Huskie Spotlight Archives

Huskie Spotlight: Alma Perrote, Music Education and Steelpan Performance

Alma Perotte, who is majoring in music education and steelpan performance in the School of Music is the subject of a Huskie Spotlight. Alma says she knew as a child growing up in Belize City, Belize that she wanted music to be an essential part of her life. When I was...

Huskie Spotlight: Katelyn Ackland, Music Education, Clarinet Performance

Katelyn Ackland, a senior majoring in music education and clarinet performance in the NIU School of Music is the subject of a Huskie Spotlight. Katelyn has earned multiple scholarships at NIU, and is appreciative of the support of her professors and fellow students....

Huskie Spotlight: Jayla Herring, Recording Arts and Media Technologies

Jayla Herring, a fall 2025 graduate of the School of Music with a degree in recording arts and media technologies is the subject of a Huskie Spotlight. Jayla says this major was a perfect fit, and the pursuit of an additional certificate increased the chances of...

Huskie Spotlight Lilliana Benitez, Music Education, Euphonium

Lilliana Benitez, a music education major with an instrumental emphasis in euphonium from McHenry, Illinois is the subject of an NIU Huskie Spotlight. A proud member of the Huskie Marching Band, she appreciates the mentorship of Dr. Tom Bough both on the field and in...

Joe Beribak, ’25, Composition

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Joe Beribak, '25, CompositionWhat did you want to be when you were growing up? When I was a boy, I wanted to be a Catholic priest. When I grew a little older, I loved amusement parks and wanted to design roller-coasters. This...

Annika Roberts, ’23, Cello Performance and Psychology

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Annika Roberts, '23, Cello Performance and PsychologyWhat did you want to be when you were growing up?  I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a musician because I come from a musical family. Pursing a degree in cello...

Paisley Stevens, ’24, Music Education

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Paisley Stevens, '24, Music EducationWhat did you want to be when you were growing up? When I was growing up, I wanted to be a professional ballet dancer. I pursued ballet throughout high school and did get to chance with some...

Andrea LaFranzo, ’24, Orchestra Conducting

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Andrea LaFranzo, '24, Orchestral ConductingWhat did you want to be when you were growing up?  There was no doubt at the age of 13, after my first experience playing in a symphony orchestra, that I wanted to be a cellist and a...

Ethan Patterson, ’24, Recording Arts

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Ethan Patterson, '24, Recording ArtsWhat did you want to be when you were growing up? Growing up, I wanted to be a zookeeper... I always had a lot of pets and a passion for animals. In high school, I was passionate about the...

Ning Wang, ’24, Music Education, Choral

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Ning Wang, '24, Music Education, ChoralWhat did you want to be when you were growing up? I always wanted to be a musician throughout my whole life. Music is everything to me. I already had my master degree in piano performance...

Kaelyn Witt, ’27, Music Education and Flute Performance

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Kaelyn Witt, '27, Music Education and Flute PerformanceWhat did you want to be when you were growing up? Growing up I always wanted to be an artist. I loved creating and painting and expressing myself artistically. I ended up...

Fernando Marroquin Mendoza, ’24, Oboe Performance

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Fernando Marroquin Mendoza, '24, Oboe PerformanceWhat did you want to be when you were growing up? I am not really sure what I wanted to be when I was growing up but, I remember one time when, while watching a symphony orchestra...

Shae McCabe, ’23, Music Education, Horn

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Shae McCabe, '23, Music Education, HornWhat did you want to be when you were growing up? I always knew I wanted to pursue music to some degree. For a while I thought I would go into musical theatre, but I found a bigger love of...

Ranan R.J. Antonini, ’25, Violin Performance

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Ranan R.J. Antonini, '25, Violin PerformanceWhat did you want to be when you were growing up? When I was a young kid, I wanted to become a soccer player but with time I realized that I had more talent for arts in general,...

Andrew Kinsey, ’25, Music Education and Percussion Performance

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Andrew Kinsey, '25, Music Education and Percussion PerformanceWhat did you want to be when you were growing up? From a young age, I didn’t know much about what I wanted to be when I grew older, all I knew was I didn’t want to be...

Gabriel Wade, ’24, Master of Music

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Gabriel Wade, '24, Master of MusicWhat did you want to be when you were growing up?  Ever since starting band and piano class in middle school, I've always wanted to make music a major part of my life. That led to me pursuing a...

Stefan Lenthe, ’24, Master of Music

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Stefan Lenthe, '24, Master of MusicWhat did you want to be when you were growing up?  I pretty much knew from an early age that I wanted to be a musician. For me it all goes back to very first time I heard The Beatles. I was...

Liam Weber, ’25, Music Performance and Music Education

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Liam Weber, '25, Music Performance and Music EducationWhat did you want to be when you were growing up?  By middle school I had already decided on becoming a music major. Originally I just wanted to be a middle school band...

Dartagnan Stephen, ’23, Master of Music

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Dartagnan Stephen, '23, Master of MusicWhat did you want to be when you were growing up?  I've always wanted to be a performer.  As my goals became clearer and my musical techniques became more refined, I found my voice with the...

Imanol Ruiz, ’24, Music Education

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Imanol Ruiz, '24, Music EducationWhat did you want to be when you were growing up?  According to my mom when I was young, I wanted to be the blue Power Ranger but sadly NIU doesn’t offer that as a major. But I did want to be a...

Rashunda Dorset-Headley, ’23, Master of Music

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Rashunda Dorset-Headley, '23, Master of MusicWhat did you want to be when you were growing up?  Originally, I wanted to become a lawyer or a doctor, however,  that quickly changed. At the age of six I knew I wanted to become a...

Jalen Charles, ’23, Master of Music

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Jalen Charles, '25, Master of MusicWhat did you want to be when you were growing up? Growing up, I wanted to become a lawyer. At 12 years old, it changed to becoming a pilot but I am now on a different path as a musician.What is...

Anna Rockman, ’25, Music Performance

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Anna Rockman, '25, Music PerformanceWhat did you want to be when you were growing up?  I have always wanted to be a stay at home mom. I would like to do this while also playing in a regional orchestra.What is your major (and/or...

Zaire Burks, ’25, B.A. in Music, Recording Arts

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Zaire Burks, '25, B.A. in Music, Recording ArtsWhat did you want to be when you were growing up? Growing up I really didn’t have an idea on what I wanted to be. At first I thought I wanted to be an engineer and work with...

Nate Lin, ’24, Jazz Performance

Music Huskie Spotlight Huskie Spotlight: Nate Lin, '24, Jazz PerformanceWhat did you want to be when you were growing up?  As far back as I can remember I always wanted to be a musician. What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of...

Abria Shaw, ’24, Music Education

Music Huskie Spotlight Huskie Spotlight: Abria Shaw, '24, Music EducationWhat is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study? I am majoring in Music Education with a vocal emphasis and Vocal Performance. I decided to major in Music...

Jonathon Kurecki, ’24, Music Education

Music Huskie Spotlight Huskie Spotlight: Jonathon Kurecki, '24, Music EducationWhat did you want to be when you were growing up? I had an incredible fascination with astronomy and severe weather growing up and expected I may go into astronomy or meteorology. As it...

Chih-I Hsiao, ’24, Master of Music

Music Huskie Spotlight Huskie Spotlight: Chih-I Hsiao, '24, Master of MusicWhat did you want to be when you were growing up? I wanted to be an erhu (Chinese two-string fiddle) player and a Chinese orchestra conductor when I was in junior high school. I started to...

Olivia Garcia, ’24, Music Education

Music Huskie Spotlight Huskie Spotlight: Olivia Garcia, '24, Music EducationWhat did you want to be when you were growing up? When I was younger, I jumped around with things I wanted to do when I grow up. Before I got to high school, I wanted to be an engineer. But...

Andrew Kinsey, ’25, Percussion

Music Huskie Spotlight Huskie Spotlight: Andrew Kinsey, '25, Percussion What did you want to be when you were growing up?  When I was nine years old, I was convinced and wanted more than anything to be a rock drummer in a touring band around the world. As I grew...

Brooks Wallace, ’24, Music Performance and Sociology

Music Huskie Spotlight Huskie Spotlight: Brooks Wallace, '24, Music Performance and SociologyWhat did you want to be when you were growing up? Music has always been a large part in my life, and outer space has also always fascinated me as well. As someone who loves to...

Hyounkyoung Kim, ’24, Master of Music

Music Huskie Spotlight Huskie Spotlight: Hyounkyoung Kim, '24, Master of MusicWhat did you want to be when you were growing up? Now, I hope to be a collaborative musician. What is your major (and/or minor)? Piano and organ What is your favorite thing about studying...

Megan Rault, ’23, Jazz Studies

Music Huskie Spotlight Huskie Spotlight: Megan Rault, '24, Jazz StudiesWhat is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study? Music Performance - Jazz Studies What is your favorite thing about studying and/or playing music at NIU? My...

Axel Solorzano, ’24, Music Education

Music Huskie Spotlight Huskie Spotlight: Axel Solorzano, '24, Music EducationWhat did you want to be when you were growing up? I was always unsure and changed my mind a lot. My last couple of years in high school I always knew I liked teaching music but tried to...

Emma Anderson, ’24, Music Education

Music Huskie Spotlight Huskie Spotlight: Emma Anderson, '24, Music EducationWhat is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study? I am studying Music Education. I chose this major because making and sharing music has always been a focal...

Matthew Kiser, ’23, Master of Music

Music Huskie Spotlight Huskie Spotlight: Matthew Kiser, '23, Master of MusicWhat did you want to be when you were growing up?  Like most children, I had a lot of changing interests. I was interested in music at a young age but never saw myself doing it as a career....

Chey Fleming, ’24, Music Education

Music Huskie Spotlight Huskie Spotlight: Chey Fleming, '24, Music EducationWhat did you want to be when you were growing up? I wanted to be everything when I was growing up: tattoo artist, chef, pharmacist, rock star, you name it. I knew I wanted to go to college, but...

Jair Nunez, ’24, Music Education

Music Huskie Spotlight Huskie Spotlight: Jair Nunez, '24, Music EducationWhat did you want to be when you were growing up? I initially wanted to be an astronaut when I grew up, but somewhere along the way, I stumbled upon a violin, and from there on I loved it. I...

Austyn Menk, ’23, Master of Music

Music Huskie Spotlight Huskie Spotlight: Austyn Menk, '23, Master of MusicWhat did you want to be when you were growing up? Years ago, I totally saw myself ending up as an astronaut, archeologist, or brain surgeon. I'm unfortunately far too out of shape to be an...

Jean Leroy, ’23, Master of Music

Music Huskie Spotlight Huskie Spotlight: Jean Leroy, '23, Master of MusicWhat did you want to be when you were growing up? I was undecided up until age 19, at which point I realized that music was a real possibility.  I have been a student and professional since that...

Jack Holston, ’25, B.A. in Music, minor in Southeast Asian Studies

Music Huskie Spotlight Huskie Spotlight: Jack Holston, B.A. in Music with minor in Southeast Asian Studies, '25What did you want to be when you were growing up? When I was a kid, I didn't really know what I wanted to do as an "adult." I would toy around with many...

Evan Jacobson, ’23, Master of Music

Music Huskie Spotlight Huskie Spotlight: Evan Jacobson, '23, Master of MusicWhat did you want to be when you were growing up? I come from a musical family and my parents encouraged me to be active in school music programs from a young age.  Music was always just the...

Chanel Antoshin, ’25, Music Education

Music Huskie Spotlight Huskie Spotlight: Chanel Antoshin, Music Education, '25What did you want to be when you were growing up? I dreamed about be an elementary school teacher. I always played "teacher" with family and friends which shows as I am now a music educator...

Jennifer Estrada, Music Education, ’22

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Jennifer Estrada, Music Education, '22What did you want to be when you were growing up? Growing up I wanted to become a famous singer or actress. In elementary school, I was in choir all five years then joined band in fifth...

Dayoung Park, Cello Performance, ’22

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Dayoung Park, Cello Performance, '22What did you want to be when you were growing up? When I was growing up, I’ve always wanted to become a musician because I liked how music can express one’s feelings. As I first started...

Meredith Vandre, Music Education, ’22

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Meredith Vandre, Music Education, '22What did you want to be when you were growing up? When I was growing up I changed what I wanted to be fairly frequently. I wanted to be all of the things kids usually say: teacher, actress,...

Calvin Chao, Music Education, ’22

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Calvin Chao, Music Education, '22What did you want to be when you were growing up?  When I was really young, I wanted to work in computer science. While I've chosen to attend college for a different reason, I still am interested...

Chris Groth, Music Education, ’22

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Chris Groth, Music Education, '22What did you want to be when you were growing up? Growing up, music was always one of my passions. When I started trumpet in seventh grade, I immediately fell in love with it. While I did not...

Heewon Cha, Master of Music ’22

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Heewon Cha, Master of Music, '22What did you want to be when you were growing up? My childhood dream was to be a pianist, especially a Collaborative Pianist for an instrumental ensemble or choir rather than a Concert Pianist. I...

Nicholas Haddock, Music Education and Saxophone Performance, ’22

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Nicholas Haddock, Music Education and Saxophone Performance, '22What did you want to be when you were growing up? Growing up, I knew I wanted to teach music.  I used to watch my middle school director conduct the band everyday,...

Laiji Li, Master of Music and Performer’s Certificate, ’22

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Laiji Li, Master of Music and Performer's Certificate, '22What did you want to be when you were growing up?  Since I was a child, my dream has always been to become a pianist and teach at a university. Today, I'm still chasing...

Kirby Fellis, Jazz Studies, ’23

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Kirby Fellis, Jazz Studies, '23What did you want to be when you were growing up? As long as I could remember I've always wanted to be a musician. As a young man I thought all the girls liked drummers, so I wanted to play the...

Chanel Antoshin, Music Education, ’25

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Chanel Antoshin, Music Education, '25What did you want to be when you were growing up? An elementary school teacher. I am now a music educator major because which is perfect for me because it combined my childhood passion and my...

Zachary Green, Viola Performance, ’22

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Zachary Green, Viola Performance, '22What did you want to be when you were growing up? Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans.  Whatever my dreams were growing up,  where I am now is more true to who I want to...

Morgan Dudlicek, Minor in Music, ’24

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Morgan Dudlicek, Minor in Music, '24What did you want to be when you were growing up? When I was growing up, I wanted to be a veterinarian for the longest time. That interest diminished a bit next to music in high school but, I...

Dani’ca Richardson, Master of Music, ’23

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Dani'ca Richardson, Master of Music, '23What did you want to be when you were growing up? When I was little I wanted to be a band teacher. In my life so far, I studied instrumental music education and received my bachelor's...

Jessalynn Cisna, Master of Music, ’22

Music Huskie SpotlightJessalynn Cisna, Master of Music, '22What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study? I am working on a master's in music, specializing in piano performance. What is your favorite thing about studying and/or...

Abigail Stoner, Performer’s Certificate, ’22

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Abigail Stoner, Performer's Certificate, '22What did you want to be when you were growing up?  I wanted to be a zookeeper, the President of the United States, a ballerina, and a musician. Clearly, I could not do all of those...

Gianna Capobianco, Master of Music ’23

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Gianna Capobianco, Master of Music, '23What did you want to be when you were growing up? Growing up, I wanted to be a professional dancer and dance teacher. During my senior year of high school, I auditioned successfully into...

Maria Magdaly Perez, Master of Music, ’21

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Maria Magdaly Perez, Master of Music, '21What did you want to be when you were growing up? I wanted to be a teacher, but I didn’t know it was a music teacher. What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this...

Dzana Bogaljevic, Music Education, ’25

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Dzana Bogaljevic, Music Education, '25What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you pursuing that as a major, or have you taken another path? I always wanted to be a music teacher. What is your major (and/or minor)...

Nickolas Basich, Music Education, ’22

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Nickolas Basich, Music Education, '23What did you want to be when you were growing up? Since fifth grade band, I knew that I wanted to do something in music. As I grew up, being a band director seemed like the best job for me...

Elizabeth Vieyra, Music Education, ’23

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Elizabeth Vieyra, Music Education, '23What did you want to be when you were growing up?  Growing up I wanted to be an author, a detective and even a paleontologist. Finally around sixth grade, after starting band, I realized I...

Brian Thompson, Music Education, ’22

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Brian Thompson, Music Education, '22What did you want to be when you were growing up?  I wanted to be in the medical field in some capacity, but not sure what.  Once I earned my associate's degree in occupational therapy, I...

Daniël Smith, Music Performance, ’25

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Daniël Smith, Music Performance, '25What did you want to be when you were growing up? When I was growing up, I wanted to be an Information Systems Specialist. I'm not pursuing that as a major now, and have chosen another path....

Khadija Nagi, Jazz Performance, ’25

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Khadija Nagi, Jazz Performance, '25What did you want to be when you were growing up? When I was growing up I think I knew I wanted to do something with music before I even knew that was possible. I remember when I turned seven...

Abria Shaw, Music Education and Vocal Performance, ’24

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Abria Shaw, Music Education and Vocal Performance, '24What did you want to be when you were growing up? Throughout my life I have bounced between different careers, but I always went back to wanting to be a music educator. I am...

Hannah Kaspar, Music Performance, ’22

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Hannah Kaspar, Music Performance, '22What did you want to be when you were growing up? When I was little I wanted to be a musician. I am pursuing that now in school.What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on...

Scott Anderson, Music Performance, ’21

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Scott Anderson, Music Performance, '21What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study? Music Performance. I chose this path to be equipped and prepared for my career as a performer and...

Tse-Chun Liu, Master of Music, ’22

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Tse-Chun Liu, Master of Music, '22What did you want to be when you were growing up? When I was growing up, I was starting to learn music. Piano was my first major, and then I added cello as my second major. Now I would like to...

Jordan Radloff, Communications: Media Studies, minors in Music and Journalism, ’22

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Jordan Radloff, Communications: Media Studies, minors in Music and Journalism, '22What did you want to be when you were growing up? I wanted to be an artist when I was growing up. I'd say my major and minors somewhat align with...

Jihyeon Kim, Music Performance and Recording Arts, ’23

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Jihyeon Kim, Music Performance and Recording Arts, '23What did you want to be when you were growing up?  I wanted to be a writer when I was young. The reason is that I found it attractive to share feelings and exchange thoughts...

Annie Sun Chung, Master of Music, 22

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Annie Sun Chung, Master of Music, '22What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study?: My major is wind band conducting. I decided to study to become a better educator for my students.What is...

Hannah Speer, Music Education and Trombone Performance ’23

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Hannah Speer, Music Education and Trombone Performance '23What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you pursuing that as a major, or have you taken another path? I had no idea what I wanted to be when I was growing...

Daniel Burke, Music Education ’22

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Daniel Burke, Music Education '22What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you pursuing that as a major, or have you taken another path? I have always been very creative, and I enjoy building things. With that in...

Erin Kirby, Music Education ’22

Music Huskie SpotlightErin Kirby, Music Education '22What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you pursuing that as a major, or have you taken another path? Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always had a passion to become a teacher. I would always watch...

Emma Anderson, Music Education ’24

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Emma Anderson, Music Education '24What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study? My major is Music Education (instrumental). I chose this major because playing trumpet has always been my...

Brittany O’Reilly, Music Education ’22

Music Huskie SpotlightHuskie Spotlight: Brittany O'Reilly, Music Education '22What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study? My major is Music Education with a Jazz Emphasis. My mom is a kindergarten teacher and growing up around the...