During the week of May 16th, 2010, the Western Illinois University guitar studio embarked on its first international tour when they visited the Brazilian State of Minas Gerais. The ensemble was comprised of Professor Matthew Warnock, current students Evan Desaulnier, Marcos Rios and Brady Lavin, and guitar [...]

What an incredible pleasure it was to be part of the audience at the Steel Band 25th Anniversary concert on Saturday, May 8.  The current steel band led by Richard Kurasz was joined by Richard Cheadle and alums from the past 25 years of steel bands.
Cheadle took a few minutes during the concert to tell [...]

Stacey Berk, Associate Professor of Oboe and Music Theory at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, has been chosen as the School of Music 2010 Alumni Award recipient.  She will be honored and presented with the at the Wind Ensemble President’s Concert on May 1.  The School of Music is [...]

The Tri States Public Radio news team recently garnered a trio of awards in the Downstate Radio division of the Illinois Associated Press Broadcasters Association 2009 Journalism Excellence Contest.
Morning Edition Anchor Alex Degman won 1st place in the BEST HARD NEWS FEATURE category for “Wet Fields, Busy Businesses,” which examined [...]

WIU Wind Ensemble and alumni embark on a charitable, cultural, and musical exchange in Salvador and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Every college student hopes there will be at least one spring break trip that they will remember for the rest of their lives. Western’s Wind Ensemble student musicians are making those memories right now. [...]