the unique challenges of teaching jazz. Jazz Pre-Con Attendees will also receive a full year of Jazz Education Network Membership, which includes a subscription to DownBeat and SBO+ Magazines, 6 free jazz charts, digital access to JEN’s peer-reviewed research journal, Jazz Education in Research and Practice, and a growing library of on-demand webinars with completion certificates, and eligibility for all JEN flagship programs, including the JENerations Jazz Festival, Conference Performance & Presentation applications, scholarships, awards and grants. Participants (save for Rhythm Backline) must bring their own instrument–ALL instruments are welcome!
Percussion Basics Simplified, from 1-5pm, is designed for both those new to teaching percussion and those looking for a basic level refresher, offering essential information, tools, and resources to effectively teach snare drum and mallets. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your pedagogical skills, this session will cover the foundational principles of percussion playing and teaching, including instrument position, grip, stroke variations, and music reading. Participants will rotate between snare drum and mallets, culminating in a combined percussion session within a typical band setting. Clinicians include Peggy Jo Bonner, Brandon Estes, Adam D. Hill, Justin Koszarek, and Dr. James Yakas.
Teaching Strings with Confidence: A Practical Guide for Band Directors will be offered from 12-5pm, in partnership with the American String Teachers Association. From the fundamentals of instrument position to effective rehearsal strategies for strings, this immersive workshop will provide band directors who find themselves teaching orchestra with the information, tools, and resources necessary to be successful. Participants will select a string instrument to learn during this hands-on experience (use one of ours, or bring your own!) and may choose beginning or intermediate breakout sessions based on their experience and interests. This interactive session will focus on the foundational principles of string playing and teaching, including healthy instrument position, tone production, articulations, shifting, and vibrato, as well as strategies for rehearsing orchestras.
New and featured events at this year’s Midwest Clinic include:
A new, composer-focused event at Midwest, in celebration of our 80th Anniversary! Coffee with Composers offers professional and collegiate Midwest attendees the opportunity to connect directly with published, working composers in small-group conversations, to facilitate connections between music educators and those who create the music performed. It’s like speed-dating, but with free coffee and less awkwardness! Coffee with Composers will take place Thursday, December 17 at 11:00 AM. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with multiple composers over the course of the hour to learn more about them and their work, as well as discuss mutual topics of interest, such as composition for different levels and instrumentation, working with composers in a classroom setting, seeking out new publications, and more. Bring your questions, or use one of our prompts to start the conversation. After the speed-chat sessions, composers and attendees may connect during the informal social hour to continue their conversations and meet with other instrumental music educators in a relaxed setting. Avoid the line at Starbucks during the lunch rush and make new friends! Sign-ups are open now for Composers, and attendee RSVPs will open November 1.
The Music Mentors RoundTable will return for its second year, featuring small-group conversations with master music educators, administrators, and industry professionals. Participants can select a track – music education, administration, or music industry – based on their career goals and interests. Two sessions will be offered, on Wednesday, December 16, 2026 from 3:00 – 4:00 PM and Friday, December 18, 2026 from 9:00 – 10:00 AM. Mentor sign-up is open now, and conference attendees may RSVP beginning November 1.
The 9th edition of the High School Leadership Institute (HSLI) will take place on Thursday, December 17. This one-day intensive is exclusively for high school students considering a career in music education, and is limited to just 50 participants. Directors can nominate their standout students now for a full day of programming, including leadership training led by Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser; dedicated time in the Midwest Clinic’s expansive exhibit hall (plus a scavenger hunt!); small-group conversations with current professional musicians and music educators, and invaluable mentoring from college students. HSLI participants will also have full access to all Midwest events, including the day’s performances and clinics, as well as College Night. Starting at 5:30 p.m., College Night is FREE AND OPEN TO ALL–not just Midwest attendees! Visit with representatives from top universities and military branch music programs from across the country. Bring questions about auditions, classes, and college life, and have them answered by the experts from over 50 organizations.
The Reynolds Conducting Institute also returns for its 9th edition, Thursday, December 17-Friday, December 18, 2026 with Clinicians Kevin L. Sedatole and Rodney Dorsey, alongside the University of Michigan Chamber Players. Fourteen Fellows were selected for this year’s Institute, and will receive two days of intensive training in the art of conducting. Any Midwest attendee may sit in on Reynolds Institute Rehearsals: for the full schedule, please visit the Midwest website. This year’s Institute will also feature a retrospective on the enormous impact of its namesake, H. Robert Reynolds, at 11:45AM on Friday, December 18.
In addition, the 80th Midwest Clinic will feature a full slate of clinics and performances and an expansive exhibit hall over the three days of the conference. Special Clinic Tracks and Events include the Fine Arts Leadership Alliance, Emerging Music Educators (for those in college and their first five years of teaching), the Richard Crain Small School Initiative, Access/Opportunity/Engagement, New Reading Sessions in Jazz, Orchestra, and Band, Music Parent Sessions, Rehearsal Labs for Band and Orchestra, and the ever-popular Day One Sessions, this year focusing on Tuba and Horn. Over 120 Clinics are scheduled, which can be redeemed for continuing education credits after the conference. For the full clinic schedule, visit the Midwest Clinic website.
At the heart of the Midwest Clinic is performance, and this year’s conference boasts over 50 of the finest performing ensembles from around the world, representing the best of all ages from middle school to professional groups. Band, Orchestra, Jazz, Percussion, and Chamber performances focus on new music for ensembles at all levels, including world premieres from established and up-and-coming composers. Featured performing ensembles include the U.S. Army Blues, the U.S. Air Force Concert Band and Chamber Ensembles, the Singapore Armed Forces Central Band; Professional Chamber ensembles including Boston Brass, Third Coast Percussion, Athena Brass Band, CORolina Horn Quartet, and, Spanish Brass; acclaimed collegiate ensembles from Indiana University, Northwestern University, University of Georgia, Loyola University New Orleans, University of Kansas, and University of Kentucky; plus numerous high school and middle school concert bands, orchestras, and wind symphonies. For the full list of performing ensembles, visit midwestclinic.org.
Registration for the 80th Midwest Clinic is open now at midwestclinic.org. The conference app and digital program book will be available in early December for advance planning for attendees, but in the meantime, you can visit the Midwest Clinic website for information on hotels, dining, and entertainment options for your trip to Chicago. We’ll see you in December!
