Advocating for the Future of Music Education
The Barbershop Harmony Society is helping shape the national conversation about music education, one meeting at a time.
On June 24, 2026, BHS Director of Music and Education Bill Stauffer joined nearly 300 music educators and arts supporters on Capitol Hill to make the case for continued investment in music and arts education in our public schools. Convened annually by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Hill Day brings together music education leaders from across the country to engage lawmakers on initiatives, legislation, and appropriations that shape arts education policy and funding. It offers a fascinating window into the machinery of government, but more than that, it is a day filled with active, rigorous hope.
One of the first things to understand is that participants rarely meet with legislators themselves. Instead, they typically meet with legislative aides and staffers—and for NAfME, that is often an advantage. Congressional offices are frequently staffed by gifted, idealistic young professionals whose lives were profoundly shaped by music and arts education. During this year's Hill Day, they shared story after story about how participation in band, choir, theater, and other arts programs instilled values, character, work ethic, collaboration, and leadership. As a result, these staff members bring a genuine appreciation for arts education as they help shape their offices' legislative priorities. That is deeply encouraging. (To learn more about NAfME's 2026 Hill Day priorities, take a look at the Legislative Overview, FY 2027 Programmatic Fact Sheet, and Legislative Highlights – Arts Education documents.)
Bill also represents the Barbershop Harmony Society on the Music Education Policy Roundtable, a public policy coalition led by NAfME that works to ensure every student has access to a high-quality music education. That means barbershop has a meaningful seat at the table in shaping the future of music education in the United States. We know firsthand that singing transforms lives—not only through musical excellence, but by fostering belonging, empathy, confidence, and lifelong human connection. Having the Barbershop Harmony Society represented in these conversations ensures that our experience, our values, and our mission to enrich lives through singing contribute to a broader vision in which every student has the opportunity to discover the life-changing power of making music together.