Arts And Education Council Announces Affiliation With Education Plus

The Arts and Education Council (A&E), in partnership with EducationPlus, has announced an affiliation with the St. Louis Suburban Music Educators Association (SLSMEA). A&E assumes administrative management of the association, which manages the honors bands and music festival competitions in St. Louis County school districts and some school districts in St. Charles County. The partnership took effect July 1.

"The Arts and Education Council is pleased to announce this partnership with EducationPlus and St. Louis Suburban Music Educators Association. Together, we are committed to offering exciting and meaningful performance and learning opportunities for young musicians," said Cynthia A. Prost, A&E president and CEO.

Retired music educators and clinicians run the honors bands and music festival competitions for middle and high-school students each year. Registration for 2018-2019 band, orchestra and choir honor groups opens in mid-September at slsmea.com.

The following school districts participate in the SLSMEA:

• Affton School District
• Bayless School District
• Brentwood School District
• Clayton School District
• Ferguson-Florissant School District
• Hancock Place School District
• Hazelwood School District
• Kirkwood School District
• Jennings School District
• Ladue School District
• Lindbergh School District
• Maplewood-Richmond Heights School District
• Mehlville School District
• Normandy School District
• Orchard Farm School District
• Parkway School District
• Pattonville School District
• Ritenour School District
• Riverview Gardens School District
• Rockwood School District
• St. Charles School District
• University City School District
• Valley Park School District
• Webster Groves School District
• Wentzville School District

The Ripple Effect of the Arts. - The Arts and Education Council (A&E) builds appreciation, participation and support for the arts and arts education throughout the St. Louis community, shaping a more vibrant arts community for all. A&E spreads the ripple effect of the arts across the 16-county, bi-state region by supporting nearly 100 arts organizations through multi-faceted programs, including: Operating and Project Grants; Arts Education Grants for Teachers; Arts Incubation at the Centene Center for the Arts; a Catalyst Innovation Lab; the Katherine Dunham Fellowship; a stARTup Competition for Arts Entrepreneurs; stARTup-StL Crowdfunding Platform; Arts Leadership Management Academy (ALMA); Executive Directors Roundtable; Arts Marketers Professional Development; the Annual St. Louis Arts Awards; and Young Friends of the Arts.

Since its inception in 1963 as the region's only privately-supported united arts fund, the Arts and Education Council has raised and distributed more than $100 million in private funding for the arts - a significant contribution that directly impacts the quality of life in our region. A&E meets all 20 Better Business Bureau Charity Standards and has earned the Wise Giving Seal of Approval, a three-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Guidestar Exchange Silver Participant rating.

How to find us - Website: KeepArtHappening.org Phone: 314.289.4000. Facebook: ArtsandEducation Twitter: @ArtEdSTL YouTube: ArtsandEducSTL Instagram: Arts_Education_Council

About the St. Louis Suburban Music Educators Association - The St. Louis Suburban Music Educators Association is the professional organization for music educators for member school districts of EducationPlus. SLSMEA is affiliated with EducationPlus and MENC: The National Association for Music Education.

SLSMEA sponsors numerous festivals throughout the year which include Large Ensemble Music Festival for Band, Orchestra, and Choir; Solo and Ensemble Music Festival for Band, Orchestra, and Choir; and Honor Group Ensembles for Band, Orchestra, and Choir for high school, middle school, and elementary students.