A U.S. Department of Education system update on Sunday, April 26, 2026 will prevent colleges and universities from...
Music News Archives
NIU Punk Rock Club welcomes Tim Rogner for performance, discussion, April 1
The NIU Punk Rock Club and the College of Visual and Performing Arts welcome musician and artist Tim Rogner for a...
Sonic Tapestry: Global Traditions and Cultural Crossroads – 2026 NIU World Music Festival
The NIU School of Music is proud to present the 2026 World Music Festival, a five-day immersive journey through the...
The big noise from the Bronx
This article originally appeared in a 2014 edition of Northern Now. by Mark McGowan They called it “Jazz Alley” – four swingin’ groups from the NIU School of Music, stationed throughout the main floor of the Holmes Student Center, jamming for the passersby. Part of...
Ron Modell leaves an incredible legacy that includes founding one of the nation’s finest jazz programs
Ron Modell, the founder of NIU's world renowned jazz program passed away, Tuesday, June 10 at his DeKalb home. An accomplished musician, Modell joined NIU's School of Music faculty in 1969 and quickly created the jazz program and established the NIU Jazz Ensemble as...
NIU Mariachi and Ballet Folklorico to perform at White Sox Mexican Heritage Night
NIU Mariachi and Ballet Folklórico have have been selected to perform at the Chicago White Sox Mexican Heritage Night, Friday, June 6. The NIU groups will perform during the break between the bottom of the third and top of the fourth innings. Game time is 6:40 p.m. as...
More Amor, featuring Bobby Broom reaches #1 on Jazz Week’s charts
The album More Amor, a tribute to Wes Montgomery by the Chicago Jazz Orchestra and featuring Bobby Broom, reached number one on Jazz Week's North American Jazz Radio chart this summer, and in total spent more than 18 weeks on the chart. The recording has been hailed...
Commencement profile – Jalen Charles, Master of Music
Congratulations to all of the spring 2025 College of Visual and Performing Arts graduates! Jalen Charles, who earned his master of music performer's certificate was profiled in the graduate ceremony. Jalen talked about his love of the steelpan, growing up in a family...
Commencement profile – Chanel Antoshin, Music Education and Flute Performance
Congratulations to all of the 2025 spring graduates from the NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts. The School of Music's Chanel Antoshin was profiled during the undergraduate commencement ceremony. Chanel earned her degree in both music education and flute...
CVPA announces first six Simpson Schatzle Fellows
NIU's College of Visual and Performing Arts has announced the first six recipients of a fellowship that will provide financial support and recognition for some of the university's most promising graduating students in the arts. The Simpson Schatzle Fellowship will...
Ethan Cowburn selected for The Kennedy Center’s Access/VSA International Young Musicians Program
Ethan Cowburn, a soon-to-gradate M.F.A. student in percussion performance in the NIU School of Music, was chosen as just one of five students in the world for the Access/VSA International Young Musicians Program at The Kennedy Center in Washington DC this summer. The...
Overcon Duo wins annual School of Music Chamber Ensemble Competition
The Annual NIU School of Music Chamber Ensemble Competition was held, Saturday, April 5 in Boutell Memorial Concert Hall. Ten ensembles competed and the overall winner was the Overcon Duo of Reilly Farrell on violin and Ben Gilbert on violoncello. Three other groups...