About Us
The Urban Music Leadership Conference (UMLC) was founded in 1995 by Judy Svengalis, then music supervisor for the Des Moines, Iowa schools. She realized the complexity of the jobs of urban school district music administrators, supervisors, fine arts directors, and music or visual and performing arts teachers. Due to her tireless work of phone calls all over the United States, a group met for the first time in Chicago, Illinois in 1996 to share successes and problems through formal presentations and informal conversation.
The organization is intensely focused on the needs of urban school district music programs. Participants include music administrators, supervisors, curriculum managers, music specialists, and others who are interested in improving the teaching, learning, and management of music and arts programs in urban areas.
The UMLC continues to meet annually to address concerns in public and private school music education programs in urban areas. Participants still find great value in the sharing of successes and challenges through formal presentations, informal conversations, and workshops. Throughout the time of a typical conference, there are opportunities for participants to gather in small groups to share experiences, plans, ideas and have collegial exchanges with professionals of similar focus.
Topics such as ESSA, standards in the arts, assessment, advocacy, professional development and recruiting and retaining of music educators are addressed at the annual conference among other topics of vital importance to urban music education. Presenters at the conference are distinguished leaders in the arts community including MENC presidents, university faculty, music corporation executives, state level education administrators, arts organization directors and performers. The experience and expertise of these presenters contributes to the success of UMLC. Additionally, each conference, like that very first in Chicago, includes visits to schools of the host district.
The organization is intensely focused on the needs of urban school district music programs. Participants include music administrators, supervisors, curriculum managers, music specialists, and others who are interested in improving the teaching, learning, and management of music and arts programs in urban areas.
The UMLC continues to meet annually to address concerns in public and private school music education programs in urban areas. Participants still find great value in the sharing of successes and challenges through formal presentations, informal conversations, and workshops. Throughout the time of a typical conference, there are opportunities for participants to gather in small groups to share experiences, plans, ideas and have collegial exchanges with professionals of similar focus.
Topics such as ESSA, standards in the arts, assessment, advocacy, professional development and recruiting and retaining of music educators are addressed at the annual conference among other topics of vital importance to urban music education. Presenters at the conference are distinguished leaders in the arts community including MENC presidents, university faculty, music corporation executives, state level education administrators, arts organization directors and performers. The experience and expertise of these presenters contributes to the success of UMLC. Additionally, each conference, like that very first in Chicago, includes visits to schools of the host district.
1996 Chicago, Illinois
1997 Detroit, Michigan 1998 St. Louis, Missouri 1999 New York, New York 2000 Fort Worth, Texas 2001 San Francisco, California 2002 Lincoln, Nebraska 2003 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 2004 Newark, New Jersey 2005 Detroit, Michigan 2006 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 2007 Cincinnati, Ohio |
2008 Fort Worth, Texas
2009 Baltimore, Maryland 2010 Norfolk, Virginia 2011 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 2012 St. Louis, Missouri 2013 Little Rock, Arkansas 2014 Boston, Massachusetts 2015 Chicago, Illinois 2016 New Haven, Connecticut 2017 Norfolk, Virginia 2018 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 2019 Albuquerque, New Mexico |
Membership is FREE
Membership status is granted when you attend a conference.
To find out more or ask a question, click the button below.
To find out more or ask a question, click the button below.
Make A Difference
We address concerns in public and private school music education programs in urban areas. Share your successes and challenges with us. Together, we will help improve the teaching, learning, and management of music and arts programs across the USA.
You - make a difference. |
JOIN YOUR COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE COUNTRY BY BECOMING A MEMBER TODAY!
Share your passion! There's no cost to become a member so don't delay. Connect with like-minded professionals who share your commitment to teaching and enthusiasm for music.
Every child deserves opportunities to learn through the arts and you can help to make that a reality.
Every child deserves opportunities to learn through the arts and you can help to make that a reality.
TESTIMONIALS
MR. AVID A. WILLIAMS
New York
It was my honor to spend my very last dime to meet the academic giants within the letters of UMLC! As an educator, I was blessed to be among people who carry the urgency of equality, quality, and artistic integrity in their hearts. Not only for the chosen wing of education, but for the chosen demographic within the abyss of education. This area of urban education has often been a "pity-party" for those that are less fortunate but my observation of this organization is to know that I am apart of a true voice in the reparation of urban music education and I welcome the days to come. Thank you! |
MR. JOSEPH STAMERRA
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania * I have been a member of the Urban Music Leadership Conference since 2010 when I attended the conference in Norfolk, VA. At that time, the only experience I had concerning music conferences was from attending my state (PA) conference. Although I have presented and presided at my state conference, I felt somewhat disconnected with the offerings, especially the ones offered on urban music. I teach such a diverse population, both racially, and socio-economically—I needed more. As one fine teacher communicated to me while we were in Norfolk, “Nobody at the state conference looks like any of the kids I teach.” That resonated with me and I thought about it a lot. Was UMLC just another state conference setting? Don’t get me wrong, those (state) conferences are important and the folks who put them together work very hard. As I was about to experience, they did not resonate with me like the UMLC would. * First of all, visiting the schools during the school day is always the best part for me. There were music educators opening their practice for us with kids that look like the ones I teach! I could immediately use some of their techniques when I got back to Pittsburgh. This was great! * This year, I, along with my dear friends and colleagues, Vicky Moule, Adrianne Kelly, and Jane Wall, each well-verse in their craft of music education, traveled to Little Rock, Arkansas for the conference. The opening reception was warm and inviting. The Little Rock contingent made the evening special. The night was capped by a wonderful discussion of past musical experiences and classroom techniques that really work. * What I enjoyed about the school visits was that I enjoyed many different students at many different age and performance levels. The elementary visits offered me a look into a beginning musician’s experience, and the gifted music classroom showed me that academics and music ability are so interwoven with each other. The students clapped their rhythms with accuracy, sang with confidence, and had poise while they were doing it. The final experience during the day was the trip to the famous Little Rock Central High School. As we approached the school, you could feel the history, hardship, and humanity emanating from its walls. The high school band rehearsal was impressive. I could tell that there was a good system in place as students moved from elementary all the way through high school. I wish I could have experienced some middle school music instruction. That age seems to be a very fragile, but important and critical point in a young musician’s journey. Dinner that evening was yet another reason why I love being a UMLC member. We traveled together for fellowship and camaraderie. Our discussions were, at times, light-hearted and fun, and at other times, uplifting and informative. These are the same discussion that I try to have with my students every day. * The workshops on Saturday offered a more in-depth look into opportunities for urban youth as well as troubled youth. Again, these are the kids I teach! I’ve always been committed to giving the students I teach musical opportunities that they would not be able to experience, for whatever reason, on their own. As we enjoyed the luncheon, sponsored by MacMillan/McGraw Hill, (proud supporters of urban music), we began yet another discussion of urban music, and the future of urban music education. I am honored to be a part of UMLC. The organization just “gets it.” The members know the value of lifelong learning opportunities for urban youth, the value of building relationships, and the transformative process of music. Musically, Joseph P. Stamerra |
MR. JHERRITHAN DUKES
Little Rock, Arkansas Fortunately, I must say that as a first year teacher, I have had the opportunity of going to several conferences to help enhance my knowledge. However, I have yet to visit a conference that has made me feel like I was apart of the conference. The presenters were friendly. The teachers were friendly. The members of the executive board were extremely helpful, friendly, professional, and down to earth. I am very pleased with the relationships and friendships that I started during this conference. I look forward to packing my bags and traveling next year. -Jherrithan Dukes |