Alumni

Composition Alum Donnacha Dennehy (MM '94, DMA '14) won a 2026 Grammy in "Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance" for his composition "Land Of Winter."

The University of Illinois School of Music is proud to recognize our faculty, staff, and students who presented at the Illinois Music Educators Conference in Peoria, Illinois this January.

School of Music alum Joy Yang (DMA '24) was featured both in The Daily Illini and WILL for her work with the Interdisciplinary Institute, bringing jazz performance to the community through local businesses.

The University of Illinois School of Music is proud to recognize our faculty, staff, students, and alumni who presented at The 79th Annual Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois this past December.

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.