Northwestern University School of Music
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Northwestern University School of Music | |
|---|---|
 |
|
|
|
|
| Established: | 1895 |
| Type: | Unit of Northwestern University |
| Dean: | Toni-Marie Montgomery |
| Location: | Evanston, Illinois, USA |
| Campus: | Suburban |
| Website: | www.music.northwestern.edu |
Established in 1895, the Northwestern University School of Music is an undergraduate and graduate institution devoted to musical performing arts and academia, located on Northwestern University's campus in Evanston, Illinois, about 12 miles north of downtown Chicago. Some consider it one of the top music schools in the United States, especially among non-conservatory based schools. The school offers performance degrees in all orchestral instruments, keyboard, voice, and conducting, as well as academic degrees in musicology, music history, music education, music technology, and music theory and cognition. Because of its unique situation within an accredited university, it is one of the few music schools that offers a dual-degree undergraduate program in liberal arts or engineering, in conjunction with those respective university schools. The School of Music has over 125 faculty members, 408 undergraduate students, and 224 graduate students. (Fall 2006)[1].
On May 13, 2008, the University announced that, beginning Fall 2008, the school will be named the Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music, in honor of retiring University president Henry Bienen and his wife, Leigh Buchanan Bienen. [2]
Contents |
[edit] History
Initially, the Women's College of Northwestern University contained what was then called the Conservatory of Music, founded by Oren E. Locke in the 1880s. As of 1891, however, enrollment at the Conservatory was stagnating at only 40 students. Peter Christian Lutkin, a noted church organist who ran his own private music school in downtown Chicago, was appointed director in that year, and began widely expanding the curriculum to include not only keyboard and voice instruction but also theory and practice courses that he felt would appeal to amateurs and educators. The Conservatory was soon reorganized as a department within the College of Liberal Arts, and Peter Lutkin was made a professor and the chair of the department. Under his control, the curriculum was further expanded to include music history, counterpoint and harmony. In 1895, the department had a strong enrollment of 200 students and was formally reorganized as the School of Music. Lutkin continued to serve as dean until 1931.
[edit] Performing groups
The School of Music currently has two full orchestras, one chamber orchestra, one wind ensemble, a contemporary music ensemble, Symphonic Band, Brass Choir, two jazz bands, three choirs, the University Chapel Choir, and a women's chorus. Students are also able to form chamber music groups on their own.
[edit] Facilities
[edit] School Buildings
The Northwestern University School of Music comprises two buildings:
- The Music Administration Building. Built in 1873 as the Women's College of Northwestern University, it became part of the School of Music in 1940. Currently, vocal studies, piano, and composition departments are housed in this building, in additional to administrative offices and academic classrooms. The organ department, which formerly occupied a wing in this building, was controversially closed in 2003.
- Regenstein Hall. Built in 1977, this building sits on the "Lakefill" and overlooks Lake Michigan. It houses studios for the instrumental and conducting programs, practice rooms, a rehearsal room and a recital hall.
In February 2008, the University announced that a new $90 million building was to be erected on the southeast campus as part of a renovation plan for that corner of the campus. The new building, which will unite all music faculty and departments in a common location for the first time since the early 1970s, will include classrooms, teaching labs, teaching studios, practice rooms, student lounges, a choral rehearsal room and library, an opera rehearsal room/black box theater, and a 400-seat recital hall. Construction on the new five-story building is slated to begin in late 2009, with completion expected in spring 2012.[3]
[edit] Performance Venues
- Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. Dedicated in 1975, this 1,000 seat venue is the main performance venue for not only the Music School, but the university as a whole.
- Lutkin Hall. Built in 1941 and named after the first dean of the Music School, Peter Lutkin, this 400-seat hall is used primarily as a recital venue.
- Regenstein Recital Hall. Formerly the "Master Class Room", this 200-seat venue, located in Regenstein Hall, is commonly used for student recitals.
- Cahn Auditorium. The only venue with a full orchestra pit, it is used primarily by the School of Music for operatic productions.
- The Alice S. Millar Chapel. Built in 1962, this gothic stone structure houses a 100-rank Aeolian-Skinner organ and is used for some choral and mixed performances.
[edit] Music Library
The Music Library, founded in 1945, occupies the second floor of the Charles Deering Library in the main university library. It is known primarily for its holdings of music after 1945 and features an extensive collection of John Cage's correspondence.[1]
[edit] References
- Pridmore, Jay. Northwestern University: Celebrating 150 Years. Northwestern University Press, 2000. ISBN 0-8101-1829-7
- Rebstock, Heather. Advancing Music for a Century: The First Hundred Years of Northwestern's School of Music. Northwestern University Press, 2002. ISBN 0-9709021-0-7
[edit] External links
- Northwestern University School of Music homepage
- Northwestern University Music Library
- Pick-Staiger Concert Hall
- Architectural history of the Music Administration Building
|
|||||||||||||||||
