On January 10, 1990 the NIU Jazz Ensemble (now known as the NIU Jazz Orchestra) played a concert at the iconic Rialto...
Music Archives
Music’s Bobby Broom to host a new jazz program on WNIJ 89.5
Beginning in June 2024, NIU Associate Professor of Jazz Guitar and Jazz Studies Bobby Broom will host a new original...
Commencement profile: Chih-I Hsiao, Master of Music
The renowned World Music program at NIU is what drew Chih-I Hsaio to DeKalb after earning his degree in Music Theory...
April 22 Wind Symphony concert to feature world premiere music
As the spring semester nears an end, the NIU School of Music presents a special Wind Symphony concert that will not only showcase the hard work of NIU students, but will also feature a pair of premieres of newly composed music. The concert will feature the world...
David Maki named finalist in Zodiac International Music Competition
David Maki, professor and coordinator of composition and theory in the NIU School of Music is a finalist in the Third Zodiac International Music Competition in the composers category. The Third Zodiac International Music Competition aims to discover exceptional...
Learning to take risks at NIU helped Jermaine Stegall’s work on “Coming 2 America”
For Jermaine Stegall, composing the music for the long-awaited sequel to the Eddie Murphy hit movie "Coming To America" came with a set of challenges, seen and unforeseen, but the final product reflects a film where music is as much of a character as any of the...
Alexis Lamb earns scholarship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters
Alexis C. Lamb, an alumna of the NIU School of Music with bachelor of music degrees in both percussion performance and music education, has been selected as one of six winners of the Charles Ives Scholarship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Lamb studied...
Dr. Philip Ewell to discuss “Music Theory’s White Racial Frame” at School of Music Convocation
Dr. Philip Ewell, associate professor of music theory at Hunter College of the City University of New York will discuss "Music Theory's White Racial Frame" at the School of Music All-Student Convocation, Thursday, February 18 at 11 a.m. The convocation will be...
CSA Steelband concert live on YouTube, Dec. 5
Enjoy the Community School of the Arts (CSA) Steelband and Friends LIVE CONCERT online this Saturday, December 5 starting at 5:00 pm on YouTube. Under the direction of NIU's Yuko Asada, the CSA Steelband has prepared a fun and uplifting music program for all to enjoy...
Bobby Broom featured in DownBeat magazine’s annual reader’s poll
Bobby Broom, assistant professor of jazz guitar and jazz studies in the School of Music was featured, for the second time in five years, in DownBeat magazine's annual reader's poll edition. In the December 2020 issue, Broom was chosen as one of the top guitarists in...
Kelly Clarkson “Zoom crashes” NIU Music Education alumna’s online class
Amanda Brex-Castillo, the choral director at South Elgin High School and Kenyon Woods Middle School, received an unexpected visitor during one of her recent South Elgin online classes. Three-time Grammy Award winner Kelly Clarkson popped into the Zoom stream to...
University Chorus creates a ‘musical postcard’ for the campus
Singers in the NIU University Chorus, conducted by Mary Lynn Doherty, Assistant Director of the School of Music, Associate Professor and Coordinator of Music Education, received a little extra assignment as they were learning the four part arrangement to the NIU Alma...