FEMEA Rising Stars at
Regionals

Southeastern University

Lakeland 10/25/25

University of Florida

Gainesville 11/1/25

FEMEA Rising Stars Nomination Process

Join/Renew FEMEA

In order for your student to be nominated your membership in the FEMEA Component as well as FMEA and NAfME must be current.

Click here to join/renew

Verify that Parent/Guardian agrees to register their child if selected.

Click here for Printable Flyer

Submit Nominations

Teachers select up to 3 outstanding 3rd Graders who will thrive in multi-hour musical focus event and demonstrate potential for future All-State success. The children are more confident when a friend from their school attends so try to nominate at least 2. Nomination are due 9/25/25 and selected students are announced 10/9/25.

Check Acceptance List

Teachers will view receive and email linked to the selection list and inform parents. Parents of teachers will need to register quickly because there is only an 8 day window between posted results and the Regional Registration deadline.

Register and Attend Festival

Registration will open when Audtion Results are posted.

Registration Fee is $59

Registration Deadline is 10/17

David Martinez-Cooley Leila Davis Elementary - David W. Martinez-Cooley.jpg

Jessica Barker
North Regional Clinician

Jessica Barker is proud to teach pre-k through fifth grade music at Jacksonville Country Day School where she incorporates singing, movement, drama, orff, and cross-curricular themes into her weekly lessons. Barker has served the North Florida Orff Chapter in multiple capacities including chapter president, and worked as an adjudicator for the Florida Elementary Music Educators Association and Florida Federation of Music Clubs. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Florida State University and finished her Orff Schulwerk levels training at the University of Kentucky. She is committed to professional growth and creating meaningful musical experiences for each child she teaches (Stay Sharky!).

David Martinez-Cooley
South Regional Clinician

David Martinez-Cooley started teaching music in 2007 and has been at Leila Davis Elementary in Clearwater, Florida since 2012. He has served the Pinellas County Performing Arts Department as a mentor to newer teachers, the cooperating teacher for university interns, and an Elementary representative and Treasurer on the PCMEA board. He has served on several curriculum and textbook committees, coordinated the Elementary All-County event, and delivered professional development sessions at District trainings. He is currently the Treasurer of the Greater Tampa Bay Area Orff Chapter. During his tenure at Davis Elementary, at least one student every year has been selected for the FMEA All-State Elementary Chorus, and three of his students have been selected for the All-State Orff ensemble over the past four years. Mr. Martinez-Cooley was the 2014 PCMEA Elementary Music Teacher of the Year and the 2021 Pinellas District Teacher of the Year. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from the University of Florida in 2005.

Regional Schedule(subject to change)

Check back soon or updated schedule.

FEMEA Rising Stars at Regionals