MTNA NYSMTA State Conference
Call for Lightning Talks
Submission Deadline: 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, July 1, 2026
The New York State Music Teachers Association is pleased to announce a Call for Lightning Talks for its State Conference on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at SUNY Onondaga Community College (Syracuse, NY).
Musicians and educators of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply, including collegiate chapters, college students, recent graduates, K–12 music teachers, independent studio teachers, and collegiate faculty. The submission deadline is July 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM (EST).
LIGHTNING TALKS
Lightning Talks are concise, 5-minute presentations on a music-related topic of your choice. Presentations should focus on a single, clearly defined idea and offer practical value for a broad audience of musicians and teachers. Visual aids (e.g., PowerPoint slides) are encouraged.
Please note that the 5-minute time limit will be strictly enforced. Strong proposals typically
emphasize a focused concept rather than attempting to cover multiple ideas.
● CLICK HERE to submit your Lightning Talk proposal
● CLICK HERE to view sample Lightning Talks from the 2025 NYSMTA Virtual Symposium
Applicants will be notified of decisions by late July. Selected presenters are required to register
for the conference. For questions regarding the Lightning Talks, please contact Dr. Asami
Hagiwara (a.hagiwara@sunyocc.edu).
2026 State Conference
Saturday, October 15, 2022 Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, New York
Conference Booklet pdf
NYSMTA
Date: Saturday, October 17
Location: SUNY Onondaga Community College (Syracuse, NY)
REGISTRATION
The State Conference is open to both members and non-members of NYSMTA. Registration will open in late May
SCHEDULE
9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
More detailed schedule information will be available in August.
CONFERENCE BOOKLET
Conference booklet will be available in September
CONFERENCE GUEST ARTIST
Logan Skelton is an internationally acclaimed pianist, teacher, and composer whose
performances have captivated audiences across the United States, Europe, and Asia, and have
been featured on major public radio and television broadcasts. A distinguished teacher, he has
mentored numerous students who have gone on to win many national and international awards
and hold prominent positions at universities and conservatories worldwide.
Dr. Skelton is a leading contributor to the new Critical Edition of George Gershwin’s music, and
his own recent arrangements will soon be published by Schott Music. He holds the titles of Artur
Schnabel Collegiate Professor of Music in Piano, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, and Director of
Doctoral Studies in Piano Performance at the University of Michigan. At the NYSMTA
Conference, he will share his latest insights and discoveries on Gershwin’s music.
COMISSIONED COMPOSER
Born in New York City, Pamela Sklar is a composer and flutist known for chamber music written
for unusual instrumental combinations. Her works have been performed across the United States
and internationally, including in Cuba, Spain, and the Netherlands, and presented by
organizations such as the National Flute Association and the International Double Reed Society.
Her award-winning programs and recordings span classical, jazz, pop, ethnic, and
improvisational styles. Inspirations range from poetry and history to science, community stories,
and cultural traditions. pamelasklar.com
Reflecting on her newly commissioned work for NYSMTA, the composer writes:
“This piece explores colorful sonorities created by two instruments created from wood. It may be
about travel, or visual art—or something else entirely. The composition is unfolding gradually,
and its direction is becoming clearer with time.”
We look forward to hearing this new work as it comes fully into focus.
When: Saturday, October 19, 2024, (approx 9am - 5pm, TBA)
Where: Ithaca College School of Music, Ithaca, NY
Schedule: TBA, will include Lightning Talks, Lecture Forum, Commissioned Composer premiere, sessions and recital by the featured Guest Artist/Clinician, networking/social opportunities
- Offers members of NYSMTA a professional opportunity to present a topic of interest or specialization at its Conferences
- Flexible presentation format: read a paper, present a lecture, perform a lecture recital, or demonstrate a technique
- Example topic areas: music literature, teaching techniques, the psychology of teaching, performance anxiety, improvisation, the business side of the music profession, historical performance style, pedagogical repertoire, etc.
- Proposal should be a detailed, written document describing the content and format of the presentation. Maximum 250 words. Include any audio/visual/equipment needs.
- Presentation time is 25 minutes with an additional 5 minutes for questions and discussion
- Notification of proposal status by the end of August
- Click here to submit your Lightning Talks proposal
- Click here for sample lightning talks from the 2023 NYSMTA Virtual Symposium
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- “Lightning” fast 5-minute presentations on a music-related topic of choice. Visual aids are encouraged (E.g. Powerpoint, Canva, Prezi).
- Topics should be practical and applicable to a wide audience of musicians/teachers, focused on a single idea rather than a summary of many ideas.
- 5-minute time limit is strictly but playfully enforced
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- All musicians and teachers (MTNA members/non-members) are encouraged to participate: collegiate chapters, college students, newly graduated young professionals, K-12 music teachers, private music teachers, and collegiate faculty.
