North Carolina Music Educators Association (NCMEA)

What North Carolina Music Educators Association (NCMEA) does

The North Carolina Music Educators Association (NCMEA) is a private nonprofit professional association founded in 1970 that serves as the official state affiliate of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) for North Carolina. Its primary constituents are K-12 music educators, collegiate and pre-service music educators, retired music educators, and higher education faculty across all 100 North Carolina counties, organized through 8 districts and 12 specialized sections (band, chorus, orchestra, jazz, elementary, higher education, etc.). The organization operates with a small professional staff headed by Executive Director Susan Heiserman (since 2021) and a Board of Directors including President Carolina Perez Guerrero, President-Elect Ryan Ellefsen, and Immediate Past President Catherine Butler.

NCMEA's core offerings center on the annual Professional Development Conference (the largest in North Carolina, scheduled November 7-10, 2026 at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem), a portfolio of student programs including the Tri-M Music Honor Society, all-state and honors ensembles, solo/ensemble festivals, and the Young Professionals Symposium, plus year-round member services including the NC Music Educator Journal, monthly podcast, eNews, Technology Resources Webinars, mentoring for first-year teachers, and a Job Board. The technology stack is light: the organization does not operate a proprietary platform and relies on standard tools (ncmea.net website, iContact for email, Zoom for webinars, Cheddar Up for payments/registration, Apple Podcasts/Spotify for podcast distribution).

Revenue is generated through three streams: membership dues collected via NAfME's national platform ($47-$154/year depending on tier, effective July 1, 2025), conference registration fees ($0 for retired members up to $250 for non-members onsite, plus $425-$500 exhibitor booth fees), and three-tier sponsorships (Applause $500, Bravo $1,000, Ovation $1,500) plus custom sponsorship packages. The organization is governed by a member-elected board and supported by strategic partnerships with NCDPI, NC Music Office, Arts Ed Partnership, Arts North Carolina, and corporate sponsors including Yamaha, J.W. Pepper, Moore Music, and Towne Bank.

Name

North Carolina Music Educators Association (NCMEA)

Legal name

North Carolina Music Educators Association

Website

https://ncmea.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The North Carolina Music Educators Association (NCMEA) is a nonprofit professional association serving K-12, collegiate, and retired music educators across North Carolina as the official state affiliate of NAfME. It delivers the state's largest annual music education professional development conference, student events, grants, scholarships, mentoring, and member publications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Music Education Association

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal) (EDAMAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

Keywords

• Music education association
• Professional development conferences
• Student music events
• Music educator membership
• Music honor society

Headquarters

HQ city

Raleigh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: NCMEA membership dues are collected through NAfME's national platform and cover both national and state membership. Dues range from $47/year (Collegiate) to $154/year (Active), with Introductory at $77.50 and Retired at $69. Effective July 1, 2025.
2. Conference Registration: Revenue generated from the annual Professional Development Conference. Registration rates range from $0 (Retired) to $250 (Non-Member, Regular/Onsite) depending on membership tier. Booth fees from exhibitors ($425–$500 per 10x10 booth) add additional revenue.
3. Sponsorships & Donations: Sponsorships at three tiers (Applause $500, Bravo $1,000, Ovation $1,500) plus custom sponsorships. Sponsors gain banner ads, logo placement on website and e-newsletters, and conference recognition. Donations are also accepted year-round.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

NCMEA is a private nonprofit professional association that advances music education in North Carolina by providing annual membership services, a statewide Professional Development Conference, student music events, awards, grants, scholarships, mentoring, and advocacy resources for K-12 and collegiate music educators. Its offerings are organized through 8 districts covering all 100 NC counties and delivered in coordination with its parent organization, the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).

Product overview

The North Carolina Music Educators Association (NCMEA) operates as a professional association providing a unified suite of member services, professional development, and student programs for music educators across North Carolina. The core offerings include the annual Professional Development Conference, Technology Resources Webinars, the quarterly NC Music Educator Journal, monthly NCMEA Podcast, and monthly eNews newsletter. Student programs encompass honors ensembles, all-state festivals, solo/ensemble festivals, and the Tri-M Music Honor Society chapter support. The association also provides Awards, Grants & Scholarships, a Mentoring Program for new teachers, and the annual Music In Our Schools Month advocacy campaign. Additional services include a Job Board, Conference Mobile App, and Collegiate Section support, all organized through eight regional districts and twelve specialized sections covering band, chorus, orchestra, jazz, elementary, higher education, and other music education disciplines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NCMEA Professional Development Conference Annual professional development conference offering sessions, workshops, and networking for music educators across North Carolina, with content-specific CEUs available.
• NC Music Educator Journal Quarterly digital publication providing articles, resources, and news specifically for and about music education in North Carolina, published online and emailed to members.
• NCMEA Podcast Monthly podcast hosted by Howell Ledford examining topics pertaining to music education, including interviews, literature choices, and professional insights. Available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
• Technology Resources Webinars Free technology resource series presented by the NCMEA Technology Committee to help music teachers integrate technology tools into their instruction, with archived video sessions and PowerPoint slide decks available.
• Student Events Program Comprehensive calendar of student music events including honors ensembles, all-state festivals, solo and ensemble festivals, and regional performances across band, chorus, orchestra, jazz, and elementary sections.
• Tri-M Music Honor Society International music honor society for middle/junior high and high school students, recognizing academic and musical achievements, with over 1,900 chapters nationwide and $4,500 in annual scholarships awarded by NAfME.
• Awards, Grants & Scholarships Portfolio of financial awards including Music Program Materials/Project Grants (up to $1,000), Professional Development Grants (up to $3,200), Barbara Bair Scholarship ($2,000), Ruth Jewell Scholarship ($2,000), Bill McCloud Scholarship ($2,000), and Hortense N. Reid-Kerr Scholarship ($2,000).
• Mentoring Program Program supporting North Carolina music teachers in their first years of teaching through mentoring sessions, weekly check-ins, at least two observations, and webinars for collaboration and networking.
• Music In Our Schools Month (MIOSM) Annual awareness campaign celebrating the importance of music education, featuring statewide performances, social media takeovers, spirit week activities, and advocacy events throughout March.
• Job Board Online job board connecting music educators with employment opportunities across North Carolina, featuring listings for various positions including K-12 music teachers, band directors, chorus teachers, and private music educators.
• Young Professionals Symposium Two-day symposium for high school students in grades 11-12 interested in music education careers, offering interactive sessions with college faculty, hands-on experiences, and networking opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Largest professional development conference in North Carolina
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Moore Music CompanyminorOthersCorporate sponsor of NCMEA. Logo displayed on NCMEA website sponsors page. One of several commercial music industry partners supporting NCMEA events and programs.
• Towne BankminorOthersCorporate sponsor of NCMEA. Logo displayed on NCMEA website sponsors page.
• J.W. PepperminorOthersSheet music retailer and corporate sponsor of NCMEA. Logo displayed on NCMEA website sponsors page.
• UNC School of the ArtsminorOthersEducational institution sponsor of NCMEA. Logo displayed on NCMEA website sponsors page.
• Bre's Transportation ServicesminorOthersTransportation services sponsor of NCMEA. Logo displayed on NCMEA website sponsors page.
• Ruggero PianominorOthersPiano company sponsor of NCMEA. Logo displayed on NCMEA website sponsors page.
• YamahaminorOthersMusical instrument manufacturer sponsor of NCMEA. Logo displayed on NCMEA website sponsors page.
• Contessa's Home Care AgencyminorOthersCorporate sponsor of NCMEA. Logo displayed on NCMEA website sponsors page.
• Appalachian State University (App State)minorOthersEducational institution sponsor of NCMEA. Logo displayed on NCMEA website sponsors page.
• Lung TrainersminorOthersMusic education product company sponsor of NCMEA. Logo displayed on NCMEA website sponsors page.
• Cheddar UpcoreTechnology or IntegrationPayment and event registration platform used by NCMEA for conference registrations, mini-conference payments, and donation processing. Integral infrastructure partner for membership and event operations.
• National Association for Music Education (NAfME)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCMEA is one of 50 state affiliates of NAfME. This is the foundational strategic partnership: NAfME provides national-level resources, advocacy, the Tri-M program, collegiate chapters, professional development, and the membership platform through which state dues are collected.
• NC Music OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government arts office partner. Logo displayed on NCMEA website partners page. Collaborates with NCMEA on MIOSM performances and advocacy events.
• Arts Ed PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState arts education nonprofit partner. Logo displayed on NCMEA website partners page. Collaborates on advocacy and music education initiatives.
• Arts North CarolinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState arts advocacy organization partner. Logo displayed on NCMEA website partners page. Collaborates with NCMEA on arts advocacy efforts.
• NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCDPI serves as the state education agency and collaborates with NCMEA on MIOSM performances, advocacy, state standards, and music education policy. NCMEA's advocacy committee maintains formal relationships with DPI leadership.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA): Long-established New York state music education association running major student evaluation festivals and an annual conference. Highly comparable as a NAfME affiliate with a deep K–12 focus.
• Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA): Pennsylvania's NAfME state affiliate offering district-level festivals, an annual in-service conference, and advocacy programming. Comparable in structure and member-serving focus to NCMEA.
• Florida Music Education Association (FMEA): Florida's NAfME state affiliate providing conferences, all-state ensembles, and professional development to K–12 and collegiate music educators. Closely parallel in structure, scale, and offerings to NCMEA.
• California Music Educators Association (CMEA): California's NAfME-affiliated state music educators association, hosting a major annual conference and student events across a large, geographically diverse state. Directly comparable in role and scope to NCMEA.
• Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA): Ohio's NAfME-affiliated state music education association running adjudicated events and an annual professional development conference. Directly comparable as a mid-sized state affiliate.
• Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA): State-level NAfME affiliate serving Texas music educators with an annual convention, student events, and advocacy. Directly comparable as a large-state music education professional association with similar programming and revenue model.
• Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA): Georgia's state music education association affiliated with NAfME, providing in-service conferences, all-state events, and advocacy for K–12 music educators — closely parallel mission and member base.

Broad incumbents

• National Association for Music Education (NAfME): NCMEA's parent organization and the umbrella body for all 50 state affiliates. Comparable as the national-level platform providing shared membership infrastructure, advocacy, and Tri-M programming that NCMEA leverages.

Others

• Arts Education Partnership: National coalition advocating for arts education including music. Comparable as an advocacy and policy partner network that NCMEA collaborates with at the state level.

Regional players

• National Association for Music Education – Eastern Division: Regional divisions of NAfME (e.g., Eastern, Southern, etc.) coordinate multi-state conferences and student events. Comparable in that they aggregate the work of state affiliates like NCMEA for larger-scale programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NCMEA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/ncpublicschools
• Facebookfacebook.com/NCMEA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/north-carolina-music-educators-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/ncmea

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about North Carolina Music Educators Association (NCMEA)