Around 450 NAfME chapters are under the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) in the United States. At the UHM, Collegiate Chapter 418 consists of ten graduate and 35 undergraduate music education majors and students who intend to major in music education. Early this year, Collegiate Chapter 418 from the UHM submitted an application for "Chapters of Excellence," held annually. 

Chapter 418 has conducted and attended various professional activities, such as preparing and assisting at the two-day Hawai`i Music Education Conference, filled with sessions in the choral, instrumental, and general music fields. 100% of the chapter members participated in this event. The chapter also attended and helped in two Hawai`i Orff-Schulwerk Association (HOSA) workshops. They learned about Chuuk Culture, Songs, and Dance and integrated the Orff approach into Aotearoa New Zealand repertories. See link.

As for service, the chapter participated in the Symphony of the Hawaiian Forest. This project addresses an issue critical to Hawaiian values – preserving nature, especially endangered species, forests, and cultural values - through an immersive experience of hula, chant, art, and music. Our NAfME Chapter visited multiple schools, taught keiki hula, and discussed the water cycle that can affect the growth of forests.

Last year, the NAfME Collegiate 418 chapter hosted its second annual Voice Bridge Day. At this event, the NAfME chapter invited high school students from across Oʻahu to visit the music department and experience what a music degree in Voice and Music Education is like at UH Mānoa. The choral majors also volunteered in festivals celebrating middle and high school choral music ensembles, such as Nā Leo Hou and Nā Leo Pili Mai choral festivals. In addition, the NAfME Collegiate 418 chapter organized a bento fundraising event.

"The Chapter of Excellence Recognition was developed to encourage chapters to plan and execute successful chapter advocacy, music program, professional development, recruitment strategy, and service projects" (NAfME, 2024). With great honor, out of 41 Chapter of Excellence applicants, the Collegiate 418 chapter of the UHM was selected as one of the award recipients. According to Ben Reyes, NAfME Membership Manager, this was the largest applicant pool and one of the most competitive in recent years. This June, these chapters will be acknowledged at the NAfME Collegiate Chapters of nine schools as "Chapters of Excellence" during the NAfME National Leadership Assembly. 

Kudos to the board members!