News & Events
The School of Music at UNI offers over 200 events each academic year. Whether you're a high school student looking for an opportunity to visit campus and meet your future UNI professors, a community member looking for a concert to attend on a Friday night, or anything in between - we've got you covered. Please take a moment to explore our calendar of events, festivals and workshops, summer camps and more.
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.
This Year's Concerts
- Wind Ensemble & Symphonic Band
Danny Galyen & Justin Mertz, conductors
Friday, October 3, 7:30 p.m. | Great Hall, GBPAC- Jazz Band One & Jazz Band Two
Michael Conrad & Luke Sanders, directors
Friday, October 10, 7:30 p.m. | Bengtson Auditorium, Russell Hall- UNI Choirs
John Wiles & Sara Blessing, conductors
Sunday, October 19, 4 p.m. | Great Hall, GBPAC- Northern Iowa Symphony Orchestra & Cantorei
Erik Rohde & Sara Blessing, conductors
Friday, November 7, 7:30 p.m. | Great Hall, GBPAC- UNI Holiday Concert
Ftg. UNI Choirs and Jazz Band One
Tuesday, December 9, 7:30 p.m. | Great Hall, GBPAC- UNI Choirs
John Wiles & Sara Blessing, conductors
Sunday, March 8, 4 p.m. | Great Hall, GBPAC- Wind Ensemble
Ftg. Visiting High School Bands
Danny Galyen, conductor
Tuesday, April 16, 6 & 7:30 p.m. | Great Hall, GBPAC- Jazz Band One
Christopher Merz, director
Friday, April 17, 7:30 p.m. | Bengtson Auditorium, Russell Hall- Northern Iowa Symphony Orchestra & UNI Opera
Erik Rohde, conductor
Friday, April 24, 7:30 p.m. | Great Hall, GBPAC- Symphonic Band
Justin Mertz, conductor
Monday, May 4, 7:30 p.m. | Great Hall, GBPAC
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 2024
Mark Stevens, piano
Nick May, saxophone
Evergreen & Oak Trio
Extra Añejo
Allison Adams, saxophone
Parrish Trio
Elizabeth Robinson, flute
Scott Sutherland, tuba
Karel Keldermans, carillon
Randall Faust, horn
Gregory Williams, viola
Cassius Goens III, drums
Katie Ernst, bassSpring 2025
Alexander W. Ravitz, bass clarinet
Scott Flavin, violin
Sean Kleve, marimba & harpsichord
Crystal Rebone, double bass
Miguel Etchegoncelay, conductor
James Thompson, conductor
Nora Tycast, conductor
John Clayton, composer, arranger, bass
Libby Larsen, composer
Alan Dunbar, baritone
The LGBTubenQuintet
Brisa de Paula, bassoon
Rob Scheps, saxophone
Teale Burford, conductor
Mariachi Reyes del Oeste
Justin Cook, trombone
Kimberly Cole-Luevano, clarinet
Jessica Danz, horn
Makayla Rassmussen, bassoon
Karel Keldermans, carillon
Kristina Caswell MacMullen, conductor
Lucas Borges, trombone
Tom Curry, tubaGuest artist funds for 2024-25 were supported in part or in full by the Esther Bley Rinker Endowed Fund, Carol Froning Deppe Fund, Jonathan Thull Family and Friends Voice Endowment, Florence Christianson Endowed Fund, Dorothea and Robert Dean Endowed Visiting Artist Fund, Charles and Marleta Matheson Endowed Artist Fund, Dr. Berdena J. Nelson Beach Ph.D. Visiting Artist in Residency Endowment, Geraldine Bradley Quasi-Endowed Music Fund, Floyd School of Music Enrichment Fund Joyce Gault Piano Concert Series, 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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