Northwestern Set To Drop Organ Program

[Admin]

The following email was sent to the forum for posting. The sender of this email is an employee of NU and asked to remain anonymous.
-Admin

Dear Friends,

I am emailing you on behalf of the Northwestern University organ and church music degree students. The new dean of NU's School of Music has proposed eliminating the organ and church music degree program. You can imagine how the training of future church musicians will be impacted. When she proposed the cut, I don't think the dean realized how many people this would affect. Many churches and synagogues in the Chicago area, in fact throughout the country, have NU students and graduates as their organists or music directors. They would no longer have this resource. NU church musicians have been excellent ambassadors for Northwestern. Because of the effect of the cut on numerous places of worship, it would be bad publicity for NU. It would have a negative effect on alumni donations, student admissions to the music school, and to Northwestern University. Last, NU should continue to offer diverse and well-rounded programs in its music school.

There is some good news: on Weds, Feb. 18, the Northwestern Student Government voted unanimously to ask the music school to reconsider their proposal to cut the Organ and Church Music program. Daniel Barenboim (director, Chicago Symphony Orchestra) & Sir Andrew Davis (Lyric Opera director) have sent letters asking the same. I'm optimistic that with enough encouragement, the administration will reconsider the proposal.

If you'd like, I can email you more background information on the situation.

BTW, I work at NU so would appreciate you not quoting my name or email address. Thanks for understanding.

Contact info for the NU president and provost is below. Could you please Cc your communication to Gregory Ceurvorst:

gfc234@aol.com

who is the NU organ student coordinating the Fighting of the Ax? If you would like to also Cc me, that would be great.

Last, if you could please forward this email to anyone you think would be interested, I would truly appreciate it. A letter from the NU organ students is below.

[Admin]

THE FOLLOWING IS FROM THE NU ORGAN STUDENTS:
-Admin

Dear Musicians, Clergy, Alumni, and Advocates of the Arts:

We need your help! Northwestern Universitys School of Music Dean, Toni-Marie Montgomery recently announced plans to eliminate the Organ and Church Music major degree programs. In addition, Dean Montgomery has instructed the School of Music Admissions staff to refuse all applications for Fall, 2004, effective immediately.

Headed by Dean Peter Christian Lutkin more than a century ago, the study of organ and church music was the foundation of Northwesterns School of Music. The first degree in organ performance was awarded by Northwestern in 1895! Since then, Northwestern alumni and students have, and still continue to fill top positions, and win awards and competitions in the field of Organ and Church Music.

We believe that the termination of the Organ and Church Music major degree programs, and the resulting loss of Northwestern University trained organists and church musicians, would be a devastating loss for the Northwestern community, especially Alice Millar Chapel, Seabury and Garret Seminaries, the city of Chicago and suburbs, and the world at large. Please note that the American Guild of Organists 2006 National Convention will take place in Chicago. One can only imagine that Northwestern's absence will have a negative effect on the convention's success.

To maintain its status as a major university, we believe that Northwestern must continue its commitment to competitive degree programs in Organ and Church Music.

We respectfully request that the Northwestern University Administration reconsider and reverse their decision to eliminate the School of Musics Organ and Church Music major degree programs.

We would be most grateful for your help in this matter. Please send letters of support to:

President Henry Bienen
Northwestern University
Crown 2-130
733 Clark Street
Evanston, IL 60208
Phone: 847-491-8413
Fax: 847-467-3104
Email: nu-president@northwestern.edu

Provost Lawrence B. Dumas
Northwestern University
Crown 2-143
733 Clark St.
Evanston, IL 60208
Phone: 847-491-5117 Fax: 847-467-1630
E-mail: nu-provost@northwestern.edu

We whole-heartedly believe that with your support, the Organ and Church Music programs at Northwestern will continue to thrive, and provide the world with many more generations of excellent leaders, musicians and scholars.

We most humbly thank you for your support,

The Organ Students of N.U.

[Chiff Drawbar]

I was unaware of the precarious status of the Organ and Church Music program at Northwestern University. I just took a look at the university's website and found no listing for the organ in the Music Department. Does anyone know what's going on? Was the program in fact eliminated?

[ReedGuy]

I just stumbled upon this thread. That's awful if Northwestern tossed out their Organ and Church Music program. There are so many more opportunities for us organists in the US as opposed to Canada. Peabody, Julliard, Eastman, Curtis, Northwestern, etc. Makes me want to relocate very much. It would be sad to know that NU eliminated this program.

[Chiff Drawbar]

Curiosity got the better of me, so Icalled the Music Department at Northwestern University to find out what I could aboutthe currentstatus of theOrgan and Church Music Department. </P>


The woman I spoke with was not too familiar with the situation, but she was able to tell me this: Private organ lessons are available from the University's organ teacher, Margaret Kemper. If anyof you are considering this school, or want detailed information about what is going on, contact her directlyat: mkemper@northwestern.edu (mkemper@northwestern.edu). </P>


As I mentioned in an earlier post, the University's website makes no mention at all of the organ or a church music department, and Margaret Kemper is listed as an Associate Professor,General Music--not asAssociate Professor of Organ. </P>


Sounds like the organ program is a shadow of its former self. This is especially unfortunate given the school's closeassociation with the Chicago Symphony (a number of players teach at the school) and the access that gives students to the real music world.</P>


The last I read, around 800 students are enrolled asorgan majors in U.S. colleges, and that number isdeclining. It's a very different music environment out there. Who knowswhat the future holds. </P>
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