OVERVIEW The School of Music at Western Illinois University provides undergraduate and graduate piano students performance opportunities in solo recitals, concerti, chamber music, and classical and jazz ensembles. The piano area prides itself on the cohesiveness of the curriculum in both the classical and jazz idioms. With approximately 250 music majors and 43 full-time faculty in the School of Music, a ratio of 6:1, there is an ideal atmosphere of accessibility and consistency for our students. The School of Music is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music.

UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Arts Piano Performance Music Education Music Studies Jazz Studies Music Business Composition Music Therapy

Scholarship and Tuition Information The School of Music awards in excess of $300,000 each year to students through scholarships, talent grants, and tuition waivers. Awards are based on students’ academic records and audition results. Western Commitment Scholarships reward students with excellent academic ability who demonstrate achievement in high school by offering 4-year scholarships up to $40,000 ($10,000 annually) towards the cost of attendance at Western Illinois University. Awards are based on student’s high school GPA and ACT/SAT score. WIU’s cost guarantee ensures that college will be a good investment with its guaranteed four-year rate for tuition, fees, and room and board. The GradTrac program guarantees students who meet the requirements that they will graduate in four years or their remaining tuition will be free.

GRADUATE STUDIES Master of Music Performer’s Certificate Piano Performance Music Education Piano Piano Pedagogy Conducting Jazz Piano Jazz Studies Musicology Composition

Graduate Assistantships Graduate assistantships are available for pianists with duties in accompanying, class piano, jazz, musical theatre, and organ. Compensation includes a full tuition waiver for all graduate credits (not including fees), a tuition waiver for summer courses, and a stipend of $5032–$5792 per academic year. The total financial benefit is $10,744–$11,504 per year for in-state students, and $16,419–$17,179 per year for out-of-state and international students.

Piano Studies

SCHOOL OF MUSIC WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY

PIANO FACULTY AUDITION DATES December 6, 2014 January 17, 2015 (Chicago Area) February 7, 2015 February 16, 2015

Special audition privileges will be granted to students residing outside the United States or to those from states outside a reasonable travel distance. Auditions can be scheduled by contacting auditions coordinator Yvonne Oliver by phone at 309.298.1087 or by email at YL-Oliver@wiu.edu.

CONTACT Website: www.wiu.edu/music Email: music@wiu.edu Telephone: 309.298.1544 Application/Audition Information: Undergraduate Graduate

Western Illinois University | School of Music | 1 University Circle | Macomb, IL 61455

Tammie Walker, Professor of Piano, is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she earned the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees as a student of Ian Hobson.  Her early training was with Penelope Cecchini and Frances Karp in Wisconsin.  An active solo recitalist, concerto soloist, chamber musician, adjudicator and clinician, she has performed throughout the

continental US, Hawaii, western Europe and South Korea.  Her articles have been published in International Piano, The Piano (Korea), and American Music Teacher.  A devoted teacher, Dr. Walker’s students have been successful in several national competitions and have been admitted to many of the top graduate programs in the country.   Email: TL-Walker4@wiu.edu

Jeffrey Brown, Associate Professor of Piano, is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music, where he earned the Performer’s Certificate, the Master of Music, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degrees. He studied with Natalya Antonova and served as her teaching assistant, and he pursued chamber music studies with Jean Barr. His early training was with Jane Allen at the University of Missouri.

Performance highlights include the Dame Myra Hess Series in Chicago, the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., two recital tours of China, and festivals in France, Germany, Italy, and Austria. He has presented masterclasses and lectures at universities and conservatories throughout the United States.

Email: J-Brown2@wiu.edu

Michael Stryker, Associate Professor of Jazz Piano, is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music, where he earned a doctoral degree in Jazz and Contemporary Media in 2009.  He coaches jazz combos, directs big bands, teaches Applied Jazz Piano, Class Jazz Piano, Jazz Fundamentals, Jazz History and is a member of the Dale Hopper Faculty Jazz Sextet.  He is also on the faculty of the Birch Creek

Summer Music Performance Center located in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin.  Previous teaching positions include Eastern Illinois University, DePaul University, and the University of California at Berkeley. Email: MS-Stryker@wiu.edu