Skip to Main Content
Advertisement
 
Ensure student journalism survives. Donate today.
The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Trombonists of the NIU Wind Ensemble follow director Tom Bough’s conducting of Josh Rodriguez’s “Ballenas” on Tuesday in the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall in the Music Building. The ensemble performed six pieces, one of which was the collegiate premiere of “The Sacred Cloth” composed by Onsby Rose. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Whale song to Washington March: NIU Wind Ensemble delivers dramatic performance

By Cayden Wells, Lifestyle Writer | October 1, 2025

Imagine the mournful, metallic cry of a whale echoing through the hall. Or the sound of a century-old classic march filling the air with powerful brass-fueled energy.  This was the sound of the NIU Wind Ensemble’s latest performance Tuesday night,...

The Burning Cicada Arts and Music Festival will be on Saturday in Hopkins Park. The festival will include live performances and activities for all ages. (Courtesy of Burning Cicada)

Burning Cicada returns with art, music at annual festival

By Rachael Swinson and Jonathan Shelby | September 15, 2025

Burning Cicada will host its annual Arts and Music Festival from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Hopkins Park, 1403 Sycamore Road. Event organizer and CEO of Burning Cicada Byron Wise started this event to help those in the DeKalb community. “The...

The Avlon String Quartet, joined by pianist Winston Choi, performs Narongrit Dhamabutra’s “Quintet For the Spirits of ASEAN” on Friday in the Recital Hall of the Music Building. The performance was proceeded with a lecture from composer Dhamabutra on the piece beginning at 6 p.m. and was followed by a reception with Thai food in the Music Library. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Gallery: ‘Quintet for the Spirits of ASEAN’

By Totus Tuus Keely, Assistant Photo Editor | September 15, 2025

The cover art for “Alfredo 2,” the latest album from rapper Freddie Gibbs, features a hand holding chopsticks above a bowl of ramen noodles. Editor-in-Chief Edison Miller argues that "Alfredo 2" deserves Album of the Year recognition. (Freddie Gibbs under Fair Use)

Freddie Gibbs’ ‘Alfredo 2’ deserves AOTY recognition

By Edison Miller, Editor in Chief | August 25, 2025

Released on July 25, hip-hop artist Freddie Gibbs and producer The Alchemist blessed fans with the release of “Alfredo 2.” Serving as the second edition of their “Alfredo” series, Gibbs’ smooth yet aggressive flow matches perfectly with The...

A graphic shows a summer Spotify playlist. Here are the Northern Star staff's song recommendations to listen to this summer. (Brynn Krug | Northern Star)

Sweltering songs for summer fun

By Northern Star Staff | April 30, 2025

ETHAN RODRIGUEZ’S PICKS H.S - Tom Cardy Los Hombres Maduros - Rokabanda Sunset Waltz - Yoko Shimomura “H.S” is an almost unconventional motivational song for summer. The fourth song of Cardy’s 2024 album “The Dancefloor At...

Five chorus singers perform in front of the audience. The NIU Chamber Choir, NIU University Chorus and NIU Concert Choir performed pieces from different time periods and places. (Ethan Quirk | Northern Star)

Choral concert sings last hurrah of semester

By Ethan Quirk, Lifestyle Writer | April 28, 2025

Three choral divisions joined together to provide one last show for the spring semester. Held at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Music Building’s Boutell Memorial Concert Hall, the NIU Chamber Choir, the NIU University Chorus and the NIU Concert Choir joined...

A photo of the Spring Dance Concert flyer sits on a table. The NIU School of Theatre and Dance impressed the audience during its Spring Dance Concert Friday evening. (Kahlil Kambui | Northern Star)

Themes of community sparked during Spring Dance Concert

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor | April 27, 2025

At first there was darkness, but as the lights slowly brightened the music grew to reveal dancers dressed in white dawning a star on their back representing the city of Chicago. The dancers were prepared to give the audiences a great show. From 7:30...

A graphic shows a Spotify playlist with study songs. Here are the Northern Star's picks for songs to study to during finals week. (Brynn Krug | Northern Star)

Study songs for successful finals

By Northern Star Staff | April 23, 2025

ETHAN RODRIGUEZ’S PICKS  vs. DJ Subatomic Supernova - Funk Fiction Inazuma - HOYO-MiX, Yu-Peng Chen how to sleep - Deathbrain While “vs. DJ Subatomic Supernova” may be a silly name for a song, the tune itself is a catchy and relaxing...

Four members of the NIU Wind Ensemble play vacuums and a power tool as instruments during the song "A Grand, Grand Overture." The NIU Wind Symphony and Ensemble pleasantly shocked audience members during their Combined Band Concert. (Kahlil Kambui | Northern Star)

NIU Wind musicians perform with vacuums as instruments

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor | April 23, 2025

A mix of DeKalb residents and NIU students came to hear the joint performance of the NIU Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony in the NIU Combined Band Concert. From 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., both bands left the audience pleasantly shocked during their concert...

Sign In

Register

Reset Password

Please enter your username or email address, you will receive a link to create a new password via email.