2026 Maine Music Educators Association Conference

Since 1974, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (NY) has been making music without a conductor. Its model calls every musician into deep engagement with the entirety of a composition, the rehearsal process, and every musician within the orchestra. Inspired by Orpheus, music educators at both middle school and high school levels of learning across the country have employed this “conductor- less” rehearsal and performance as a partner to traditional conductor-led music making. The benefits to students are transformational and illuminate the riches of meaningful engagement with the musical, artistic, and human dimensions of the large ensemble classroom.