Rosemary McClure

Rosemary McClure is a music major with focus in jazz performance from Charles, IL

Hometown: Charles, IL

High School: St. Charles East High School

Year: Expected graduation: Spring 2027

What scholarships did you receive and why did you receive them? How has the financial support impacted your experience at NIU?
I am a recipient of a merit scholarship and the Wilbur and Carmen Pursley Endowed Scholarship in Music. Beyond the financial support, as music is not always a profitable industry, these scholarships have helped reassure me that I am on the right path. Knowing that people care enough to help support me financially or that I’m studying or practicing enough to be able to be considered for these scholarships has helped me keep going and want to work even harder than I already am.

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you pursuing that as a major, or have you taken another path?
Growing up, I was always drawn to the arts. I had no formal plan to pursue them, or any other field for that matter. Eventually, when the time came to decide what major to pursue studies in, I thought back through everything I’ve done and realized I love performing and learning about music too much to not have it be a primary part of my life. It was never a formal goal of mine, but rather the natural progression of my long-standing love for the arts.

What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study?
I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree with an emphasis in jazz performance. I knew I loved music and couldn’t live without it, so what better to do than to study it. I have always felt my happiest when performing or rehearsing with other musicians, and many of my favorite memories were spent practicing, in rehearsals or on stage.

What has been something you have found pleasantly surprising about your experience at NIU?
The people around me here always want the best for me and for the community as a whole. I’ve never felt as if there’s an impossible gap between who I am now and where I want to be, and that’s because the community here has always pointed me in the direction of improvement. I know that I can always ask for help to improve as a musician and as a person.

How have you connected with other students to study for classes, meet new people or form new friendships?
A lot of my classes for jazz studies have been fairly small, so it’s been easy to connect with the people in those classes, even more so because we’re going through the same class requirements and are around each other semester after semester. I know that whenever I walk around the music building I’m bound to see someone I share a class or ensemble with. That is even more true on the practice floors. Whenever I take a break to grab some water, I know someone is just around the corner and I can stop by to ask about homework, what they’re practicing or just how they’re doing.

What NIU offices, departments or resources have helped you feel safe, supported and successful? And how?
All of the music staff and students really care about each other. I know that if I’m having a rough day, someone is going to ask if I’m all good and really care about my response. All the professors here really care about making sure their students are playing music to the best of their ability and making sure that the process of getting to that point isn’t a bad one. Sometimes things will be rough, and most of the time it isn’t going to be easy, but I know that if I ask a professor or a fellow student for help, they will do what they can to make sure I feel supported and can be the best musician and person I can be.

Who has been one of your favorite instructors/professors and why? What course did they teach?
It’s hard to pick just one professor as my favorite; I’ve learned so much from everyone here. Without even a full semester with them yet, I’d still say I’ve learned so much already from Dr. Roosevelt Griffin (director of the jazz orchestra) and Prof. Bobby Broom (jazz improv). Both of them love the music so much, and they just want students to get to a point where they can truly give back to the music and have the music give back everything they’ve put in. I feel challenged by both courses, enough where I know what work I need to put in and how to do said work, but not enough where I feel it’s impossible to improve. Genuinely, every professor I’ve had at the music building has been a huge help and a source of education and has given me hope as a musician. I loved music before coming here but my appreciation has only grown under their guidance.

How have you benefited by attending class regularly?
If I don’t show up to class, I won’t improve. Without showing up every day, I’m just going to stagnate, and that’s going to make me feel worse and make it harder to find the motivation to improve. Showing up to class gives me something to look forward to. I genuinely enjoy learning, and every class is just another step toward my future goals.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community? Why are you drawn to it?
In general, I’d have to say the music building and more specifically, the fourth-floor practice rooms. They’re where I spend a lot of my time, and I love being in the company of other musicians. Regardless of time of day, there will almost always be someone else on that floor with you. Another huge draw is all the rooms having windows. Some rooms just have a view of a parking lot or another building, but having natural light makes those long hours much easier. I’m also drawn there because of the access to pianos. Sometimes I’ll be working on an arrangement or a piece for an ensemble and just need to plunk out a chord, and having pianos around you makes that really easy.

What advice would you give to a student who is researching colleges to apply to?
Don’t worry about applying to endless universities; things always work out in the end. Same goes for auditions. It’s normal to be stressed, but the more you can get yourself to relax, the easier it’ll be. Some things are bound to be stressful, life in general is stressful, but whenever that stress subsides, you may just end up having the time of your life. I was worried about auditions coming to NIU, but I got through them. Now that stress has been replaced with the joy I get from playing music with others and learning more about this thing it is that I love.

Why is a college education important to you?
I enjoy learning! College is a prime opportunity to learn more about music and about myself. I’m unsure where I’ll go after college, but I’ve thought about becoming a professor down the line because of all the amazing professors I’ve had here, and a college education is pretty important for that.

What strategies do you use to manage your time between the responsibilities of school, work, friends and family?
I schedule a fair amount, not always days or weeks ahead of time, but in the mornings I try to make a mental note of what I need to do on a given day and what time I have to do it. I also have scheduled times each week when my girlfriend and I are both free, and we make sure to spend time with each other each week. I try to keep Friday afternoons free to either take care of myself or hang out with friends.

How do you stay informed about events and services that are available on campus?
I regularly check my email, look at the various boards around the music building, ask people if there’s anything coming up and check the performance calendar on NIU’s website.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
I pet my cat. She’s always waiting for me when I get home after a long day, and I know she misses me as much as I miss her. I’ll just sit down on the couch, and she’ll come up and sit in my lap purring away

Please tell us about your job and hobbies.
I enjoy listening to music and writing music (for my own enjoyment, not for a class). When I have time I’ll often watch shows or movies with my brother or by myself. I’ve also been finding myself reading more comic books as of late.

Is there anything else you'd like to share about your NIU Huskie story?
I’m just very glad to be here. I’ve met a lot of people I otherwise never would’ve met and done a lot of things I never dreamed I could do. Being at NIU is another stepping stone in my journey, and what a great stepping stone it has been.