2026 State Conference
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 is now open.
Online Registration will close on Wednesday, October 7 at 9:00 AM. On-site registration will
also be available; however, lunch may not be provided for same-day registrants.
NYSMTA
CONFERENCE HOTEL
We are pleased to offer accommodations at the Residence Inn Syracuse Downtown at Armory
Square for conference attendees for October 16–18, 2026. The hotel is a ten-minute drive from Onondaga Community College, and the address is as follows:
Residence Inn Syracuse Downtown at Armory Square
300 W Fayette St
Syracuse, NY 13202
315-422-4864
NYSMTA attendees will have access to a discounted rate of $179 per night, including complimentary breakfast. Please note that daily parking is $19. To secure this rate, reservations must be made by September 16. The official booking link will be provided upon completion of. conference registration. Please refer to the conference registration information at the top of this page.
If you have questions regarding accommodations, please contact Dongwon Shin at d.shin3@sunyocc.edu. We look forward to seeing you in Syracuse!
SCHEDULE
9:00 AM – 6:00 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.
