Wis is guest conductor at choral festival

Ramona Wis, professor and chair of music, was the guest director of the East Tennessee Vocal Association 2010 Honors Women’s Choir.

Ramona Wis, Mimi Rolland Professor in the Fine Arts, professor and chair of music, was the guest director of the East Tennessee Vocal Association 2010 Honors Women’s Choir in Oak Ridge, Tenn., Nov. 18-20. Mounting an ambitious and varied program of women’s chorus repertoire, Wis and the select 120-voice high school ensemble worked for three days as part of the annual festival that brings guest conductors from around the country to work with mixed, men’s and women’s auditioned ensembles and present a public performance as the culminating event.

The legacy of Paul Warren Allen

The North Central College community remembers music professor, Paul Warren Allen

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Dec. 15, 2010)—Music professor Paul Warren Allen could be moved to tears by the beautiful sounds created by students in his choir at North Central College.

“I remember one Christmas he was conducting the choir singing Handel’s ‘Messiah.’ The truth of the words gripped him and he had crocodile tears running down his cheeks,” recalls his daughter, Paula Billingsley.

New Music Festival features contemporary classical compositions

North Central celebrates contemporary classical music during its inaugural New Music Festival April 11-12 and features Dal Niente and Brooklyn Rider.

March 9, 2011—North Central College will celebrate contemporary classical music during its inaugural New Music Festival April 11-12.

The two-day festival will feature performances by contemporary music group Dal Niente and string quartet Brooklyn Rider. As part of the festival, acclaimed Russian composer Dmitri Yanov-Yanovsky, a member of the Silk Road Project and composer-in-residence at North Central College, will coach members of various area high school ensembles.

Borla and Mouse featured in “Recording” magazine

Jazz faculty members Janice Borla and Jack Mouse were featured in “Recording” magazine in the article “A Basement Conversion: The Borla/Mouse Basement Studio.”

Jazz faculty members vocalist Janice Borla and drummer Jack Mouse were featured in a four-page article titled “A Basement Conversion: The Borla/Mouse Basement Studio” in the October 2010 issue of “Recording,” a magazine for the recording musician. The article focuses on their home studio, which they designed, and includes comments from recording engineer John Larson on how the space was adapted for recording and mixing sessions. Here’s a preview from the article:

March 9 concert showcases North Central College jazz saxophonist Mitch Paliga

North Central College presents an evening of jazz featuring the extraordinary talents of saxophonist and jazz faculty member Mitch Paliga.

Jan. 24, 2011—North Central College presents an evening of jazz featuring the extraordinary talents of saxophonist Mitch Paliga, a member of the College’s acclaimed music faculty.

Paliga is an active performer, educator and composer in the Chicago area. According to Cadence Jazz Magazine, “Paliga is an interesting composer but he also may be the next great voice on the soprano sax.”

North Central College offers five-year bachelor’s/master’s degree in leadership

North Central College is offering a new option to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a master of leadership studies degree in just five years.

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Nov. 16, 2010)—North Central College is offering a new option to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a master of leadership studies degree in just five years.

Students accepted into this program earn both a bachelor’s degree—in any discipline—and the master of leadership studies with the completion of 141 credit hours.

Jazz vocalist Janice Borla is featured artist Nov. 10

Music education program receives national award

North Central College's music education program and its student chapter of the National Association for Music Education (MENC) have been recognized by MENC.

Contact: Nancy Dunker, associate director of media relations, 630-637-5306

Oct. 11, 2010--North Central College's music education program and its student chapter of the National Association for Music Education (MENC) have been recognized by MENC with an award for outstanding growth.

In the announcement to the College, MENC's North Central president remarked, "Your dedication and commitment to the young students studying to be teachers is such a contribution to our profession. Your guidance and knowledge both inspire and mentor these young people."

Music education program receives national award

North Central College's music education program has been recognized by MENC with an award for outstanding growth.

Music education program receives national award

Contact: Nancy Dunker, associate director of media relations, 630-637-5306

College among first in nation to present "The Phantom of the Opera"

North Central College students will perform Andrew Lloyd Webber's masterwork "The Phantom of the Opera" Nov. 4-7.

Contact: Nancy Dunker, associate director of public relations, 630-637-5306

Oct. 4, 2010--North Central College students will perform Andrew Lloyd Webber's masterwork "The Phantom of the Opera" Nov. 4-7. An international phenomenon and the longest-running musical in Broadway history, "The Phantom" unmasks emotions like no other show can, leaving audiences breathless.