A Walk through the National Center for Music Education in Reston, VA

Welcome to MENC, which is located at the National Center for Music
Education in Reston, Virginia, just outside Washington, DC. The brick
building has three floors.

MENC headquarters is located in a wooded
area of Reston, Virginia, a few miles from
Dulles International Airport.

MENC's "Walk of FAME" leads to the front of the building. Bricks
in the walkway have been used to honor mentors, memorialize
loved ones, commemorate occasions or events, or show
permanent, public support for music education.

MENC's 2008-09 National Executive Board takes a break from a meeting at headquarters to pose outside for a photo.

MENC often hosts out of town visitors. Here
Executive Director John J. Mahlmann poses
with Mrs. America 2007, Diane Tucker, who
was named Mrs. World a few months later.
Mrs. America representatives advocate for
music education around the United States.

Welcome to MENC! "Re-teaching and encouraging Americans to
sing our national anthem is the focus of MENC's multi-year music
education advocacy campaign, The National Anthem Project."

Looking from the MENC headquarters lobby
into the parking lot on a sunny day.

The names of Lowell Mason Fellows, honored for their contributions
to music education are printed on the windows outside the front
desk area.

For visitors to 1806 Robert Fulton Drive in Reston, Virginia, the
front desk is the first stop.

MENC-published books are displayed in the front desk area on the
second floor.

When visitors come to MENC for meetings, the sit-downs often
take place in the boardroom, which displays portraits of all of
MENC's past national presidents.

"Little Steven" Van Zandt visited MENC in 2007 to discuss launching his Rock 'N Roll curriculum for secondary school students. Here he pauses in the boardroom with MENC Executive Director John J. Mahlmann.

Also on the second floor, the recital room is home to recitals,
workshops, meetings of the MENC National Executive Board
and the occasional concert.

In December 2007, The King's Singers visited Reston and performed a few songs for thrilled
staff members.

On the second floor of the building is the office of MENC Executive Director John J. Mahlmann.
 

...Who often hosts guests, such as these representatives from military
service bands who work with MENC on various music education projects.

An MENC staffer compiles information for
MENC members.

Preparing a mailing for MENC members

MENC staffers use open stairwells to climb
from the first to second to third floors.

A flag hanging from the third floor is visible from the second-floor lobby.

A third-floor meeting in the Member-Communications Department,
during which MENC staffers discuss member programs.

Checking on equipment tucked away in the Information Technology
department, which keeps MENC connected to its members.

This stone patio on the first floor level is just
outside the MENC library, offering staffers and
visitors a place for summer work breaks.

The first floor houses the publications department and the library,
where music education books and state music education journals
are filed.

Named The Refectory, the MENC lunchroom is a gathering place
on the first floor for staff lunch breaks.

Mailroom staffers fill orders for items like
Music In Our Schools Month® (MIOSM®)
t-shirts and other MENC-branded merchandise.

A delivery truck waits at the bottom of a ramp on the back of the
MENC building.