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Northern Illinois University

NIU Office of Public Affairs


News Release

Contact: Mark McGowan, NIU Office of Public Affairs
(815) 753-9472

September 14, 2004

Ortega takes interim whistle
for NIU’s Huskie Band

DeKalb — Margarite “Peg” Ortega once swore she never would become a marching band director.

That was during her college days at the University of Illinois, when the clarinetist from Lombard planned to teach band at the middle-school level and told her professor so.

Now in her sixth year with Northern Illinois University’s Huskie Band – and her second non-consecutive year as interim director – the thought leaves her laughing.

“You should always be prepared, because you never know what’s going to happen to you,” said Ortega, who is filling the marching shoes vacated over the summer by Larry Stoffel. “I love it. It’s quite fun. The students provide so much enthusiasm.”

Ortega, who nearly quit band altogether after seventh grade until her mother put a stop to those plans, did make good on her vow at first.

She took a job in Lilburn, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta, where she taught middle school band. She then returned to her native Lombard to teach band and orchestra to fourth- through eighth-graders.

But an opportunity to earn her master’s degree at Bowling Green State University and, with it, the chance to teach college students, opened her ears to a different drummer.

“It was the best thing ever,” Ortega said. “I learned a lot.”

The NIU School of Music and the Huskie Band beckoned in 1999. Ortega became assistant director to Stoffel, now director of bands at California State University, Northridge.

In the Huskie Band, she discovered a musical outlet that made audiences and performers equally happy.

“There are so many people who don’t get to experience live music,” she said of fans at the band’s halftime shows during NIU football games. “The look on people’s face makes the kids happy.”

The 145-member band practices four days a week (Thursday night rehearsals are held in Huskie Stadium) where they work on music and marching steps. Ortega’s assistant director, NIU newcomer Anthony Pursell, and a corps of instructors and student section leaders help to keep the band on its feet.

The students will march five home games this season, and will attend at least one away game at Ball State University, where they will march on the field and play on the stands. “We have good relationships with directors around the Mid-America Conference,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ortega is hoping to become Stoffel’s successor outright.

“I want to make sure we do what we need to do: one, support the university; two, train music education majors, and three, entertain,” she said. “I want the students to feel a sense of ownership, a sense of pride and a love for their university.”

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