Our School of Music is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment where every student can thrive. We believe that a rich tapestry of perspectives enhances our artistic community, allowing all voices to be heard and celebrated. Through mentorship, scholarship and community, we are nurturing a generation of musicians who excel in their art and champion the values of diversity, equity and belonging in every facet of their lives.

Mentorship

Our faculty and staff are dedicated to guiding students from all backgrounds, ensuring they have access to the resources and support necessary for their personal and professional growth.

Scholarship

The NIU School of Music prides itself on achieving academic excellence for all by providing equitable access to educational tools and transformative opportunities. We strive to create pathways and provide resources for underrepresented groups that empower all students to pursue their passions and to become our future leaders in music who will advocate for change within the industry and the greater community.

Community

Faculty and staff provide opportunities for students to engage in our wider community, fostering a sense of belonging to respect and celebrate all forms of cultural expression. We offer transformative musical experiences for our students to share their love of music and of art with the greater NIU community and beyond. By embracing a wide array of backgrounds, we not only enrich our academic and artistic endeavors but also prepare our students for a globalized world. 

Black lives matter

Therefore we...

• Commit to anti-racist practices that affirm our diverse School of Music community
• Pledge to continually critique our curriculum and pedagogy for bias, marginalization and inequity
• Listen to and learn from each other's lived experiences to strengthen both our music making and our community
• Perform and study music that represents diverse voices and perspectives
• Recruit with the intention to build diversity in the School of Music that reflects the world in which we want to live

We state this not as a platitude but as advocates in the fight for real change — change to systems that have too often been discriminatory. We recognize that to be silent is to be complicit in support of such systems.

In our community, we see one another fully and see ourselves in one another. Therefore, we stand with members of our beloved community, especially when they need us most.