The Tri-M Music Honor Society, the international music honor society for middle and high school students. Tri-M Music Honor Society provides a means of recognizing the efforts and achievements of music students who volunteer their time and share their musical talents with others. Since 1952, over 3,900 Tri-M chapters have been chartered in the United States and abroad, with membership exceeding 24,000.

The goals of the Tri-M Music Honor Society are to foster greater interest in band, orchestral, and choral performance and to provide wider opportunities for personal musical expression.

Students are selected for membership in the honor society on the basis of musicianship, scholarship, character, cooperation, leadership, and service to their school and community. North Lincoln High School Tri-M Music Honor Society charter number 4087 has yet to set the standard grade point average for selection into Tri-M Music Honor Society. The organization's high standards serve to challenge students to greater effort and achievement and to encourage them in the pursuit of excellence.

In 1983, Tri-M Music Honor Society became a program of MENC: The National Association for Music Education. MENC, with over 95,000 members is the largest not-for-profit association dedicated to the advancement of music education at the national and local levels. MENC's activities and resources have been largely responsible for the establishment of music education as a profession and for the promotion and guidance of music study as an integral part of the school curriculum.

The Tri-M Music Honor Society...

* Provides a means of national recognition and reward for students' achievements and service, which can motivate them to achieve on a high level

* Strengthens your school's music program by increasing its visibility and prestige

* Builds awareness of the importance of music in your school and community through service and outreach

* Increases teamwork among all members of your music program, including instrumental and vocal students and faculty, as they work together on Tri-M activities

* Provides leadership opportunities for music students and faculty

The Tri-M Music Honor Society Awards Program

The Tri-M Music Honor Society Awards Program was developed specifically to offer opportunities for recognizing the society's outstanding members and chapters. All active chapters and their members of the Tri-M Music Honor Society are eligible to participate in the society's awards program.

Chapters that participate in the program will:

* Recognize chapter members for their exemplary musical talents and leadership skills,

* Inspire music students to achieve common goals,

* Increase the awareness of their school's music program,

* Provide models of achievement for other Tri-M chapters, and

* Contribute to the growth of the Tri-M Music Honor Society.

Chapters and members may receive awards based on the categories that follow.

The Chapter of the Year Summer Music Scholarship Awards Program is designed to motivate and reward chapters that develop active service projects, to encourage chapter officers to perform their duties properly, and to bring about more awareness and interest in what other Tri-M chapters are doing. During the school year, information on the chapter's activities is compiled into a "scrapbook." Summer music scholarships are awarded to the winner and the two runners-up in each division (Jr and Sr).

The Chapter of the Year in each division also receives an engraved permanent service trophy and the traveling trophy with their school's name and chapter number added. Each Chapter of the Year keeps the traveling trophy until the next Chapter of the Year is named the following year.

Achievement Awards are presented to individual student members selected by chapter sponsors. After evaluation by the national office, a personalized achievement certificate is sent to each Master Musician.

A Master Musician is a student who excels in music; is highly qualified as a performer with a basic knowledge of music theory; has achieved success in the performance field, meriting many honors locally and in district or state contests: and has been particularly active in performing in the school and community functions. This award is usually given to students who are in their last year of their chapter's division.

A Tri-M Leadership Award recipient is a student who takes leadership in various areas of school and community organizations and activities in addition to his or her involvement with music. Many chapter sponsors have found some of the finest Tri-M members, although not award-winning musicians, were often the best supporters and leaders of the chapter.

The State Conference Achievement Award is designed to give additional recognition to members who have been selected to represent their school in state honor ensembles held during their state association's conference. After evaluation by the national office, each State Conference Achievement Recipient receives a personalized Certificate of Achievement.

At selected MENC national and division conferences, a special session for Tri-M members is held where students can meet members of other chapters, hear speakers and school music ensembles, visit music exhibits and perform.

All active Tri-M members are automatically enrolled in this junior ASCAP membership program, the goals of which are to promote musical composition and raise awareness of intellectual property rights among young musicians. Tri-M members gain access to special discounts on wireless products, t-shirt manufacturing, electronic gear and movie tickets/video rentals through their ASCAP J.A.M. membership.

Tri-M has a freshly re-modeled home on MENC's Web site. Investigate the newest features and updated information. You can

* Locate other Tri-M Chapter Web sites

* Visit the Tri-M Message Center, a bulletin board for you to post messages, comments and questions to other Tri-M members

* Contact Collegiate MENC Chapter Web site

* Read the latest news about Tri-M and read the Tri-M News, online

* Find Links to friends and partners of Tri-M