Pre-Conference

You may attend the pre-conference workshop only or as an add-on to your standard IMEA PD Conference registration. Visit the Registration page to register!

Check back for more presenters and specific session details!

Lorelei Batisla-ong (BM, Southwest Texas State University; MM Instrumental Conducting, Texas State University; Ph.D. Music and Human Learning, The University of Texas at Austin) is Assistant Professor of General Music Education at Peck School of the Arts, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. For 14 years she taught elementary music in San Antonio and Austin public schools, as well as university courses at UT Austin, University of the Incarnate Word, and Anderson University. Prior to teaching at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Lorelei taught at Baldwin Wallace University near Cleveland, Ohio.

They served on the American Orff-Schulwerk Association Board of Trustees, was the State Director of the National Association for Music Education – Texas and currently serves as an officer for the Music Education Special Interest Group of the American Educational Research Association. She is Lead Editor of Decolonizing the Music Room and co-author of Elemental ʻUkulele: Pathways and Possibilities. Lorelei’s teaching and learning interests include ʻukulele pedagogy, teacher noticing and cognition, teaching skills development, equity in the classroom and teaching profession, and generally wondering why everything is the way it is and how it can be better. She is perpetually considering getting a dog.

Damon Clevenger is a dedicated music educator with 15 years of experience teaching elementary general music and choir at Winding Ridge Elementary in MSD Lawrence Township on the east side of Indianapolis. He earned his undergraduate degree from Ball State University and holds a Master's in Music Education from Anderson University. Damon has completed Orff Certification Levels I, II, and III, as well as training in Modern Band, World Drumming, and Feierabend approaches. He currently serves as the Children's Folk Dance Festival chair on the IMEA board, where he is committed to promoting the joy of music and dance among young learners. His innovative teaching methods and passion for fostering a love of music drive his engaging classroom experiences.