On Nov. 17, in York Performance Hall at 7 p.m., the collegiate National Association for Music Education—or cNAfMe—is hosting its first fundraiser event.
The masterminds behind the event—President of cNAfME Heather Street, Treasurer Kayla Myer, Public Relations Officer Ellie VanderVeen, Vice President Rachel Horning and Secretary Amelia Freeman—thought this would be a fun and creative way to raise money for their upcoming trip to Fort Wayne for the International Music and Entertainment Association, or IMEA, convention in January of 2019.
“We were trying to be creative in how we fund-raised,” said senior Amelia Freeman, a music education major. “It’s kind of a new thing for cNAfMe to fundraise—it’s also a new thing to be creative with fundraising. The traditional ways just weren’t working.
“Last year we did a cookie sale,” she said. “Weirdly enough, people didn’t want to buy cookies. It just wasn’t very successful, so we are going out on a limb and trying something new.”
Performances will be held by some of AU’s performing arts professors, such as Doug King and his company, Dr. Joani Brandon, Dr. Rick Sowers and others.
Freeman was pleased not only to have these professors on board, but also to announce the involvement of the dance program in the fundraiser.
This year, the hope of cNAfMe is to not just be a group of music education majors, but a group of unique individuals that bring something new to the table.
“It mostly consists of music education majors,” said Freeman. “We are hoping to get more people outside of the major. We meet up once a month to talk about different ways of teaching music and growing in our professional development.”
cNAfMe started in 1907 to help further the growth of music education for all people, and through the years this organization has helped develop and establish the music education field of study.
Here at AU, music majors are required to join cNAfMe for their degree.
Freeman says AU also allows students within the major to be certified to teach band, show choir and orchestra to grades kindergarten through 12th grade.
Though teaching music in schools is the job most associated with this particular major, it is not the only job option available. Some options for music education majors include jobs like music conductor, private instructor, radio producer or community arts manager.
This event will take place in York Performance Hall on Saturday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased early by emailing
cnafme@anderson.edu or at the door the day of the fundraiser. Prices for tickets are $3 for students and $5 for adults.