Last week I had the incredible opportunity to go to the Texas Music Educator's Association convention to perform as part of the Baylor Wind Ensemble. The concert went amazingly well, and afterward I found out that not only one of my friend from the Tau chapter (currently a band director in my former school district) but Iota's own Janet West Miller and Karon Hammond Miller were able to attend! It was such an incredible experience and it was so exciting to look out into the audience and see so many Tau Beta Sigma shirts in the crowd.
While I was at TMEA, I had the chance to speak to Dr. Nicole Burdick (the current TBS Vice President for Colonization and Membership) about some of the work that Iota is doing and discuss some plans for the future. I also was able to get a sticker for my badge! While this sounds a little silly (I'm a college junior! I shouldn't get so excited about stickers!) it was yet another awesome thing to walk around the convention floor and see so many TBS and KKY stickers. While I know our mission statement includes promoting women in the band profession, it's something else entirely to see that in action. It made me prouder than ever to be able to represent Iota at such convention of music-loving people and to perform my best (and the Baylor Wind Ensemble's best) in front of a crowd that included my sisters and brothers from different chapters. My one regret is that the TBS & KKY Sing was right after our concert, so I wasn't able to attend, but I hope to be able to attend TMEA again next year, and I'll do my best to go then!
MLITB,
Kathryn