A chance encounter with another choral composer in southern Ohio set off a chain of events that will result in School...
Music News Archives
Graduate Profile: Kirby Fellis, MFA in Jazz Performance
Congratulations to all of our graduates. We look forward to seeing all of the great things you do. This profile on...
School of Music and School of Theatre and Dance collaborate on “The Rite of Spring”
The NIU Philharmonic Orchestra will perform selections from Igor Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" at their spring...
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....
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...
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,...
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...
“Follow Us Home” Huskie Marching Band 2020 Homecoming performance
Homecoming at NIU was a little different this year, with COVID-19 restrictions in place and a MAC football season that doesn't start until November, but the Pride of the Midwest, the Huskie Marching Band put together a halftime show for everyone to enjoy in the...
Music to Her Ears: Scholarship helps Vieyra share the joy of music
Elizabeth Vieyra was little when she first noticed some of her peers did not have the same opportunities she did. Vieyra was always musically inclined, playing flute and violin. But she realized not everyone in her hometown of Aurora who wanted to take up an...
Geof Bradfield and this “temporary trio” featured on NPR’s Fresh Air
Geof Bradfield, professor of jazz saxophone and jazz studies in the NIU School of Music was part of a feature on NPR's "Fresh Air" about the release of his trio's new album "General Semantics." Fresh Air's jazz critic Kevin Whitehead described the new effort, "Reed...
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,...