The 2026 NACWPI National Conference will be held March 1-2, 2026, on the campus of South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. All events will take place in The Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center, a state-of-the-art performance and instructional facility featuring the Larson Memorial Concert Hall (1,000 seats) and Founders Recital Hall (225 seats). All conference attendees receive a complementary ticket to enjoy the Boston Pops live in concert! |
Presentation & Performance ProposalsPresentation and Performance Proposal submissions for the 2026 NACWPI National Conference will be accepted through December 15, 2025, 11:59PM (CST), using the appropriate online submission form linked below. Proposal submissions are limited to two proposals per member. Proposers must submit their own work and may not submit proposals on behalf of their students or colleagues, except of course, in the case of proposals where there are multiple performers or presenters - primary and secondary participants will be designated in the proposal submission process. Proposers agree to present on any day of the conference should their proposal be accepted. NACWPI does not fund travel expenses of accepted presenters, nor provide accompanists or musical equipment beyond a piano and limited percussion equipment, as available. Proposals of a commercial nature that promote products and services will not be considered. In order to be accepted, all primary and secondary wind and percussion performers and presenters, including all professors/instructors, retired faculty, associates, and students, must be NACWPI members during the March 1, 2025 - February 28, 2026 NACWPI membership period. All accepted performers and presenters must preregister in advance of the conference once the registration window is opened. The primary presenter or performer will be notified of acceptance via email on or about January 15, 2026. |
Presentation Proposal Submission
A 25-minute demonstration or scholarly paper, 55-minute workshop or panel, or untimed poster presentation. Complete submissions require the names and email addresses of all presenters, biographies of 250 words or less for each clinician all in a single up-loadable attachment, and a clinic description not to exceed 250 words. |
Performance Proposal Submission
A 25-minute recital or lecture-recital featuring a performer or ensemble. Complete submissions require the names and email addresses of all performers (including accompanists), a representative audio recording, biographies of 250 words or less for each performer all in a single up-loadable attachment, and program notes (name of work or works to be performed, accurate composer/arranger names and birth-death dates, other notes) not to exceed 250 words. |
Richard Weerts Composition Contest
The Richard Weerts Composition Contest, named in honor of long-time NACWPI Secretary/Treasurer Dr. Richard Weerts, is seeking original manuscripts of chamber works for no more than five performers. The exact instrumentation may be selected by composers. Entries submitted by January 15, 2026, will be adjudicated by a panel of NACWPI members with the winning composer notified on or near February 15, 2026. Membership in NACWPI is not required to participate in this contest. The winning composition will be premiered at the 2026 National Conference and the winning composer will be recognized with a $1,000.00 (USD) prize. For more details, please visit the Richard Weerts Composition Contest page.