2024 Annual Fall Conference
Conference will be held at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. Most of our sessions will take place in the Harper Hall at Lawrence University. Your registration fee includes all sessions at the conference, the awards dinner on Friday, the Friday night recital, and annual meeting lunch on Saturday. Breakfasts and Friday lunch are not included.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Early Bird registration discount is only valid through August 15 so act fast!
$135 for Current MTNA members registering BEFORE August 15.
$145 for MTNA members registering AFTER August 15.
$115 for one day participation (Friday or Saturday)
$115 for First Time Attendee (Members who has never attended a WMTA State Conference.)
$95 Collegiate Members (Must be a full-time college student registered this term.)
$165 for Non Members of WMTA/MTNA
$45 for Extra Guest(s) for the Friday Dinner and Concert
HOTEL INFORMATION
For those traveling from out of town, Hilton Appleton Paper Valley Hotel is the official location for Conference rates. We have a discounted rate of $129 plus tax for a single or double occupancy room and additional adults are $10 per person. The hotel is only a 10 to 15 minute walk from the University. Driving is still an option for those who can’t walk the distance to the Conference. You can pay a little extra to get in and out of the hotel parking ramp multiple times each day.
Here is a link to hotel information, amenities, and check in and out times.
Click HERE
Here is a link to food and dining options at the hotel.
Click HERE
Book your hotel now and use code “WMTA” to get our special rate. Call the hotel directly at 920-733-8000 or go online and click the “Special Rates” button to make a reservation.
Click HERE
WHY HAVE WE MOVED TO LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY?
The WMTA 2024 Conference will be held on a university campus for the first time in many years. Why will we be returning to a college campus?
WMTA values the benefits of the state conference each year, but we often run at a financial deficit. Using a university this year is lowering our costs, allowing us to stay fiscally responsible as we invest in other areas of the organization.
It is a special year for Lawrence as the Conservatory and Community Music School celebrate 150 years of music.
WMTA and Lawrence have collaborated on a composition commission to be premiered at the Friday night concert.
Harper has two 9 foot Steinway grands that will allow our Friday evening performers and other conference presenters to play on well-regulated and acclimated instruments in an acoustically beautiful space.
Harper Hall has raked seating so sightlines will be better for conference attendees.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who should register for the conference?
Everyone attending the Conference must register. This includes anyone attending and/or presenting. The Awards Banquet and Recital on Friday night is available via the reservation system at an additional cost for partners, family members, etc.
What does my registration include?
Your registration fee includes the conference, the Friday evening banquet and performance and the Saturday annual meeting luncheon. Please notify us if you have any special dietary restrictions. It does not include hotel costs or other meals, including breakfasts and Friday lunch. Every attendee is required to make their own transportation and lodging plans.
Are conference fees refundable?
No. All fees (including meals) are non-refundable.
Can I take my friend, spouse or child to a session without registering them?
The sessions are for registered individuals only. Should you bring additional guests, they will need to be registered and paid, regardless of how many sessions they wish to attend. If your guests wish to attend the Friday night dinner and performance, they may make reservations in the reservation system.
How do I get a roommate or someone to carpool to share a hotel room with?
WMTA does not facilitate roommates or carpools. If you are seeking a roommate or a carpool otherwise, we recommend that you contact your Local Association President to see who else is attending from your area.
Can I bring my own food?
All food/beverages must be supplied and prepared by the catering service at the university during the included mealtimes. Please indicate any food restrictions you may have, and we will do our best to accommodate those.
When will I receive my registration confirmation?
If you registered online, your confirmation was automatically emailed to you upon completion of the registration process. Attendees may pick up your name tag at the Conference Welcome Desk. The Welcome Desk will be open on Friday from 7:30am-11:30am and 12:30pm-2:00pm. It will also be open on Saturday from 7:30am to 11:00am. Program booklets will be online. Please check it out prior to the conference.
When I arrive at the conference what should I do?
Conference registration desk will open Friday morning, per the schedule. You can pick up your nametag and any other updated information. Please familiarize yourself with the program online prior to arrival. It contains many things that you will need during Conference such as the daily schedule, presenter bios, exhibitor listings and much more.
What is the appropriate dress for this?
Dress in what makes you feel comfortable, but conference rooms can vary widely in temperature. We recommend you wear layers if you tend to get cool.
When will the conference schedule be available?
The full conference schedule with rooms and times will be available online before the conference. The schedule of events is subject to change up to the day before the event.
Do you provide scooters or wheelchairs?
No, we do not.
Are there open exhibit booths?
Yes, and if you are an exhibitor that would like to be at our conference, see our exhibit booth advertising options for information.
What about parking rates?
Some hotels do charge parking rates and you will find that information on their website.
COMMISSIONED COMPOSER
Nicolas Bizub will be our 2024 Commissioned Composer. WMTA has teamed up with Lawrence University to co-commission Nicolas in honor of the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music’s 150th anniversary. Nicolas Bizub graduated from Lawrence University in 2016 with a BMus in Composition and a BMus in Viola Performance. He received his DMA in Composition from CCM in 2021 and now works as Associate Director of Growth Marketing for the New York Philharmonic. Nicolas is an active professional composer and private teacher of composition. His website is https://nicolasbizub.com.
Nicolas Bizub writes music which is dark, striving, and yearning, which also points towards radiance and light. Inspired by human interaction with the natural world, he often uses nature in his music as metaphors for more human topics, including emotion, politics, creation, and destruction. He has been commissioned to write a somewhat larger-scale piece than our usual WMTA commissioned pieces, and has proposed a piece for small ensemble and soprano totaling 15-20 minutes in length. Lawrence faculty will perform the work during the Friday evening conference concert. Members of the Lawrence and Appleton community will be invited to join our conference attendees.