SAVE THE DATE! for the 2026 WSMTA State Conference
with the Bardin-Niskala Duo:“Music is CENTRAL!”
June 27-29, 2026 at Central Washington University in Ellensburg
As I write this, snow has been falling in Ellensburg since early morning…it’s hard to imagine that in 3 short months summer will be upon us, and the Conference will be HERE!
Registration for the 2026 WSMTA Conference is now open and we hope to see lots of new faces as well as familiar ones! Click below for fee information and to register.
Click here for Conference fee information and to registerAlso open are applications for the first ever Student Artwork Contest. The winning design will be featured on the cover of this year’s Conference Booklet and also be used on WSMTA swag for purchase at the Conference.
The deadline for submission is April 1. Click below to learn more.
Click here to learn more about the Student Artwork Contest
Also new this year is “Works in Progress”, an opportunity for composers to work directly with our guest artists, the Bardin-Niskala Duo, in the early to mid-stages of writing their piece for cello and piano, to hear what works and what doesn’t, and to get direct feedback, suggestions, and insights. The Duo will also work with both collaborative and solo musicians in a traditional “Lesson with the Artist.”
The deadline to sign up for both is March 31. You can learn more and register below.
Click here to learn more and register for “Works in Progress”Here are more highlights of some of the 23 presentations now scheduled for the Conference:
| Melody Puller will discuss the benefits of teaching the Preludes of Debussy to develop student awareness of musical imagination, nuance, and creativity by showing how the music unlocks possibilities to build touches, pedal techniques, and sensibilities. | Perennial presenter, Greg Presley, asserts that a tactile sense of the keyboard (rather than a visual awareness) is essential for proficient sightreading, for speed, accuracy, technical ease and facility. With his usual insight and good humor, he will demonstrate how to solve thorny problems of jumps and passage work. |
On a more serious note, Kira Miller, NCTM, Rhonda Snook and Marina Munter, NCTM, will share their personal experiences in rediscovering their identity outside an abusive relationship, using their expertise with music as a powerful tool for personal healing and coping. Their session, “Taking Back Your Power and Finding Strength Within” promises to be inspirational to us all.
Learn about more of the presentations here