Northeastern Illinois University

Welcome to the Northeastern Illinois University Department of Music and Dance!

The Department of Music is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). Here, you can learn about our exceptional academic offerings, performances and programs produced through the department. Your learning is an important endeavor and we look forward to working with you as you take the next steps in your musical education and growth. Located in the heart of Chicago, we offer small class sizes, an exceptional Recital Hall and Auditorium, and an affordable education in a very diverse environment.

Whether you are interested in a major or minor in Music Education, Performance, a general music B.A. track, a Master of Arts in Applied Pedagogy or a Teacher Licensure Program, the Music Program places an emphasis on the development of your musical performance abilities. Many of our faculty members have trained at some of the finest music schools and conservatories in the world and perform worldwide with organizations such as the Joffrey Ballet, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Sinfonietta, the Grant Park Symphony and Chorus and many others.

This level of knowledge and experience, along with your personal investment, will make your studio lessons second-to-none. Participation in musical ensembles is a requirement of all music students, as well as attendance at live performances each semester. All students seeking admission to the Music Program must perform a live/video audition.

For technical questions with acceptd, please check out the Help Desk for frequently asked questions.

For inquiries about the NEIU Department of Music contact Tina Laughlin, Recruitment, Auditions, and Scholarship Coordinator at t-laughlin@neiu.edu or visit us online at music.neiu.edu.

Application Instructions

In-Person Scholarship Auditions will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2025 and Saturday, March 29, 2025. International and Out-of-State students are welcome to submit an Audition Video via the acceptd application.

In order to apply to a Music degree program here at NEIU, please complete the following steps:

1. Apply to Northeastern Illinois University via NEIU's general admission process.
2. Apply to the Department of Music via acceptd (you are already here!).
3. Email Tina Laughlin (Recruitment, Auditions, and Scholarship Coordinator) at t-laughlin@neiu.edu to schedule a specific audition date and time. 
4. Visit the Scholarship Audition page of our department's website to see the specific audition requirements for your instrument or voice so that you know what to prepare. Contacts for each applied instrument and voice teacher are included with each set of requirements.

We are so excited to meet you and hear you play or sing! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at any time. Tina Laughlin can answer your questions about the audition process in general and our distinguished faculty look forward to speaking with you about their instrumental or voice studio or fields of interest.

We look forward to hearing you perform!

The Dance Program at NEIU

The individually designed Dance minor includes technique classes in ballet, modern, jazz and Spanish dance. The student performance group, Dance Performance Ensemble, performs choreography created by faculty, students and guest artists every semester. Other unique performance and learning opportunities are accessible through collaborative partnerships with the Ruth Page Dance Series and through the University’s in-residence dance company, Ensemble Español.

You may use this acceptd application to apply for a Dance Scholarship Audition (and, express your interest in pursuing a Dance Minor). In additional to completing the application, you may contact Emma Draves, Dance Program Coordinator, at e-draves@neiu.edu for more information. Visit us online at neiu.edu/dance.