Faculty

The University of Illinois School of Music is proud to congratulate Barry Houser, Director of the Marching Illini and Associate Director of Bands, for receiving the Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity's 2025 Distinguished Service to Music Medal for Marching Band Award!

Congratulations to Rudolf Haken, Professor of Viola and Electric Strings, on his retirement from the Illinois School of Music after 29+ years!

Thanks to a generous gift from the Meredith Foundation, the University of Illinois Chamber Singers—the School of Music’s premier choral ensemble—has been renamed the Meredith Chamber Singers.  

This past October, guest ensemble Atlas Maior visited the School of Music for a workshop with the Improvisers Exchange Ensemble.

The Bowdoin International Music Festival welcomes University of Illinois School of Music professor Dr. Mélanie Clapiès alongside the Jupiter String Quartet to the faculty of their Summer music festival. Dr. Clapiès is the new first violinist of the Jupiter String Quartet and joined the violin faculty this fall.

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.

On November 15, 2025, Shungu released “Bridges Not Walls,” his first album in more than a decade. The independently released project blends hip-hop, jazz, mariachi and Congolese rumba. The diverse set of songs reflects his background and beliefs that he hopes will speak to people.

University of Illinois violin professor and Jupiter String Quartet founding member Megan Freivogel McDonough has been selected to serve on the 2026 faculty jury for the Senior String division of the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.

Composer Jeremy Gill visited the University of Illinois in November 2025 to serve as Composer in Residence for the Illinois Modern Ensemble.

Krannert Center Uncorked, a free concert series on many Thursdays throughout the year, aims to provide a showcase for central Illinois musicians of many genres.

Tune in for a radio segment featuring Pete 'Afro D' Shungu airs Tuesday, Dec 16 at 6:15pm on WRFU.

Dr. Nicki Roman will be joining the faculty at the Interlochen Arts Camp 2026 as Valade Fellow of Saxophone.

Dr. Rebecca MacLeod, Professor of Music Education, published a scholarly research article, “An Examination of Factors That Influenced Music Teacher Attrition Post-Pandemic,” in the latest edition of Update: Applications of Research in Music Education.

Throughout the Fall 2025 semester, faculty, students, community members, and guest artists have come to the University of Illinois School of Music for intensive one-day programs honing musicianship at Low Brass Day, Double Reed Day, and Illinois Harp Jam.

In honor of National Arts & Humanities Month, the College of Fine and Applied Arts featured Peter (Pete) Shungu, professor of Music Education.

The Jupiter String Quartet, University of Illinois School of Music Artists in Residence, was featured in two articles by local news outlet Smile Politely.

On Thursday, November 6, 2025, the School of Music celebrated the investiture of Dr. Bridget Sweet as the Marilyn Pflederer Zimmerman Endowed Chair in Music Education.

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.