PEORIA, Ill. – The Illinois Music Education Conference will remain in Peoria through 2031 following the signing of a five-year contract announced Friday.
Discover Peoria joined the Peoria Civic Center and the Illinois Music Education Association to announce the agreement, which secures one of Peoria’s largest annual conventions.
The Illinois Music Education Conference has been held in Peoria for more than 30 years, hosting music educators and students each January. The conference brings together over 12,000 people during the last week of January annually.
The event generates more than 3,200 hotel room nights annually, totaling over 16,000 room nights across the five-year agreement. Hotels from North Peoria, downtown, East Peoria, and Morton are utilized during the conference.
The event is expected to produce an estimated $16.8 million in direct economic impact over the five-year term.
“This event not only bridges music education and the brightest high school performers in the State of Illinois, but will also produce an estimated $16.8 million in direct economic impact over the five year term,” said JD Dalfonso, CEO of Discover Peoria.
As the largest content-wide music education conference in the state, IMEC includes student musicians in grades 4-12 performing with guest conductors, over 150 professional development sessions for teachers, a trade show floor, and performances from school groups across Illinois.
“The music education world of Illinois focuses on Peoria each January for the Illinois Music Education Conference,” said Darcy Nendza, ILMEA Executive Director. “ILMEA is proud to call Peoria home and is excited to work with our Peoria partners to continue to grow this amazing event.”
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