Nestled in
the heart of the University of Illinois Springfield campus lies a hidden gem –
the UIS Music Program, a vibrant interdisciplinary unit committed to educating
tomorrow’s leaders and enriching the local music scene. Housed in the
Department of Art, Music and Theatre, the UIS Music Program offers a rich
tapestry of classes across the disciplines of music and a full calendar of
concerts, lectures and other events for students, faculty and the community.
At the
core of our mission is the belief that music is critical to a liberal arts
education. Beyond the development of musical technique and knowledge, music
education helps students develop transferable skills critical to maintaining
successful careers and leading fulfilling lives. Alongside traditional classes
in Western art music history, music theory and world music, courses such as
“Entrepreneurship in the Arts” help students unleash their creativity, hone
critical thinking, ideation and collaboration skills and emerge as leaders in
their respective fields driving innovation and progress. Courses such as “Black
Music in American Culture” and “Music and Social Justice” place music at the
forefront of some of the most pressing social issues of our time. These courses
prepare students to navigate a world marked by increasing political
polarization, entrenched economic disparities and marked systemic injustice.
Secondary
music education often has a reputation of inaccessibility and exclusivity. Not
so at UIS, where everyone is encouraged to take classes in music regardless of
musical knowledge or training. Our generous array of institutional and
donor-funded music scholarships enhances accessibility and the relative
affordability of a college education at UIS. A point of pride is the Camerata
Scholarship, a renewable performance scholarship that offers up to $8,000 to
incoming student musicians pursuing any major. The Camerata Scholarship
application deadline is April 5.
UIS Music
faculty members are committed to creating opportunities for deep collaboration
and knowledge exchange with the local community. Our university ensembles like
orchestra, band, chorus and jazz boast significant participation by community
musicians, many of whom are local music teachers and ensemble directors. Our
on-campus performance offerings are supplemented by concerts in diverse
locations around town including The Pharmacy Gallery and Art Space, Anvil and
Forge, the Chatham Public Library and Dana-Thomas House.
Providing
sustained educational and performance opportunities for the community is a
primary prerogative. To this end, the UIS Community Music School offers
affordable, high-quality instrumental and vocal instruction and a roster of
professional musicians with extensive performance experience and rigorous
teaching standards. The UIS String Academy, a joint venture with the Illinois
Symphony Orchestra, provides weekly group classes on violin, viola and cello to
beginning and intermediate students over 6 years old. The annual UIS Honor Band
Festival offers a day of rigorous workshops and rehearsals for advanced high
school band musicians that culminates in a performance in Sangamon Auditorium.
UIS
students have benefitted enormously from the Springfield community’s investment
in our music program. While robust concert attendance provides an ideal
atmosphere for student performers, generous donations enable numerous
innovative educational and programming initiatives. We are thrilled this year
to spearhead the Community Sounds Concert Series, featuring an array of
musicians and musical styles from our local community, and made possible by the
generosity of UIS Emeritus Professor Charlie Schweighauser and his wife, Barb.
The Partnership in Education and Civic Engagement with the Illinois Symphony
Orchestra provides a host of unique educational and career-building
opportunities for UIS students. Last fall, I teamed up with the Jewish
Federation of Springfield to present the Violins of Hope, a traveling exhibit
of Holocaust violins brought back to life in a constellation of events
highlighting local talent.
A recent
influx of talent on campus has enhanced our reputation as a hub of musical
innovation and creativity. Supported by a $5,000 grant from the UIS Provost’s
Office, UIS music instructor Ron Silver is piloting New Music Springfield, a
concert series designed to fill a critical gap in musical programming in
Springfield by featuring experimental,
avant-garde and contemporary music. His new course, the “Make a Noise
Ensemble,” invites the participation of students, faculty, staff and community
members who are interested in experimental music; no musical experience is
necessary. This year also saw the start of the Get Free Music Series co-hosted
by UIS Music Instructor Adam Larison and Political Science Professor Richard
Gilman-Opalsky. This series offers monthly evenings of free improvisation that
challenge the boundaries of music composition and performance and push
audiences outside of their comfort zone.
The Greek
philosopher Plato once suggested, “Music gives soul to the universe and wings
to the mind.” His ideas about music shaped the very structure of ancient Greek
paideia, an education system designed to produce well-rounded, fully educated
citizens. In a similar vein, Chinese philosopher Confucius described yayue (formal
music) as critical to the cultivation and refinement of the individual. Indeed,
the idea that music has moral and social significance endures at UIS, where we
believe both in the power of music to heal, to bring pleasure and to serve as a
space for exploring pressing and deeply human questions.
Music
certainly has the power to unite, uplift and create a more beautiful world
marked by open communication, compassion and empathy. Won’t you join us?
Yona
Stamatis is director of the UIS Music Program and an associate professor of
ethnomusicology. More information about the UIS Music Program, including
information on scholarships, festivals and performances, can be found at
uis.edu/music.
This article appears in Spring Guide 2024.
