Toni-Marie MontgomeryToni-Marie Montgomery

Dean since July 2003

t-montgomery@northwestern.edu
847-491-7552

Under Dean Montgomery's leadership the school has established two major international awards, the Jean Gimbel Lane Prize in Piano Performance and the Michael Ludwig Nemmers Prize in Music Composition; increased guest-artist residencies by internationally renowned performers; established the Institute for New Music; provided all doctor of musical arts candidates with full-tuition scholarships; opened a new state-of-the-art music facility; appointed the acclaimed Dover Quartet as the school’s first quartet-in-residence; and secured funding for a tour to Asia in 2018 by the Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra.

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Administration

René E. Machado

Associate Dean for Administration, Finance and Planning

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René E. Machado

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Associate Dean for Administration, Finance and Planning

r-machado@northwestern.edu
847-491-7575

René Machado formerly served at Indiana University as assistant dean for administration at the Jacobs School of Music and assistant dean for development at the Research and University Graduate School. He was earlier affiliated with New York University, first as associate director of sponsored research in the School of Education, where he worked with faculty to develop research across a broad range of disciplines, and then in the Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions as administrative director and associate director of vocal studies. He is also a countertenor, specializing in vocal repertoire from the baroque to early 19th century Italian opera. Machado has performed as a soloist and member of New York City-based music ensembles, including Musica Sacra, Musica Aeterna, Camerata Singers, Bach Aria Group, New York Choral Artists, Sine Nomine Singers, Pomerium Ensemble, and Bel Canto Opera. He received his master of music degree from Florida State University.

Mat Lake

Assistant Dean for Administration, Finance and Planning

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Mat Lake

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Assistant Dean for Administration, Finance and Planning

lake@northwestern.edu
847-491-2202

Linda A. Jacobs

Assistant Dean for Student Affairs

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Linda A. Jacobs

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Assistant Dean for Student Affairs

linda.jacobs@northwestern.edu
847-491-3818

Linda Jacobs has served as assistant dean for student affairs at the Bienen School of Music since 2010. She previously served the school in various roles, including as assistant dean for admission and student affairs, director of student affairs, and interim director of undergraduate studies. As a lecturer in music theory at the Bienen School, she taught first- and second-year music theory, music history, 16th Century Counterpoint, 18th Century Counterpoint, Improvisation in 18th Century Music, and a first-year seminar. She has given presentations in music theory at regional and national conferences. Jacobs received her master’s and PhD degrees in music theory from the Bienen School of Music. Her dissertation was titled Tonality and the Music of Steve Reich.

Thomas Crespo

Assistant Dean for Admissions, Financial Aid and Graduate Services

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Thomas Crespo

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Assistant Dean for Admissions, Financial Aid and Graduate Services

thomas.crespo@northwestern.edu
847-491-3141

Thomas Crespo joined the Bienen School administration in August 2022. He previously served as Assistant Dean of Admissions at the Blair School of Music, Vanderbilt University. Crespo holds master’s degrees in bassoon performance and chamber music performance from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, where he studied with Jeffrey Lyman. He completed a bachelor’s degree in bassoon with a double minor in corporate strategy and leadership and organization from Vanderbilt University, where he studied with Cynthia Estill and Laura Hauser. As a performer, Crespo has appeared regularly with orchestras in Michigan and Tennessee, including the Adrian, Ann Arbor, Dearborn, Grand Rapids, Jackson, Rochester, Southwest Michigan, and Toledo Symphonies. He has also participated in numerous festivals, orchestral tours, and summer programs nationally and internationally.

René E. Machado

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Associate Dean for Administration, Finance and Planning

r-machado@northwestern.edu
847-491-7575

René Machado formerly served at Indiana University as assistant dean for administration at the Jacobs School of Music and assistant dean for development at the Research and University Graduate School. He was earlier affiliated with New York University, first as associate director of sponsored research in the School of Education, where he worked with faculty to develop research across a broad range of disciplines, and then in the Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions as administrative director and associate director of vocal studies. He is also a countertenor, specializing in vocal repertoire from the baroque to early 19th century Italian opera. Machado has performed as a soloist and member of New York City-based music ensembles, including Musica Sacra, Musica Aeterna, Camerata Singers, Bach Aria Group, New York Choral Artists, Sine Nomine Singers, Pomerium Ensemble, and Bel Canto Opera. He received his master of music degree from Florida State University.

Mat Lake

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Assistant Dean for Administration, Finance and Planning

lake@northwestern.edu
847-491-2202

Linda A. Jacobs

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Assistant Dean for Student Affairs

linda.jacobs@northwestern.edu
847-491-3818

Linda Jacobs has served as assistant dean for student affairs at the Bienen School of Music since 2010. She previously served the school in various roles, including as assistant dean for admission and student affairs, director of student affairs, and interim director of undergraduate studies. As a lecturer in music theory at the Bienen School, she taught first- and second-year music theory, music history, 16th Century Counterpoint, 18th Century Counterpoint, Improvisation in 18th Century Music, and a first-year seminar. She has given presentations in music theory at regional and national conferences. Jacobs received her master’s and PhD degrees in music theory from the Bienen School of Music. Her dissertation was titled Tonality and the Music of Steve Reich.

Thomas Crespo

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Assistant Dean for Admissions, Financial Aid and Graduate Services

thomas.crespo@northwestern.edu
847-491-3141

Thomas Crespo joined the Bienen School administration in August 2022. He previously served as Assistant Dean of Admissions at the Blair School of Music, Vanderbilt University. Crespo holds master’s degrees in bassoon performance and chamber music performance from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, where he studied with Jeffrey Lyman. He completed a bachelor’s degree in bassoon with a double minor in corporate strategy and leadership and organization from Vanderbilt University, where he studied with Cynthia Estill and Laura Hauser. As a performer, Crespo has appeared regularly with orchestras in Michigan and Tennessee, including the Adrian, Ann Arbor, Dearborn, Grand Rapids, Jackson, Rochester, Southwest Michigan, and Toledo Symphonies. He has also participated in numerous festivals, orchestral tours, and summer programs nationally and internationally.

Jerry Tietz

Director of Concert Management

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Jerry Tietz

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Director of Concert Management

jerryt@northwestern.edu
847-491-4754

Jerry Tietz joined the Bienen School of Music in 2015 as director of concert management. He previously served as general manager for Chicago Opera Theater. Tietz began his career in arts administration in 2005 at Glimmerglass Opera Festival in upstate New York. After two seasons at Glimmerglass, he moved to Manhattan where he spent four years as an artist manager at the arts management firm Barrett Vantage Artists. After returning to his hometown of Chicago in 2010 to work as director of artistic operations for Chicago Opera Theater, Mr. Tietz was appointed general manager of Chicago Opera Theater in 2012. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Sarah Generes

Director of Development

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Sarah Generes

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Director of Development

sarah.generes@northwestern.edu
847-467-3849

Sarah joined Northwestern University’s Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music in 2018 as the Director of Development. Before entering the world of higher education, Sarah spent 20 years working in performing arts organizations throughout Chicago including Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Ravinia Festival. At Lyric Opera of Chicago, she held a variety of positions, working with both the development and artistic teams. With the development team, Sarah worked on numerous events including Opening Night and Opera Ball and five wine Auctions. As Director of Classical and Crossover Programming, she produced Chicago Voices, artistic directed by Renée Fleming and featuring musicians including John Prine, Lupe Fiasco, Matthew Polenzani, Shemekia Copeland and Michelle Williams. Chicago Voices won three regional Emmy awards and was broadcast nationally on PBS as part of Great Performances. She also collaborated with The Second City to produce The Second City Guide to the Opera and Longer! Louder! Wagner! Sarah graduated cum laude with dual degrees in English and vocal music from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Jerry Tietz

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Director of Concert Management

jerryt@northwestern.edu
847-491-4754

Jerry Tietz joined the Bienen School of Music in 2015 as director of concert management. He previously served as general manager for Chicago Opera Theater. Tietz began his career in arts administration in 2005 at Glimmerglass Opera Festival in upstate New York. After two seasons at Glimmerglass, he moved to Manhattan where he spent four years as an artist manager at the arts management firm Barrett Vantage Artists. After returning to his hometown of Chicago in 2010 to work as director of artistic operations for Chicago Opera Theater, Mr. Tietz was appointed general manager of Chicago Opera Theater in 2012. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Sarah Generes

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Director of Development

sarah.generes@northwestern.edu
847-467-3849

Sarah joined Northwestern University’s Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music in 2018 as the Director of Development. Before entering the world of higher education, Sarah spent 20 years working in performing arts organizations throughout Chicago including Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Ravinia Festival. At Lyric Opera of Chicago, she held a variety of positions, working with both the development and artistic teams. With the development team, Sarah worked on numerous events including Opening Night and Opera Ball and five wine Auctions. As Director of Classical and Crossover Programming, she produced Chicago Voices, artistic directed by Renée Fleming and featuring musicians including John Prine, Lupe Fiasco, Matthew Polenzani, Shemekia Copeland and Michelle Williams. Chicago Voices won three regional Emmy awards and was broadcast nationally on PBS as part of Great Performances. She also collaborated with The Second City to produce The Second City Guide to the Opera and Longer! Louder! Wagner! Sarah graduated cum laude with dual degrees in English and vocal music from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Department Chairs

Karen Brunssen

Co-Chair, Department of Music Performance

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Gerardo Ribeiro

Co-Chair, Department of Music Performance

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Drew Edward Davies

Chair, Department of Music Studies

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Graduate Studies

James Giles

Director of Music Performance Graduate Studies

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Ryan Dohoney

Director of Graduate Music Studies

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Music Advisory Board

Members of the Board serve as advisors to the Dean and advocates for the Bienen School of Music.

Members

Trine Sorensen, Chair
Adrienne Barris
Michelle Miller Burns
Richard and Jane Dean
Diane Douglas
Allan R. Drebin
Margee Filstrup, Chair Emerita
Scott Filstrup
Shaun Finnie
Barbara Greis
Dolores Kohl Kaplan
Carole Ringer
Alexander and Liz Rorke
Jeannette Segel
Todd Smith
William C. Steinmetz
Robert Tichio
Bozhong Peter Xue