Dean Toni-Marie Montgomery, Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music (BSM)

Dear Alumni:

The Bienen School of Music is one of the nation’s top-ranked music institutions, offering conservatory-level training combined with the vast resources of a major research university. Students are encouraged to grow both as artists and as people, and to explore the world around them. A broad-based education is key to developing a unique creative voice.

A career in music may take many paths. Consequently, we offer many different degree programs, including a five year, double degree and a self-designed degree which is unique our school. Bienen alumni are found throughout the world in prestigious performing arts organizations, posts in education, arts administration, and more.

Each year brings exciting new developments and I’d like to share a few with you:

• The school was recently named the Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music, in honor of Northwestern’s President and his wife, with an accompanying endowment currently being raised by the board of trustees and friends.

• A new, $90 million music building will be constructed on the lakefront of the Evanston campus, slated for completion in 2012. The construction will include a 400 seat recital hall and a Music and Arts Green—a pedestrian-friendly green space for special events with outstanding views of the lake and the Chicago skyline.

• The school is now presenting a series of live webcasts featuring performers as part of an initiative to reach out to other national and international schools, prospective students, and the general public.

• Our faculty and student performers are recognized at the highest levels:

- Trumpeters Matthew Muckey (Mu06) and Ethan Bensdorf (Mu07) were both offered positions with the New York Philharmonic shortly after graduation.

- Bass Paul Corona (Mu05) was a 2005 Grand Winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and is currently a member of the prestigious Ryan Opera Center for young artists at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

- Piano major Anya Yermakova (Mu09) won a 2009 Rhodes Scholarship.

- Director of Jazz Studies Victor Goines and several of his colleagues on the jazz faculty were invited to perform at events during the inauguration of President Obama.

- Faculty composer Lee Hyla had his work Polish Folk Songs performed on the MusicNow series of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

These examples are just a few of the inspiring happenings at the school, and I invite you, as alumni, to stay connected to Northwestern and become a part of our proud tradition of collaborative learning and community involvement. Music is an important part of many lives, and I encourage all alumni to help maintain its significance by attending concerts, contributing to the annual fund, attending your reunion, or participating in other Northwestern Alumni Association activities. I also invite you to our Bienen School of Music alumni site, where you can find out what alumni of the school are doing today.

Sincerely,

Toni-Marie Montgomery
Dean, Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music

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Posted: Februrary 9, 2009