Spotlight Series

About the Series

Each year, the UNI School of Music proudly showcases a variety of ensembles and individual performances in our Spotlight Series. These performances consistently offer the highest quality musical performances featuring student, faculty and guest performers. From orchestral to jazz, opera to bands, join us for the series and experience something for everyone! 

Ticket prices for the Spotlight series are $17 for adults, $7 for non-UNI students. UNI students are admitted for FREE with their UNI ID card. For more information, call (319) 273-2028.

All Spotlight Series concerts are ticketed. For tickets, call (319) 273-4TIX or shop online.  

Purchase Tickets

This Year's Concerts

Wind Ensemble & Symphonic Band

Danny Galyen & Justin Mertz, conductors
Friday, October 4, 7:30 p.m. | Great Hall, GBPAC

Jazz Band One & Jazz Band Two

Christopher Merz & Michael Conrad, directors
Friday, October 11, 7:30 p.m. | Bengtson Auditorium, Russell Hall

UNI Choirs

John Wiles, conductor
Sunday, October 13, 4 p.m. | Great Hall, GBPAC

Northern Iowa Symphony Orchestra & Jazz Band One

Erik Rohde & Christopher Merz, conductors
Wednesday, November 13, 7:30 p.m. | Great Hall, GBPAC

UNI Holiday Concert

Ftg. Concert Chorale, Cecilians and Jazz Band Two
Monday, December 9, 7:30 p.m. | Great Hall, GBPAC

UNI Choirs

John Wiles, conductor
Tuesday, March 11, 7:30 p.m. | Great Hall, GBPAC

Jazz Band One

Christopher Merz, director
Friday, April 18, 7:30 p.m. | Bengtson Auditorium, Russell Hall

Wind Ensemble

Ftg. Visiting High School Bands
Danny Galyen, conductor
Tuesday, April 22, 6 & 7:30 p.m. | Great Hall, GBPAC

Jazz Band Two

Michael Conrad, director
Friday, April 25, 7:30 p.m. | Bengtson Auditorium, Russell Hall

Symphonic Band

Justin Mertz, conductor
Monday, April 28, 7:30 p.m. | Great Hall, GBPAC

Northern Iowa Symphony Orchestra

Erik Rohde, conductor
Tuesday, May 6, 7:30 p.m. | Great Hall, GBPAC

Guest Artists

Each year the School of Music calendar is filled with exceptional guest artist events, with expert performers and clinicians visiting and sharing their talent and experience with School of Music students and faculty. Through hands-on master classes, thrilling performances, and interactive discussions, these inspiring guests and masters of music offer students a world of opportunity to find out why choosing music is truly a rewarding path. View our calendar of events to find out more about upcoming guest artist events. 

Recent Guest Artists

Fall 2023

Nicole Roman, saxophone
Karel Keldermans, carillon
Gabriel Forero, viola
Dakota Andersen, voice
The President's Own U.S. Marine Band
Jenny Klukken, percussion
Vincent Carr, organ

Spring 2024

Jeffery Kyle Hutchins, saxophone
Thomas Leleu, tuba
Robin Scott, violin
Grace Baugher Dunlap, composer
Ferenc Szabó, conductor
Laura A. Goucher, conductor
Leon Kuehner, conductor
Mike Stern, guitar
Leni Stern, guitar
Svetlana Smolina, piano
Imani Winds
F-Plus Ensemble
Jeremy Beck, composer
George Tsontakis, composer
Geoffrey Keezer, piano
Gillian Margot, voice
Alexander Meszler, organ
Evan Chapman, percussion
New Third Stream Saxophone Quartet
Daniel Adam Maltz, fortepianist
Nicole Lambrecht, conductor
Arlie Langager, conductor
Brent Mead, trombone
Drew Bonner, euphonium
Hakeem Bilal, trombone
Dave Rivello, composer/conductor
Denise Tryon, horn

Guest artist funds for 2023-24 were supported in part or in full by the Floyd School of Music Enrichment Fund, Joyce Gault Piano Concert Series Fund, the Dorothea and Robert W. Dean Visiting Artist Fund, the Howard and Mary Easter Quasi-Endowment, the Charles and Marleta Matheson Endowed Scholarship/Artists Fund, the Beach Guest Artist Fund, the Florence Christianson Scholarship, the Pine Family Music Education Fund, Spotlight Series patrons, the College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences, and the UNI School of Music. The School of Music continues to extend its gratitude for these contributions. 

Event Information

Concert Etiquette & Details

In consideration of the performers and other members of the audience, please enter or leave a performance at the end of a composition.

Cameras and recording equipment are not permitted. Please turn off all electronic devices except those being used to view concert programs, and be sure that all emergency contact cell phones and pagers are set to silent or vibrate.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Northern Iowa sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires an accommodation in order to participate in any program, please contact Caroline Francis at (319) 273-2028 or caroline.francis@uni.edu at least one week prior to the event.

Performances are made possible through private support from patrons like you. Please consider contributing to School of Music scholarships or guest artist programs. Call (319) 273-3915 or click here to make your gift.

For more detailed information on planning your visit, view the Gallagher Bluedorn's information page here

Stewardship Statement

The University of Northern Iowa honors the ancestral stewards of the land on which our university rests. Through the work we do every day to live our mission, the University of Northern Iowa aspires for you to see a community that: honors Native and Indigenous People and culture, lives the 7th Generation Principle, does good for the people and communities we serve, and embraces stewardship of our mission and land. Please see our full stewardship statement at https://president.uni.edu/stewardship-statement

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