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CMS Spotlight

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CMS March Spotlight - The CMS Fund and President Bill Pelto

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The CMS Fund is the 501(c)(3) philanthropic branch of The College Music Society. Led by CMS Fund President Bill Pelto and the CMS Fund Board, the CMS Fund supports the creative scholarship and professional development of CMS Members through development programs that include CMS Fund Grants and Student Travel Awards.

Most recently, the CMS Fund established The Eileen M. Hayes Fund for Equity and Opportunity. Formed in recognition of the leadership and professional commitments of ethnomusicologist and past CMS President Eileen Hayes, The Eileen M. Hayes Fund recognizes exceptional commitments to equity and inclusion in music in higher education.

We recently had the opportunity to reach out to Bill Pelto to discuss the CMS Fund and these new initiatives and we hope you enjoy reading his responses.

Q: For those who may be unfamiliar with the CMS Fund, can you describe the relationship between the CMS Fund and The College Music Society and the type of support the Fund provides to CMS members?

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In Conversation with President Brian Kai Chin

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The College Music Society has undergone massive changes and restructuring in the five years that I have served on this national board. From pandemics to leadership changes, I am continually impressed by this organization's ability to pivot, hold meaningful and challenging conversations with civility and optimism, and professionally make decisions that can greatly impact the future of CMS’s ability to serve our membership. This organization has amazing leaders, from Bill Pelto’s excellent stewardship as Executive Director, and now the director of the CMS Fund; to Past President Mark Rabideau, who was instrumental in hiring the new staff team with Jeffrey Loeffert (Executive Director) and Hannah Pearson (Director of Operations). I hope to rise to the standard as we shepherd CMS into the next era. 

This past academic year, The College Music Society hired an external consultant to take a 360-degree look at the organization from the angles of efficiencies, physical spaces and assets, conferencing, budgets, and our messaging to our members. At this past national conference in Miami, the board received a full report and list of recommendations from our consultant, Mike Wolfe. We have concluded that we will lead a full strategic planning process for this year to move forward on four primary modalities:

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CMS Cohorts

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The College Music Society is excited to announce the implementation of CMS Cohorts, a new initiative that will allow CMS members to connect with one another through shared professional goals, academic affinities, pedagogical initiatives, and career experiences. 

With plans to expand in scope and range of disciplines, the first CMS Cohorts will encompass the following areas of focus:

  1. Aspiring Academic Leaders Cohort - The Aspiring Academic Leaders Cohort aims to nurture and prepare future academic leaders with a music focus in higher education. This cohort will focus on professional development, fostering essential leadership skills, and exploring the responsibilities of academic leadership roles. 
  2. Early-Career Music Faculty Cohort - The Early Music Faculty Cohort aims to support and empower early-career music faculty members in their professional development. For the purposes of this cohort, “early-career” faculty are defined as those who are within 5-7 years of completion of their terminal degree. This cohort will provide a platform for peer mentorship, networking, and skill-building to navigate the challenges of the early stages of an academic career. 
  3. Inclusive Pedagogy Cohort - The Inclusive Pedagogy Cohort aims to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racist pedagogy in music education. This cohort will serve as a platform for educators to learn about and discuss inclusive teaching practices, exchange ideas, and collaborate on fostering equitable learning environments. 
  4. Music Administrators Cohort - The Music Administrators Cohort aims to create a supportive network for music administrators within The College Music Society. This cohort will focus on addressing the unique challenges and opportunities faced by administrators in music units, facilitating professional development, and promoting best practices in music administration. 
  5. Collegiate Music Student Cohort - The Collegiate Music Student Cohort aims to bring CMS student members together across disciplines to foster conversation and bring attention to timely issues facing students in institutions of music higher education. This cohort will be facilitated by members of the CMS Student Advisory Council.
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