On January 10, 1990 the NIU Jazz Ensemble (now known as the NIU Jazz Orchestra) played a concert at the iconic Rialto...
Music News 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...
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,...
NIU to host art for social justice event to paint Black Lives Matter at the university’s entrance
The Northern Illinois University Center for Black Studies and the College of Visual and Performing Arts are hosting an art for social justice event, "Art and Soul." The event will be held Thursday, October 1, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the main entrance of the university on...
Listen to some of our greatest hits as you run the Virtual Corn Classic
The relatively new tradition of hearing songs performed by members of the NIU School of Music as you run the course of the annual Corn Classic continues this year, even as the race has gone virtual. The Corn Classic, now in its 40th year, allows runners to choose...