Featured

Dear world-changing colleagues,

Congratulations on wrapping up another year of transforming lives through music. Through difficult budgetary challenges and governmental challenges questioning the worth of music and arts education, you persevered. As summer arrives, take a few moments to celebrate your accomplishments—the students who had breakthroughs, the students who found a place of belonging and safety, the students who blew you away with their nuanced musicality or revelatory scholarly insights. In this challenging time, what you do in the classroom, in the studio, in the rehearsal hall, or in serendipitous hallway conversations matters. Give yourself a standing ovation. Find a warm, sunny spot, put your feet up and take care of yourself.

CMS June Spotlight – Bethany Gilbert, NAMM

Bethany leads the operational execution of NAMM Foundation initiatives including awards and scholarships, The NAMM Show, board of directors management and cross-functional collaboration internally and externally. Bethany has spent over 11 years at NAMM, progressing through roles spanning the Resource Center, Membership and Public Affairs and Government Relations. She is a Certified Nonprofit Professional through the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance and holds a master’s degree in nonprofit leadership and management from the University of San Diego and a bachelor’s degree in trumpet performance and music business from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam.

The CMS Cohort Initiative returns for 2025–2026 with a renewed focus on connection, collaboration, and professional growth. Designed to bring CMS members together around common interests and goals, CMS Cohorts aim to provide a platform for meaningful conversation, shared learning, and professional growth. 

Each cohort provides the space to connect with peers and guest speakers, exchange ideas, and build momentum across a series of sessions. With a strong network of support, practical resources, and takeaways you can apply in your own work, the cohort experience aims to serve as a vehicle to propel your professional development forward with intentionality and community.