What's next? US Army Field Band, Anon(ymous), Opera Theatre, World Music Festival, Actor Showcase, new art exhibitions and more
A look at what's coming up in the NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts
US Army Field Band and Soldier's Chorus to perform at NIU School of Music, April 6
The United States Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus will perform a free concert, Sunday, April 6 at 7 p.m. in Boutell Memorial Concert Hall in the NIU Music Building.
Tickets can be reserved at ArmyFieldBand.com/tickets.
The theme of the concert is Sea to Shining Sea.
The United States Army Field Band from Washington, D.C., is the official touring musical representative of the U.S. Army. Their mission is to connect with Americans, share Army stories, and honor veterans as the musical ambassadors of the Army. These active-duty soldiers tour nationally and internationally, performing for live audiences in large concert venues, while reaching hundreds of millions of enthusiastic followers online. Through performances in communities across the United States, The U.S. Army Field Band fosters a positive relationship with the American people, supports diplomatic efforts around the world and inspires future generations to serve.
Sea to Shining Sea
From coast to coast, come along for a musical celebration as The U.S. Army Field Band presents, Sea to Shining Sea. Pack up the family van and hit the road behind those famous tour buses as the Concert Band and Soldiers’ Chorus tell enduring stories of veterans, friendships, and the amazingly picturesque, and maybe sometimes bizarrely quirky, places that make America a road-tripper’s dream. Through exciting music and stunning visuals, be inspired to set out on your own journey exploring our great nation while honoring all those who answered the call to serve it.
Free tickets can be reserved at ArmyFieldBand.com/tickets.
Anon(ymous) opens March 28 in School of Theatre and Dance
Naomi Iizuka’s Anon(ymous), is an adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey that features a young refugee, Anon and the people he encounters as he crosses the United States in search of his family.
Directed by Urban Theatre Company’s (UTC) Miranda Gonzalez, Anon(ymous) opens in the Black Box Theatre, Friday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m. with other evening performances March 29, April 3 and 4, with 2 p.m. matinees March 30 and April 5.
An audience talkback with cast and crew facilitated by Kay Martinovich, associate professor of theatre and head of B.F.A. acting at NIU, immediately following the Saturday, March 29 performance.
Tickets are on sale online. NIU students are admitted free of charge with a reserved ticket.
BFA/MFA Actor Showcase on campus, April 1-2
The Meisner-based, classically trained actors of the NIU School of Theatre and Dance present contemporary scenes and monologues in this free showcase. Performances will be held in the Corner Theatre in the NIU Stevens Building, Tuesday, April 1 and Wednesday, April 2 at 7:30 p.m.
The on campus performances are in anticipation of the industry-invited professional showcase to be held at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre in Chicago, April 14.
Learn more about the actors at www.niushowcase2025.com.
Upcoming concerts in the NIU School of Music
Saturday, March 29, 5 p.m., International Guitar Series, Laura Showden (UK)
Sunday, April 6, 7 p.m., US Army Field Band and Soldier’s Chorus
50th anniversary World Music Festival includes a week of concerts and a World Music Symposium
One of the most iconic programs at Northern Illinois University is about to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The School of Music boasts one of the most diverse, comprehensive and accomplished world music programs in the nation, and a week long celebration kicks off exactly 50 years to the day of the first world music concert in NIU’s history.
The 50th anniversary will be celebrated with a week’s worth of concerts, plus a four-day World Music Symposium focused on providing “perspective and reflection on teaching world music in the 21st century.”
All 2025 NIU World Music Festival performances are free and open to the public.
Learn more and see a full list of events and concerts, and some background on the 50th anniversary.
B.A./B.S. Show opens April 7 in Jack Olson Gallery
The annual Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science Art Show in the NIU School of Art and Design runs from April 7 to 17 in the Jack Olson Gallery in Jack Arends Hall.
Mysterious Dream Suite running in NIU Art Museum through May 10
A suite of four exhibitions focused on mysterious dreams is up and running in the NIU Art Museum through May 10.
“Windows to the Subconscious” is a juried exhibition exploring the meaning of dreams. It features the work of 13 artists selected from applicants from around the country who responded to a call for entry asking for their perceptions on dreams and nightmares. “Surrealist Classics from the Museum Collection,” also in the South Galleries, features another 13 artists. “Phantasmagraphica: The Early Psychedelic Work of British Artist Douglas Binder or Nightmares of alienation in post-industrial England” includes a selection of intriguing gouache paintings on paper and a panel from a larger triptych donated to the museum by M.A. Lipschultz of Chicago. And, “A Deb Sokolow Sampler: 20 Years of Speculative Drawing” rounds out the suite. Sokolow is a Chicago-based artist for whom observed reality becomes a point of departure for researching and imagining the unknown and the plausible.
There are a number of associated events to go with the exhibition including a Saturday “Dreamy Movie” matinee series.
Registration for NIU 2025 Summer Arts Camps is open
Register today for one (or more) of our 2025 Summer in the Arts at NIU camps for students in grades 8-12. Explore creativity, build community, meet mentors and make lifelong friends. Offerings include Jazz Camp, Percussion Camp, Theatre Arts Camp and Visual Arts Camp.
BA program in School of Theatre and Dance presents Epilogues and Ever Afters, May 1-3
The Bachelor Arts in Theatre Studies presents the capstone program Epilogues and Ever Afters in the Sally Stevens Players Theatre Thursday, May 1 and Friday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday May 3 at 2 p.m.
Admission is free with a suggested donation of $5.