There will be two outstanding opportunities for you to learn about current music education research at the 2026 Illinois Music Education Conference.
On Friday, January 30 from 11:00am-12:00pm, stop by the Exhibit Hall for the 2026 IMEC Poster Session. Click below for a preview of the research that will be shared and then plan to stop by and speak with the researchers to learn more.
Later that day, at 3:30pm in Civic Center 218, the Spotlight on Research session will feature presentations of two projects:
Rachel Maxwell (Boston University) will discuss her research around ambiguity tolerance in the concert band setting, discussing three directors who embrace uncertainty in both musical and situational contexts, reframing unpredictability as an opportunity for growth rather than a barrier.
Stephanie Gregoire’s (University of Illinois Chicago) research on community and belonging in Gay and Lesbian Association (GALA) choruses examines how sexual orientation and gender identity predict singers’ perceptions of belonging within these choral communities.