Advocacy News, Action, and Alerts
Arts Advocacy Day
A once a year national arts awareness summit hosted by Americans for the Arts, will return for its 21^st year on Capitol Hill between March 31-April 1, 2008. This year's festivities will include a broad cross section of America's cultural and civic organizations and hundreds of grassroots arts advocates from across the country. The summit will promote the importance of developing strong public policies in support of arts, and will advocate on behalf of increased funding for arts programs. In addition to these exciting elements, Arts Advocacy Day is an opportunity for music and other arts supporters to learn how to better advocate for their causes, network with peers from all across the country, and visit with members of Congress to discuss key issues. Registration for Arts Advocacy Day 2008 is now underway. Please click here for more information.

U.S. Department of Education American Stars of Teaching
Teachers from across all grade levels and disciplines will be honored this fall as 2008 American Stars of Teaching. One teacher from every state and the District of Columbia will be recognized. Colleagues, parents, students, school administrators or members of the community are encouraged to nominate a teacher that they believe has demonstrated the skills, talents and qualities that personify an American Star of Teaching. Please follow the link in order to nominate a teacher for this honor. Deadline: March 31, 2008.

Best 100 Communities for Music Education
The NAMM Foundation is searching for those communities in America that offer high-quality music education as part of a complete education for all students. Open to every school district across the nation, the Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) survey, now in its ninth year, is now live through Monday, March 3, 2008.

For Music Teachers
The World’s Largest Concert Returns!
Plan your 2008 World’s Largest Concert celebration for March 13, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. WLC DVDs will ship in mid-February. Pre-order your copy now. The 2008 World’s Largest Concert Teacher’s Guide contains free, downloadable sheet music and lesson plans for the 2008 program. For more information on how to participate in this great music advocacy event, visit the WLC FAQ. Note: The WLC will not be aired on PBS this year, but you can help get it shown on your local cable TV station! Visit the web site to find out how.

National Anthem Project in Washington, D.C., June 2008
Sign up your students now! Building on the success of 2007's National Anthem Project event in Washington DC, where more than 5000 students gathered to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Washington Monument, MENC will continue to remind our nation of the importance of music programs in our schools next year. The 2008 event will take place in Washington DC on June 12-15, 2008 and is planned to include a concert on the steps of the U.S. Capitol featuring a National Anthem sing-along. Student ensembles will once again have the opportunity to perform at Washington DC’s historic memorials. Additional fun and musical activities will round out the weekend. For more information, visit The National Anthem Project.

For Music Students
Humane Society of the United States Song Contest
Is your dog your best friend? What do you think about dogfighting? Now is your chance to speak your mind for rap legend Darryl “DMC” McDaniels. The Humane Society of the United States is holding the first "Hip Hop for Hounds" contest for the best rap song that stands up for dogs, and against dogfighting. DMC will chose the winning song and the winner will receive a $1,000 prize. The winner will be chosen by DMC and announced shortly after the submission deadline. Visit here for more details. Deadline: February 29, 2008.

Strings Magazine Scholarship Award
The Strings Magazine Scholarship Award is available to students currently enrolled in an undergraduate program majoring in Music Education or Music Performance of the bowed string instruments. Four $1,000 scholarships are awarded and are based on financial need, academic merit, and community service. For the information and application packet, click here. Deadline: April 1, 2008.

Gibson Les Paul Raffle!

Guitar aficionados, purchase a raffle ticket for your chance to own a beautiful 2005 Gibson Les Paul Standard that’s signed by none other than the artist himself. The guitar, a Heritage Cherry Sunburst design with a fifties-style neck, is autographed on its pickguard and has never been played. The raffle is a fundraiser for the Caitlin Merie Hurrey Memorial Scholarship Fund, which supports four scholarships annually and was approved by MENC as part of MENC’s Fund for the Advancement of Music Education.

Only 1000 raffle tickets will be sold! For more information, visit the web site.

This Month In Music History …

• February 4, 1901 - The Giacomo Puccini opera "Tosca" made its U.S. debut.
• February 11, 1916 - The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra presented its first concert. The symphony was the first by a municipal orchestra to be supported by taxes.
• February 20, 1816 - Rossini's opera "Barber of Seville" premieres in Rome
• February 23, 1792 - Joseph Haydn's 94th Symphony in G was premiered.
• February 29, 1792 - Gioacchino Rossini, Pesaro Italy, composer (Barber of Seville) was born.