From the Director

Andrew Glendening

Greetings from the School of Music! This Newsletter was originally planned as a summer project in 2019, however, like so many things the pandemic has changed everything. The good news is that the School of Music still had an outstanding year of productivity and accomplishment and is positioned for long term success. We hope this provides a bright spot for you.

This has been an interesting time to move to DeKalb and join the Huskie music community. Speaking personally, after fifteen years in California, I have greatly enjoyed returning to my Midwest roots. Seeing the support for students and colleagues and the respect for diverse people, expression, ideas and art has confirmed for me that joining the NIU community has absolutely been the right thing to do.

In the past year and a half, we have welcomed many new colleagues, entered the largest class in five years, celebrated many successes, honors and promotions, rolled out a new website and re-envisioned a significant part of our curriculum. At the same time, we have addressed the constantly changing issues of the COVID-19 pandemic and moved to teach and work at a distance in new ways.

We have also wrestled with the problem of systemic racism and have issued a statement of support for Black Lives Matter. The statement is a list of action items that forms a starting point for our actions to create real and sustained change in the way we operate, educate and perform. Unanimously endorsed by the faculty, the statement is a road map to hold us accountable. This process has led to many conversations and actions including a comprehensive review of our core curriculum, the establishment of best practices in concert programs and music admissions as well as changes to our guest artist and convocation series.

Despite the pandemic, music has been happening through the School of Music. Ensembles were divided to fit reduced room capacities. The lobby and gallery converted into socially distanced study spaces. Chairs were removed from classrooms. The Steelpan ensembles moved to a temporary home in the Recital Hall to create safe distances between the instruments. Dozens of practice rooms have been cleared and brought back online so that the music majors are assigned dedicated practice space with no more than three per practice room. And the list of adjustments and modifications goes on and on.

Now that we can return to a new normal, we have to put it all back together. From the way we use the building to the way we teach and perform; we have the opportunity to incorporate what we have learned during the pandemic to reimagine and reset stage for the next era. We have begun a renovation of the Recital Hall including new flooring, chairs, lighting and technology – including 4k video streaming and a high power laser projector, the Boutell Concert Hall lighting system will be upgraded an energy efficient LED system and the classrooms will be reconfigured to create a second ensemble room for the World Music program and to make all of the classrooms usable for chamber music with posture chairs and grand pianos.

As alumni and friends of the School of Music, I would like to thank you for your support. The donations, gifts, student referrals, job opening notices, alumni notes and suggestions are all enormously helpful. The School of Music will always need funds for scholarships, equipment, music and travel (not to mention replacing the worn-out chairs in the Recital Hall!) and I thank you.

During these hard times, not everyone is in a place where they can write a check. You can always help by encouraging talented students to audition or tuning into a concert livestream.

All the best,

Andrew Glendening, D. Mus
Director

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