NIU’s Division of Academic Affairs is hosting a farewell reception in honor of Rich Holly, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts. The event to honor Holly’s 32 years of service to NIU is scheduled from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23, inside the Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center. All are welcome...

Gregory Beyer, associate professor and director of Percussion Studies at NIU, has been selected for a Fulbright award to teach in Brazil. Beginning in August, Beyer will spend four months at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte as a visiting scholar. He will offer a symposium on contemporary performance practice of the...

NIU will bestow an honorary doctoral degree this winter to Frances Whitehead, a civic practice artist and professor of sculpture and architecture at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Whitehead will earn her honorary doctorate during the Graduate School commencement ceremony, scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at the NIU Convocation Center....

NIU and DeKalb-area high school students join instructors from the School of Music every year for a trip to the annual Illinois Music Education Conference in Peoria. The all-state event promotes life-long learning and leadership among music enthusiasts. In attendance are those widely considered the who’s who of high school and collegiate music programs across...

NIU officials and partners will dig shovels into dirt at 11:45 a.m. Monday, Sept. 22, to commence construction of the new Stevens Building. The groundbreaking ceremony continues the long-awaited process to turn one of NIU’s most-dilapidated buildings into a modern learning and performing space for the Department of Anthropology and the School of Theatre and...

Rich Holly, dean of the NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts, and his colleagues in the School of Theatre and Dance are paying close attention to the demolition of the Stevens Building. Holly posted photos of the work Monday under the headline “Excitement Mounts as Stevens Building Demo Gets Serious.” Gov. Pat Quinn released...

Rich Holly, dean of the NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts, has received a $2,500 grant from the DeKalb County Community Foundation for the second consecutive year. The funds from the grant will help in the partnership created with Arts Midwest to bring the Arts Midwest World Fest to DeKalb County during the upcoming school year....

Reginald “Reggie” Thomas has accepted the position as coordinator of the internationally recognized Northern Illinois University School of Music‘s internationally renowned Jazz Studies program. Thomas succeeds the esteemed jazz educator Ronald Carter, who is retiring after 20 years at NIU. Thomas comes to NIU from the Michigan State University College of Music, where he has...

Current and future Illinois museum leaders held a professional development workshop to consider 21st century cultural heritage dilemmas and their impact on the museum community. The workshop, held April 16 on the NIU campus and at the Ellwood House Museum, was organized by the NIU Museum Studies Program, the Illinois Association of Museums and Ellwood....

In September 2012, the NIU School of Music began to host a beautiful Fazioli F278 Concert Grand. The piano previously was owned and loved by a retired doctor who had purchased it with the goal of becoming a better pianist – at age 85. Declining health necessitated moving to his son’s condo in Chicago, but...

When the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Foundation announced the quarterfinalists for its Music Educator Award, five alumni of the Northern Illinois University School of Music were on the list: Peter Barsch (MM 2004) Barsch teaches at Oswego East High School, Oswego, Ill. Gordon Krauspe (BM 1982, MM 1992) Krauspe teaches at Wheaton Warrenville South High...

The NIU School of Music is now the proud owner of a remarkable Italian Fazioli F278 9-foot grand piano, thanks to a $100,000 grant check received today from the Dr. Agnes Varis Trust. NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts Dean Richard Holly authored the grant at the urging of NIU alumnus and valued patron...