THE CHILDREN’S MUSIC NETWORK’S
17th ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE

A Gathering For Children's Music

At The Children’s Music Network’s 2007 National Conference September 28–30 in Albany, New York, CMN celebrated its 20th Year Anniversary. Held at the Holiday Inn on Wolf Road, this multigenerational event brought children and adults together to foster cooperation, cultural diversity, respect for the environment, self-esteem, and empowerment through music for and by young people. The conference featured creative and practical workshops, discussion panels, and master classes on the subjects that are unique to people who work with young people and music, in formats that ranged from lectures to song swaps, with soul-nourishing break-out discussion groups. As always, the weekend overflowed with rich opportunities for singing, networking, learning, and professional development for old and young alike.

Keynote speakers at the 2007 National Conference were the inspiring Kim and Reggie Harris.  Their presentation brought a rich and insightful perspective to the conference based on their highly acclaimed work as singers, songwriters, storytellers, historical interpreters, cultural advocates and educators.

Each year at the conference, the Children’s Music Network bestows the Magic Penny Award on someone who has made an outstanding lifetime contribution to children’s music.  Previous recipients include Ruth Crawford Seeger, Nora Guthrie for her dad Woody Guthrie, Bob Blue, Nancy Schimmel for her mom Malvina Reynolds, Marcia Berman, Hawaiian legend Nona Beamer, Suni Paz, and Ella Jenkins.  This year CMN presented the 2007 Magic Penny Award to Sarah Pirtle for her wide-ranging work using children's music for peace, conflict resolution, and environmental education.  Sarah was also the major catalyst in the formation of the Children’s Music Network as a formal organization, so there was an extra dimension to the honor in this anniversary year.