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The Intercollegiate Music Association (IMA) A History Narrative
The Intercollegiate Music Association (IMA) was founded in 1960 as a vehicle for enriching and enhancing the development of the students of its member institutions. For over forty-five years, IMA has enhanced the overall ethos of music performance and education for some of the most significant historically black colleges and universities located on the east coast. The founders of the Association include Dr. Evelyn Johnson, Dr. Albert Grauer, & Dr. Nathaniel Gatlin. The founders believed that the IMA could present an opportunity for cooperative, non-competitive activities among the students who attended colleges and universities in the then, CIAA athletic conference. As the principle leader in the development of IMA, Dr. Gatlin believed that there should exist a program that inspired mutual improvement, growth, cooperation, and respect in the musical arts among students and faculty within these conference institutions. Through their collective efforts, immeasurable human, artistic and academic values would accrue. The first conference occurred May 11-13, 1962 at Elizabeth City State University.
The IMA is divided into three geographical areas North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia/Maryland. The schools that represented the IMA included Elizabeth City State University, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central University, Fayetteville State University, Shaw University, Winston-Salem State University, St. Augustines College, Livingstone College, Hampton University (Institute), Norfolk State University, Virginia Union University, Virginia State University, and Benedict College in South Carolina. The current IMA includes schools in both the CIAA and MEAC Athletic Conferences. Since its inception, it has broadened its membership into the schools of Maryland with the addition of Bowie State University, Membership investigations to other universities and colleges are ongoing.
Since its humble beginnings, the IMA has experienced significant development with the academic and artistic exchange of member institution faculty, and student artists/musicians, through the sharing of institutional resources. In addition, the IMA has been unwavering in its promotion of excellence in both large and small vocal and instrumental ensembles. By providing students and faculty musical opportunities in the annual conferences, workshops, seminars, recitals, lecturers, demonstrations and discussions the IMA is fulfilling the ideals of its visionary founders. Todays IMA is maintaining the legacy of excellence established by Dr. Gatlin and his constituents. Further still, the IMA understands the need to progress in technology, focus, and mission. The IMA is representative of all that is good in music performance, technology and education. Today all major musical ensembles include symphonic band, mixed choir, orchestra, and jazz ensemble. Further performance opportunities occur for solo instruments, group, and small ensembles during both student and faculty recitals, The annual conference provides a vast opportunity for musical exposure to all musical entities. Moreover, with regional concerts, Internet exchange and through annual publications and departmental notifications these exchanges happen all year long.
Sources: Program notes from past conferences