Administration

Associate Dean for Administration, Finance, and Planning

See Full Bio

Mat Lake

Close

Associate Dean for Administration, Finance, and Planning

Assistant Dean for Student Affairs

See Full Bio

Linda A. Jacobs

Close

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.

Assistant Dean for Admissions, Financial Aid, and Graduate Services

See Full Bio

Thomas Crespo

Close

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.

Director of Concert Management

See Full Bio

Jerry Tietz

Close

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.

Mat Lake

Close

Associate Dean for Administration, Finance, and Planning

Linda A. Jacobs

Close

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

Close

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

Close

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.

Director of Development

See Full Bio

Sarah Generes

Close

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.

Sarah Generes

Close

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

See Full Bio
Gerardo Ribeiro

Co-Chair, Department of Music Performance

See Full Bio
Drew Edward Davies

Chair, Department of Music Studies

See Full Bio

Graduate Studies

James Giles

Director of Music Performance Graduate Studies

See Full Bio
Ryan Dohoney

Director of Graduate Music Studies

See Full Bio

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
Bozhong Peter Xue