<\/p>\n
UPDATE from OKMEA:<\/i><\/p>\n
In keeping with our mission to provide quality opportunities for music educators and their students to the best of our ability, we have been monitoring all of the aspects of the conference and the historic and unique situation that this year provides. We thank you for your patience as we worked toward an informed decision.<\/i><\/p>\n
We will be hosting the full conference and All-State ensemble activities as scheduled from Wednesday, January 21, through Friday, January 23, at 5pm. We encourage you to attend as many of your planned events as possible. However, due to the extreme nature of this weekend\u2019s forecast, all events after Friday at 5pm are cancelled.<\/i><\/p>\n
Tickets pre-purchased for Friday night\u2019s honor concerts and Saturday\u2019s All-State concerts will be refunded electronically. Due to copyright restrictions, we are unable to livestream any of the events.<\/i>
\u2014<\/p>\n
The annual music conference, hosted by the Oklahoma Music Educators Association, was supposed to take place at the Arvest Convention Center through Saturday.<\/p>\n
Organizers said the event wouldcontinue as scheduled, citing contractual obligations tied to the venue and programming.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is such a big honor that kids are not just going to not show up,\u201d said parent Jennifer Davidson. \u201cIf they can be there at all, they will be, because it\u2019s a great opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Students from schools across the state are expected to perform and participate, including groups traveling from central Oklahoma.<\/p>\n
Davidson, whose daughter is traveling from Moore to Tulsa for the conference, said the timing of the winter storm makes the situation difficult for families.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you don\u2019t go to the concert, then you don\u2019t get credit for being an all-state,\u201d Davidson said.<\/p>\n
She said she is especially concerned about students traveling home on Saturday, which currently falls in the middle of the forecasted snowfall.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt just seems like a really bad position to put parents in to have to choose,\u201d Davidson said.<\/p>\n
In a statement, the Oklahoma Music Educators Association said it does not cancel the conference or portions of the event due to contractual obligations but encouraged families to use caution when traveling.<\/p>\n
The organization said leadership is closely monitoring weather conditions and consulting with meteorologists from the National Weather Service.<\/p>\n
While the music conference remains on schedule, several school athletic events across the state are already making changes due to the winter storm forecast.<\/p>\n
Basketball tournaments in Miami and Caney Valley have adjusted schedules, and the Port City Classic has canceled all games scheduled for Saturday.<\/p>\n
Tournament organizers said the decision was made out of an abundance of caution and that additional changes could be announced as conditions evolve.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n