40 Years and Beyond: Working Together for a Better Future
2026 Annual Conference
Dallas, TX
Tuesday, July 28 – Thursday, July 30
Negotiations Workshop: Monday, July 27
Hosts: The Dallas-Fort Worth Professional Musicians’ Association, AFM Local 72-147 and the Musicians of the Dallas Opera Orchestra
Conference Hotel:
Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Dallas
1600 Pacific Avenue
Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 299-8982
Room Rate: $149 + tax
NEW! Conference Agenda HERE (as of July 27; subject to change)
ORCHESTRA REPORT DIRECT LINK HERE
**TREASURER REPORTS, 2025 CONFERENCE MINUTES HERE
Speaker Bios and Other Documents HERE
Conference Information Page (including transportation hints) HERE.
Welcome Message From Stewart Williams, President of AFM Local 72-147 HERE
Welcome Message From ROPA President Steve Wade HERE
Places to Eat, Things to Do, provided by the Dallas Local HERE
Conference Registration is OPEN. Register for the Conference HERE.
Book your room at the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Dallas HERE.
(Remembering our time at the 2025 Conference in Philadelphia, PA)
ROPA Updates
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Multiple-Card AFM Member Rebate
As stated above, AFM members who belonged to two or more Locals throughout the entire previous calendar year will soon be able petition the AFM International Secretary/Treasurer for a “rebate equal to the per capita dues received by the Federation” for that member’s membership in each Local in excess of one. For now, members can still apply for rebates for per capita dues for memberships in Locals in excess of two.
According to Article 8, Section 7(a)(ii) of the AFM Bylaws, the rebate is only available to members who held simultaneous memberships in two or more Locals for the full calendar year.
The current application form is found HERE.
The ROPA Leading Tone Newsletter
The Leading Tone is the official newsletter of the Regional Orchestra Players Association, a conference of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada, and is published quarterly.The current issue of the Leading Tone newsletter can be found at the following link:
Summer 2026: Volume 40, Issue 1
About ROPA
The Regional Orchestra Players’ Association (ROPA): Who we are, our history and our guiding principles. Read more…
Unity is Power: Join ROPA
There are many excellent reasons for being a part of ROPA. Click HERE to find the information you need to join ROPA.
A Message from the ROPA EDI Committee
If you’re interested in learning more and positively advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in your orchestra, please join the ROPA EDI Workgroup! It’s open to any musician in any ROPA orchestra, and we meet every other month or so over Zoom to discuss how to improve and incorporate audition practices, the tenure review process, contract language and fellowships, unconscious bias training, advancing EDI, surveying conductors, and more. The ultimate goal is to provide resources and promote awareness, education, and activism to achieve measurable change and representation in ROPA orchestras. For more information or to join the Workgroup, please email chair Alana Wiesing at alana.drums@gmail.com.
EDI Workgroup: ROPA Tenure Review Recommendations and Ideas
The following items are suggestions from the ROPA EDI Workgroup, composed of musicians performing in ROPA orchestras across the United States, intended to support orchestras in developing and enhancing transparent, equitable, and constructive tenure review processes that clearly define expectations while fostering growth, communication, and success for all musicians (read more)
ROPA Audition Recommendations and Ideas from the ROPA EDI Workgroup
The following items are suggestions from the ROPA EDI Workgroup, which consists of musicians performing in ROPA orchestras around the United States, that orchestras can implement with goals to attract a larger applicant pool, ensure as far and unbiased of an audition process as possible, and hire the most qualified candidate (read more)
FMCS Educational Video Series
The Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service have an introductory video series on their YouTube channel that explores various facets of their history, mission, objectives, and services. Please go to their channel and take a look at this valuable resource.
ROPA Quick Facts
Member Orchestras
ROPA’s Guiding Principles
Officers, Members-at-Large, Adjuncts
Pay ROPA Dues Online