Alumni

In December 2025, School of Music Director of Admissions and alumna Thereza Lituma (BM '20, BME '20, MM '22) had the privilege of making her New York Philharmonic debut in the chorus of Handel's Messiah.

Noël Wan’s artistic path is shaped by both a deep musical fluency and a zeal for reimagining what the harp can be.

The University of Illinois celebrates alumna Dr. Julia Escobar (DMA Flute, 2025) on her double achievement!

Several University of Illinois School of Music alumni have been nominated for GRAMMY awards.

To Kathleen “Kathy” Harvey [B.S. microbiology, ‘72, Ed.M., ‘78], band has always been more than just a hobby. It’s been a lifelong way to make an impact and stay connected to something larger than herself. As a proud Illinois alumna, Kathy has been a generous supporter of the band programs through the years, contributing to areas such as the Illinois Bands Loyalty Society and, most notably, the Harry Begian Assistantship Fund in Bands.

Music Education alum Paul Rudolph (BS '89) won the 2025 Illini Comeback Award, presented by the University of Illinois Alumni Association.

In late September, University of Illinois Bands was thrilled to welcome over 250 bands alumni back to campus for this year's homecoming celebrations, which featured special guests REO Speedwagon, who performed live during the Marching Illini halftime show.

U of I School of Music alumna Carolyn Kuan (MM '01) was just nominated for the 2026 Grammy Award "Best Opera Recording" for conducting Huang Ruo's An American Soldier with the American Composers Orchestra.

Two choral alumni have been nominated for Grammy Awards. Craig Hella Johnson (MM '85) has been nominated for "Best Choral Performance" for conducting Advena - Liturgies For A Broken World with Conspirare, and Donald Nally (DMA '95) has also been nominated for "Best Choral Performance" for conducting Lang: Poor Hymnal with The Crossing.

U of I School of Music alum and recent guest artist Donnacha Dennehy (MM '94, DMA '14) was just nominated for two Grammy Awards: "Best Classical Composition" and "Best Chamber Music Performance" for his new work Land of Winter with Alarm Will Sound.

UIUC alumna Alexandra Nowakowski (BM Voice 14') made her Metropolitan Opera debut on October 14, 2025, stepping in for Nadine Sierra as Amina in La Sonnambula.

Krannert Center is delighted to welcome the Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective back to Stage 5! Led by guitarist Jose Guzman, DMA ’20, The Collective’s repertoire reflect Guzman’s musical heritage with rhythms from Puerto Rico and Cuba, mixed with the sophistication of modern jazz. Their third album, “Fiesta at Caroga,” has been making waves in the jazz world.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Fine and Applied Arts (FAA) has awarded the Distinguished Legacy Award to Donald Nally, DMA '95.

Faculty member Josh Graham receives Library of Congress grant to commission alumni composer Donnacha Dennehy.

Harpist Noël Wan (BM ’14, DMA ’20) joined the Performance Faculty at The Curtis Institute of Music for the 2025–2026 academic year.

Noël Wan 萬依慈, twice alumna of the Illinois Harp Program, has been named the 2025 College of Fine and Applied Arts (FAA) Emerging Legacy Award recipient!

Dr. Evan Stoor (PhD, Music Education, 2025), has been appointed as the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Idaho.