TAMS CONFERENCE NEWS Texas Association of Music Schools Eighty-Seventh Annual Conference Thursday, January 22 - Saturday, January 24, 2026 Hilton Austin Airport 9515 Hotel Dr. Austin, Texas 78719 Thursday, January 22, 2026 - Pre-Conference Meetings 2:00 p.m. Executive Board Meeting - Lantana Dr. Cynthia Bridges, TAMS President Presiding 4:00 p.m. - Meeting for New Executives - Redbud Dr. Diana Sipes, Immediate Past President Presiding 6:00 p.m. Steinway Soiree - Chennault Hosted by Steinway Hall North Texas and Steinway Gallery Austin and San Antonio FIRST GENERAL SESSION 7:00 p.m. - Banquet - Bergstrom C/D Keynote Address: Dr. Gary Ingle Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Music Teachers National Association, retired President and CEO of the American Classical Music Hall of Fame Immediate Past President of the Music Council of the Three Americas Past President and Chair of the National Music Council of the United States Southwest Baptist University, Emeritus Professor and Chair Friday, January 23, 2026 8:00 a.m. - Buffet Breakfast - Bergstrom C/D Sponsored by BRW Architects, Craig Reynolds, Managing Principal Andrew Evertson, Principal; Matt Lorenz, Senior Associate SECOND GENERAL SESSION 9:00 a.m. TMEA and State Affairs - Chennault Joe Monez, Executive Director Music Educators Association Matt Matthews, Senior Vice President McGuire Woods Consulting 10:00 a.m. Break - Foyer outside Chennault 10:10 a.m. Q&A with Dr. Ingle 11:00 a.m. Break - Foyer outside Chennault 11:10 a.m. Roundtable Discussions Two-Year Schools - Redbud Four-Year State Schools - Mountain Laurel Four-Year Private Schools - Lantana THIRD GENERAL SESSION 12:15 p.m. - Luncheon - Bergstrom C/D Sponsored by Steinway Hall North Texas and Steinway Gallery Austin and San Antonio Bryan Elmore, Manager 1:15 p.m. - BREAK - Foyer outside Chennault FOURTH GENERAL SESSION 1:30 p.m. - Roundtable Discussions Two-Year Schools - Redbud Four-Year State Schools - Mountain Laurel Four-Year Private Schools - Lantana 2:30 p.m. - Break - Foyer outside Chennault 2:45 p.m. - Commission Meetings Advocacy and Governmental Affairs - Redbud Curriculum, Articulation, and Transferability - Mountain Laurel Research and Communication - Lantana 3:45 p.m. - Break - Foyer outside Chennault 4:00 p.m. - Business Meeting - Chennault Dr. Cynthia Bridges, TAMS President, Presiding 5:00 p.m. - Evening Activities Everyone on their own for dinner. Hotel Restaurant/Bar will be open to serve everyone. Saturday, January 24, 2025 8:00 a.m. Buffet Breakfast - Chennault FIFTH GENERAL SESSION 9:00 a.m. - Roundtable Discussions Two-Year Schools - Rosebud Four[-Year State Schools - Mountain Laurel Four-Year Private Schools - Lantana 10:00 a.m. - Break - Foyer outside Chennault 10:15 a.m. - Summary Presentations and Reports - Chennault 11:15 a.m. - Conference adjourned *Lunch is provided by TAMS at noon in the hotel restaurant for those members who pre-ordered a lunch. **Summary Presentations and Reports will be posted on the TAMS website following the conference.