Pharez Whitted, instructor of trumpet in the NIU School of Music's Jazz Studies program is one of the newest inductees...
Music Archives
Luminarts Jazz Improvisation fellowship finalists include NIU Music alumni Gabriel Wade and Arman Sangalang
NIU School of Music jazz alumni Arman Sangalang and Gabriel Wade are finalists for Luminarts Jazz Improvisation...
Music alumna Alexis Lamb appointed to EMU faculty
Alexis C. Lamb, who earned her bachelor of music degrees at NIU in music education and percussion performance has been...
Music Education alumna Hayley Gotzsche wins Golden Apple Award
Hayley Gotzsche decided at a very young age that being a music teacher would be a great job. "I've always loved music," she said. "Music has always been a source of joy and an expression of confidence. It was just natural to go into it. I love to get to bring those...
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...
Music’s Bobby Broom selected by Herbie Hancock for International Jazz Day All-Star Global Concert
Bobby Broom, associate professor of jazz guitar and jazz studies in the NIU School of Music, whose most recent album, More Amor spent several weeks atop Jazz Week's North American Jazz Radio chart, has been selected to perform in this spring's 15th Annual...
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...
An encore at NIU: Doug Bratt, BA, MM
Doug Bratt, ’01, M.M. ’02, found that NIU was more than his second act; it was the encore that brought his passion center stage. His path to becoming a talented percussionist and a tenured professor at Moraine Valley Community College (MVCC), where he has led...
Northern Public Radio profile on School of Music’s Maria Kurochkina
Maria Kurochkina, assistant professor of music and director of orchestras was recently profiled by Northern Public Radio, WNIU/WNIJ. Kurochkina joined the NIU School of Music faculty in August after earning her D.M.A. in orchestral conducting from Boston University. A...
Commencement profile – Khadija Nagi
Khadija Nagi, a DeKalb native, and now a proud graduate of the NIU School of Music is the subject of the fall 2025 commencement video profile. Khadija says she chose to stay in town to study music in part because of the accomplished alumni who are so supportive of...
In Passing: Ron Modell and more
by Antonio Garcia Jazz education lost a giant in the field with the passing on June 10 of my friend and colleague Ron Modell. Ron joined Northern Illinois University’s faculty in 1969 after a performance career that had already included touring as a teenager with...