CVPA Archives

Andrew Kinsey found support for his education in surprising places

Andrew Kinsey graduated from NIU in 2025 with a degree in music education and percussion performance, and he did it debt-free. Kinsey, of Bartlett, Illinois, chose music education because he wants to help others foster a fun and healthy connection to music, in the way...

Students can win $500 from Adobe by creating a video about why they love NIU

Tell us why you love NIU!  Adobe is sponsoring our Homecoming Video Competition and is asking students to submit a 30-60 second self-made video sharing why they love NIU and why they have #HuskiePride. Winners of the video contest will be announced during Homecoming...

Andrew Glendening named Interim Dean of NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts

Andrew Glendening, D.M., has been selected as the interim dean for the Northern Illinois University College of Visual and Performing Arts. Glendening came to NIU in 2019 to serve as the director of the NIU School of Music, and has previous administrative experience as...

John Paul named interim director of NIU School of Music

John F. Paul, DM, an educator, musician and composer with more than 30 years of teaching experience and nearly 25 years as a department chair will serve as the interim director of the NIU School of Music. Andrew Glendening, who has been Director of the School of Music...
Second cohort of Simpson Schatzle Fellows announced

Second cohort of Simpson Schatzle Fellows announced

NIU’s College of Visual and Performing Arts has announced the six 2026 recipients of a fellowship that provides financial support and recognition for some of the university’s most promising graduating students in the arts. The Simpson Schatzle Fellowships were first...

CVPA students presenting at annual CURE conference

CVPA students presenting at annual CURE conference

Every spring, NIU hosts the Conference on Undergraduate Research and Engagement, where student researchers present on the topics they have been doing faculty-guided research on during the course of the year. CURE is the culminating event for Undergraduate Research...

NIU enrollment surges for Fall semester

NIU enrollment surges for Fall semester

Enrollment at Northern Illinois University grew this fall, with surges in the numbers of new freshmen and transfers, along with strong reenrollment for continuing students, powering an overall increase of 663 Huskies. The university welcomed 2,435 new freshmen, a 22%...

Word on the street: Lucinda Roundabout to open August 20

Word on the street: Lucinda Roundabout to open August 20

It's about to get easier to drive near the Art and Music Buildings again. The City of DeKalb’s new single-lane roundabout at Lucinda Avenue and Normal Road is scheduled to open no later than Wednesday, August 20, after a three-month construction project converted the...

CVPA announces first six Simpson Schatzle Fellows

CVPA announces first six Simpson Schatzle Fellows

NIU's College of Visual and Performing Arts has announced the first six recipients of a fellowship that will provide financial support and recognition for some of the university's most promising graduating students in the arts. The Simpson Schatzle Fellowship will...

Waiting For Godot – Program

NIU COLLEGE OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS PRESENTS Waiting For Godot A tragi-comedy in two acts Live staged readingWednesday, March 19, 2025NIU Recital HallCAST AND CREDITSCast Estragon - Tony FreemanPozzo - Dion GrahamLucky - Eric HissomVladimir - Paul Kassel Stage...

Commencement profile: Abria Shaw, Music Education

Commencement profile: Abria Shaw, Music Education

Congratulations to all of our fall 2024 graduates. The weekend commencement ceremonies featured this spotlight on new School of Music graduate Abria Shaw, who completed her degree in music education....

Stevens Building sculptures come full circle

Stevens Building sculptures come full circle

For artist Boyan Marinov, the dedication of the new sculpture in front of NIU's Stevens Building was a full circle moment. The new artwork that he designed and titled "The Tribesman, The Hero and The Light" was revealed with a ribbon cutting ceremony, September 26. As...

Making the most of the first week

Making the most of the first week

The first week of class provides an opportunity for faculty to create an environment where students feel comfortable and excited to be a part of the classroom. Learn your students’ names. Create community. Be authentic and encouraging. Anna Klis These are tips NIU...

Robbie Ellis to perform at NIU Week of Welcome

Robbie Ellis to perform at NIU Week of Welcome

Robbie Ellis is a comedy songwriter, music director for improv, comedy and musical theater, a composer and a broadcaster on Chicago’s WFMT-FM. The New Zealand native brings his musical comedy show to NIU’s Week of Welcome with a free performance for all NIU students,...

Award winners announced in College of Visual and Performing Arts

Award winners announced in College of Visual and Performing Arts

As the 2023-2024 academic year comes to a close, the College of Visual and Performing Arts has named this year's award winners. Students are honored on the basis of their academic achievement, community engagement, professional and interdisciplinary work and...

April is Athletes for Artists Month

April is Athletes for Artists Month

As part of an ongoing collaborative effort between the NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts and NIU Athletics, April has been declared Athletes For Artists month. NIU athletes are being encouraged to attend one or more of the following events: NIU Jazz Orchestra...

Master storyteller Rob Caskie to share his craft on campus, March 7

Master storyteller Rob Caskie to share his craft on campus, March 7

Embark on an unforgettable journey with South Africa's famed storyteller, Rob Caskie, as he vividly brings to life the extraordinary saga of Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition, and learn how he has built a 24-year professional career out of storytelling as he...

CVPA students special guests at NIU football game

CVPA students special guests at NIU football game

Students from the College of Visual and Performing Arts were special guests at the NIU home football game Saturday, September 23 versus the University of Tulsa. Students were invited by NIU Vice President/Director of Athletics and Recreation Sean Frazier to a pregame...

CVPA Day at Sat., Sept. 23 home football game

CVPA Day at Sat., Sept. 23 home football game

NIU Vice President/Director of Athletics and Recreation Sean Frazier has invited all of the students in the College of Visual and Performing Arts to be special guests at the NIU home football game, September 23 versus Tulsa. Tailgating starts at 9 a.m. in The Yard to...

Goodman Theatre offers $10 college night for Lucha Teotl

Goodman Theatre offers $10 college night for Lucha Teotl

Goodman Theatre in Chicago offers periodic college nights, where students with a valid college ID can purchase tickets for special events for just $10 that include a production, a pre-show reception with all you can eat pizza and soda and a discussion with a member of...

Moe Lincoln has two NIU degrees and a limitless career as Kingsley

Moe Lincoln has two NIU degrees and a limitless career as Kingsley

When Moe Lincoln finds something she wants to do she makes it her own. Whether it's her signature sound performing as the artist Kingsley, her signature look (think very regal and very purple), or her signature lipstick collection through Event Cosmetics, no detail is...

SNL cast members coming to NIU with free live show for students

SNL cast members coming to NIU with free live show for students

Live, from DeKalb, it's... First-year Saturday Night Live cast members Devon Walker and Michael Longfellow are coming to NIU, Wednesday, February 8 for a free, live show exclusively for NIU students. Students can claim two free tickets by using the NIU ticket portal....

NIU’s 115th Homecoming is coming up October 3-9

NIU’s 115th Homecoming is coming up October 3-9

NIU President Lisa Freeman is inviting everyone to attend the university's 115th Homecoming, with a host of events being held October 3-9. https://youtu.be/RTIcvzN0EgM   Dozens of staff, faculty and alumni are hard at work on the week’s events, which will...

Support NIU during Huskies United June 22-23

Support NIU during Huskies United June 22-23

Show your support for Northern Illinois University by making a donation during this year's Huskies United, June 22-23. Want to learn more? Check out this video hosted by Kate Drury, a BFA Acting candidate in our very own School of Theatre and Dance....

Save the date for NIU’s 115th Homecoming

Save the date for NIU’s 115th Homecoming

It's never too early to make your plans to attend NIU's 115th Homecoming festivities. This year's events will be held from October 3-9. We have the oldest homecoming in the state of Illinois and one of the oldest in the entire nation. There will be even more...

CVPA alums feature prominently in Netflix’s “Senior Year”

CVPA alums feature prominently in Netflix’s “Senior Year”

The new Netflix movie Senior Year features Rebel Wilson playing Stephanie, who was injured in a cheerleading stunt when she was 17 only to wake from a coma 20 years later and insisting on returning to finish out her senior year of high school and attend her prom. Mary...

Congratulations to all of our Spring 2022 graduates

Congratulations to all of our Spring 2022 graduates

Congratulations to all of the students in the NIU School of Art and Design, School of Music and School of Theatre and Dance who earned their undergraduate and graduate degrees last weekend. Nina Caliendo received her bachelor's degree in music education, and was...

Free NIU student tickets for Jazz at the Egyptian, Feb. 5

Free NIU student tickets for Jazz at the Egyptian, Feb. 5

DeKalb's iconic Egyptian Theatre hosts the Fifth Annual Jazz at the Egyptian, Saturday night, February 5 at 7 p.m. The concert features the NIU Jazz Orchestra, Jazz in Progress, the DeKalb High School Jazz Ensemble and the Sycamore High School Jazz Ensemble. Tickets...

Father-daughter CVPA alumni score big on Shark Tank

Father-daughter CVPA alumni score big on Shark Tank

What happens when you let Huskies into the shark tank? We found out in March, when Lindsey Valiulis Fleischhauer, ’04, and her father Stan Valiulis, ’84, presented their Totes Babies product to ABC’s critically acclaimed and multi-Emmy® Award-winning...

Huskie Spotlight: CVPA Dean Paul Kassel

Huskie Spotlight: CVPA Dean Paul Kassel

What year did you start working at NIU? July 1, 2016 Where is your hometown? and where do you live now? Geneva, IL Where did you attend college and what degree(s) have you earned? I attended Miami of Ohio and have a B.A. in communications and theatre. I also have an...

Thousands Strong kickoff featured several CVPA students

Thousands Strong kickoff featured several CVPA students

NIU's annual Thousands Strong day of giving got off to a great start on Wednesday night thanks to the hard work and talents of several students in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. The kickoff show was hosted by Kate Drury, a BFA acting candidate and dance...

Give today to Thousands Strong to support our students and programs

Give today to Thousands Strong to support our students and programs

The Thousands Strong day of giving kicked off last night and we are off to an amazing start. As of 11 a.m. we have raised more than a half million dollars on more than 700 gifts. You can support the university and the College of Visual and Performing Arts. Our giving...

David Maki, ’89, One of the Thousands Strong

David Maki, ’89, One of the Thousands Strong

When David Maki, ’89, sets off for a day’s work as NIU's School of Music’s coordinator of music theory and composition, he knows it will be filled with beautiful melodies. Teaching music theory and aural skills classes, as well as private composition lessons, a...

Second annual Thousands Strong event begins Nov. 10 at 5:30 pm

Second annual Thousands Strong event begins Nov. 10 at 5:30 pm

Thousands Strong is an opportunity for alumni and friends to engage with NIU in an exciting, virtual initiative that will increase and expand alumni pride and engagement, and celebrate the impact of philanthropy at Northern Illinois University. This year, this day of...

Show your support as Huskies United kicks off

At 4:25 p.m., Wednesday, June 23, the NIU Foundation kicks off  Huskies United — a day of giving — when those who love our great university can show their Huskie pride and help move NIU forward. Huskies United centers around four strategic...

Congratulations to the Class of 2021

Congratulations to the Class of 2021

Congratulations to all of the graduates in the class of 2021. NIU is holding in-person commencement ceremonies Friday, June 3, Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5 in Huskie Stadium. Programs are available online for the June 2021 commencement, May and August 2020...

Thank you for your support of Curtain Call!

Thank you for your support of Curtain Call!

Thank you to everyone who helped support the College of Visual Arts first crowdfunding campaign. Donations to Curtain Call! totaled more than $2,000 and will help fund seniors in the Schools of Art and Design, School of Music and School of Theatre and Dance for the...

NIU hosts virtual commencement ceremonies this weekend

NIU hosts virtual commencement ceremonies this weekend

While the COVID-19 pandemic has robbed us of many special moments, Northern Illinois University is determined that the graduating classes of 2020 will get the send-off they deserve. This Saturday and Sunday, the university will host virtual commencement ceremonies to...

Thousands Strong kickoff video features CVPA talent

Thousands Strong kickoff video features CVPA talent

The NIU Foundation kicked off its annual Day of Giving with a Thousands Strong video event, Wednesday, November 18, and the video featured a number of students and alumni of the College of Visual and Performing Arts. The video is hosted by Kate Drury, a B.F.A....

NIU’s “Thousands Strong” Virtual Events Celebrate Huskie Pride

NIU’s “Thousands Strong” Virtual Events Celebrate Huskie Pride

In celebration of our positive impact throughout the world, Northern Illinois Huskies and friends of the university are invited to participate in the NIU Foundation “Thousands Strong” virtual events, which will take place Nov. 18-20. From 7-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday,...

Scenes from Black Lives Matter street mural painting

Scenes from Black Lives Matter street mural painting

Students, faculty, staff and community members joined together on Thursday, Oct. 1 on Castle Drive to enjoy music from the NIU Black Choir, percussion and jazz ensembles of the NIU School of Music and a performance by students in the NIU School of Theatre and Dance,...

Enrollments up in CVPA and at NIU overall

Enrollments up in CVPA and at NIU overall

After months of dire predictions nationwide for fall college attendance, Northern Illinois University announced Tuesday that total enrollment is up for fall 2020. Students are back on campus at NIU, where 8% growth in the freshman class helped the university post...

Still time to support Huskies United

Still time to support Huskies United

There is still time to support Huskies United, a day of giving for everyone who loves NIU to show their Huskie pride and move NIU forward. The online giving event is running for a total of 1895 minutes in honor of NIU's opening in 1895 in this, the university's 125th...

Support NIU through Huskies United June 24-25

Support NIU through Huskies United June 24-25

At 4:25 p.m. the NIU Foundation will launch Huskies United, a day of giving for everyone who loves NIU to show their Huskie pride and move NIU forward. The online giving event will run for 1895 minutes in honor of NIU's opening in 1895 in this, the university's 125th...

Register Now for Summer and Fall

Register Now for Summer and Fall

Registration is underway for both Summer and Fall terms at NIU. Refer to the registration page on the NIU main website for technical assistance, learn how to register, look for courses and schedules, see information on account holds and the Huskie Installment Plan.

Essential item pick up for CVPA students

Essential item pick up for CVPA students

Today, Gov. Pritzker announced a Stay-At-Home order beginning 5 p.m. Saturday through April 7. The order advises all Illinois residents to stay at home to the greatest extent possible except for essential activities; closes non-essential retail businesses; and reminds...

NIU arts events status updates

NIU arts events status updates

As part of the university’s response to the rapid spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) world-wide, cancelations, postponements and modifications to scheduled arts events at NIU are being made. We appreciate your interest and support and decisions are being made with the...

CVPA presents Fourth Annual Winter Arts Convocation

CVPA presents Fourth Annual Winter Arts Convocation

All students in the schools that make up the NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts: the School of Art and Design, School of Music and School of Theatre and Dance, are invited to the Fourth Annual Winter Arts Convocation, Monday, January 27 at 5:30 p.m. at Boutell...

Buy your music and theater tickets through the NIU app

Buy your music and theater tickets through the NIU app

Purchasing tickets to events in the College of Visual and Performing Arts has never been hard, but now it's even easier.  In addition to buying them online or at the box office, you can now purchase tickets to School of Music concerts and performances in the School of...

NIU alumni create theater company in Kane County

NIU alumni create theater company in Kane County

If you're ever wondering what happened to the 2019 MFA Acting class at Northern Illinois University, you can find many of them, and a host of other School of Theatre and Dance alumni in St. Charles, Ill. these days.  A talented group of recent alums have established...

Thank you for supporting the Day of Giving

Thank you for supporting the Day of Giving

Thank you for your support of NIU's first-ever Day of Giving.  NIU raised more than $750,000 in 1895 minutes (to honor the founding of the university nearly 125 years ago), and the College of Visual and Performing Arts totaled the second most gifts of any college in...

Wide-ranging student talent highlights third Arts Convocation

Wide-ranging student talent highlights third Arts Convocation

The third annual NIU Arts Convocation showcased student talent in three schools and two locations all in one night.  The event, designed as a way to expose students and community members to the great work and talent of students in the Schools of Art and...

Third annual CVPA Convocation set for February 18

Third annual CVPA Convocation set for February 18

Once again this winter, the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Northern Illinois University is hosting an NIU Arts Convocation to celebrate the great work of students in the schools, Monday, February 18. The evening showcases performances by students in the...

Season’s Greetings from the College of Visual and Performing Arts

Season’s Greetings from the College of Visual and Performing Arts

Season's greetings from everyone in the NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts, including the School of Art and Design, School of Music, School of Theatre and Dance, Community School of the Arts and the NIU Art Museum. https://youtu.be/a3-POyLS1PM You can make a...

Kassel: In my city — A trip to After School Matters

Kassel: In my city — A trip to After School Matters

Paul Kassel, Dean, NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts What do glass blowing, drum lines, poetry slams and jazz band have in common?  They are all programs in After School Matters, a Chicago Public School initiative that has been around since 2000.  Originally...

VPA’s Melanie Parks is headed west after 28 years at NIU

VPA’s Melanie Parks is headed west after 28 years at NIU

Melanie Parks, who has been a part of the NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts for 28 years, is leaving the university at the end of June for sunny California.  Parks started her NIU career as Costume Director in the School of Theatre and Dance, and taught all of...

Happy Valentine’s Day

Happy Valentine’s Day

To all of you who support the arts at NIU in so many different, important ways, we wish you all a very Happy Valentine's Day. -- Everyone at the NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts Original artwork designed by current School of Art and Design student Luke...

NIU 2018 Spring Arts Events

NIU 2018 Spring Arts Events

A look at the concerts, productions, lectures and exhibitions in the arts at NIU for spring 2018. A complete calendar of events is available. Most concerts in the School of Music are available via live webcast. Choral & Opera Series March 4 – Concert...

NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts Convocation, January 22

NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts Convocation, January 22

Experience the talent and hard work of students from the NIU School of Art and Design, School of Music and School of Theatre and Dance at the second annual NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts Convocation, January 22 at the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall. The...

Welcome (back) students

Welcome (back) students

From Paul Kassel, Dean, College of Visual and Performing Arts Welcome or welcome back!  We’re glad you’re here and ready to take advantage of all the College, our Schools, and our great university has to offer! We have the rare privilege of being able to study, learn,...

Sundaes on Saturday, August 26

Sundaes on Saturday, August 26

Welcome, or welcome back, to campus!  The College of Visual and Performing Arts invites all of our students to enjoy FREE ICE CREAM, Saturday, August 26 in the lobby of Boutell Auditorium, in the Music Building from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.  Enjoy your ice cream, meet and...

Dean Kassel recognized at Community Leaders reception

Dean Kassel recognized at Community Leaders reception

Congratulations to College of Visual and Performing Arts' Dean Paul Kassel on being honored by First National Bank at the 2017 Community Leader Reception. Dean Kassel was one of 15 area leaders recognized at the event and one of four from NIU, along with Sol Jensen,...

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.

You have Successfully Subscribed!