Northern Michigan University Department of Music

Have a great summer break! :)

💡Student Spotlight💡

One final student spotlight this semester!

Sophia Laskaris, from Okemos, MI, has been running the NMU Music Department Social Media for the past few years! In the fall she will complete one more class and a Senior Recital before student teaching next winter and therefore is stepping down from our social media pages. With such a small class load she plans to substitute teach in the area and hopes to stay in the UP for the foreseeable future.

Since transferring to NMU, Sophie has been in the NMU Arts Chorale and University Choir as a singer, section leader and student conductor. She also has spent multiple semesters in the Marquette Choral Society, Percussion Ensemble, Open Mind Ensemble, and Opera Theatre Workshop. And is the Public Relations chair for the NMU student chapter of ACDA.

Sophie teaches music part time, helps with a local children's choir and recently started working on Social Media for the Marquette Symphony Orchestra.

"I will miss working closely with Heather in the office and have had so much fun making and sharing content from the music department the last few years! Especially backstage papparazi moments!"

💡Student Spotlight💡

Charlie Butler is a first year NMU student from Elmwood Park, Illinois. Charlie is studying Vocal Music Education but still has strong ties to their instrumental roots.

They started percussion in 5th grade and participated in drumline during high school. Along with vocal ensembles like University Choir and Opera Theatre Workshop, Charlie continues to play in the NMU Drumline, Percussion Ensemble, and Symphonic Band.

In early April, their piece, "Life of a Toymaker" was premiered at the Percussion Ensemble Concert. Charlie wrote the piece for an AP Music Theory class. "This project that I thought was just going to be simple and fun turned into a piece about monotony and losing yourself for the sake of others" without the negative connotations you might expect. Each section of “The Life of a Toymaker” entails what goes on in the character's day as they get lost in the same day of work over and over again (i.e. alarm clock sounds, rising from bed, getting ready for work and more) shown through the repetitive and constant trading of rhythms and melodies between parts. The character's joy comes from providing other people joy through making toys.With the help of Dr. Strain, Charlie created instrument placement charts, reworked some instrumentation to fit a smaller ensemble, and created lesson plans to teach the Percussion Ensemble the piece. Charlie also had the opportunity to conduct "Life of a Toymaker" at the concert and is extremely grateful for Dr. Strains support. "It was a wonderful experience that makes me that much more excited for my future".

Congrats Charlie! We hope you have a great summer and can't wait to see what you do in the fall!

Look at these smiling faces from the NMU Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble Concert a few weeks ago! How is it already exam week?!

We hope you'll join the NMU Arts Chorale, University Choir and Marquette Choral Society for "Magnificent Mozart" at Kaufman Auditorium this weekend!
Saturday, April 25 at 7:30 pm https://www.facebook.com/events/1282812737106066
Sunday, April 26 at 3:00 pm https://www.facebook.com/events/943856431840531

The Far North Brass was happy to get out in the community this afternoon to do a short performance for folks at the Mill Creek Assisted Living Facility. They played a nice mix of classical and jazz selections, and a good time was had by all!

Colwitz and Students Perform at Carnegie Hall | Northern Today Northern Michigan University's Director of Choral Activities, Erin Colwitz, was selected to serve as conductor in residence at New York City's Carnegie Hall for an April 21 Masterwork Festival Chorus performance. She took full advantage of the opportunity to bring along her own singers, creating a m...