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| Brass | Percussion |
Woodwinds |
The wind program of Northwestern University has a long and distinguished
history. Since its beginnings in the 1950s, the program focal
point has been an outstanding faculty, many of whom have also
been affiliated with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Each
member is dedicated not only to the development of each student,
but also to post-graduation success. Graduates of the
program can be found in the New York Philharmonic, the Boston,
San Francisco and Chicago Symphonies, and the Cleveland Orchestra,
as well as in orchestras worldwide and in important positions
in higher education.
Hallmarks of the wind program are the nurturing of the unique
talents and abilities of each student and a great deal of individual
attention. Students are offered as complete an experience
as possible, achieved through ensemble performance, instruction
in the intricacies of each instrument, and valuable information
about the complexities of a career in music. Students also
benefit from Northwestern’s close proximity to the city
of Chicago. Visiting artists frequently come to campus, offering
master classes and other instruction, and the myriad of performances
by the Chicago Symphony, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Ravinia
Festival and other outstanding organizations create learning
opportunities outside the classroom.
With a decades-long affiliation with Chicago Symphony Orchestra,
the vast resources of a major research university, and an outstanding
placement record, the wind program offers opportunities that
are unmatched.
All DM students receive full tuition funding.
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Program Curriculum
Students may pursue the bachelor and master of music degrees,
the certificate in performance, and the doctor of music degree. They
receive an education targeted toward a variety of career areas,
including an orchestral career, a career in teaching, and other
options. In addition to weekly private lessons, there are weekly
studio classes that provide students with opportunities to perform
with and for their colleagues, to learn in a group setting about
the fundamentals of their instruments, about varied options in
the music business, and from guest artists.
Each studio also offers classes on various auxiliary instruments,
something that is highly valuable with regard to future career
development. Samplings are as follows:
- Flute Studio - piccolo and baroque
flute
- Oboe Studio - English horn study and reed
making
- Clarinet - bass clarinet, orchestral excerpts,
reed making
- Bassoon - Reed making, instrument
repair and maintenance
- Saxophone - work on all saxophones, technique
classes
Open to all students are classes and seminars in Alexander technique
and many other less traditional and non-music aspects of building
a career.
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Ensembles
Ensemble participation is an integral part of the wind experience
at Northwestern. The
ensembles comprise the Symphony Orchestra,
Wind Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra, Symphonic Band, and the Contemporary
Music Ensemble. All
wind students audition for entrance each quarter. Every
attempt is made to rotate each student through the various groups
for a complete ensemble experience.
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Chamber Music
The faculty believes that participation in chamber music is
key to success on one’s instrument. They and many outstanding
area musicians serve as coaches for woodwind quintets, other
wind combinations, and mixed ensembles including piano and strings.
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Guest
Master Classes
Northwestern frequently hosts distinguished artists who offer
master classes for students. Recent guests have included
oboists Robert Sheena and Nicholas Daniel; clarinetists Eddie
Daniels and Karl Leister; bassoonist Milan Turkovic; and saxophonist
Claude Delangle. There is also an active program of two-way broadcast
master classes, whereby students receive instruction from master
teachers in other locations.
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Distinguished Alumni
Flute
- Louise Dixon, Chicago Symphony
- Zart Dombourian-Eby, Seattle Symphony
- Barbara Leibundguth, Minnesota Orchestra
- Linda Lukas, San Francisco Symphony
Oboe
- Michael Henoch, Chicago Symphony
- Robert Sheena, Boston Symphony
- Sherry Sylar, New York Philharmonic
- Russ Deluna, San Francisco
Symphony
Clarinet
- Mark Nuccio, New York Philharmonic
- Craig Nordstrom, Boston Symphony
- Linnea Nereim, Cleveland Orchestra
- Gregory Smith, Chicago Symphony
Bassoon
- Jonathan Sherwin, Cleveland Orchestra
- Wilbur Simpson, Chicago Symphony (deceased)
- Chris Marshall, Minnesota Orchestra
- Felicia Foland, St. Louis Symphony
Saxophone
- Debra Richtmeyer, University of Illinois
- David Sanborn, international
performing and recording artist
- John Sampen, Bowling Green State
University, Ohio
- Kyle Horch, Royal College of Music, London,
England
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