VanderCook College of Music Alumni

VanderCook’s MECA on-campus summer season has begun!

Here are a few highlights from last week’s String Repair Workshop, where participants gained hands-on experience with a wide range of essential repair techniques. 🎻

🎷 Help us welcome incoming freshman Diego Torres to VanderCook College of Music! 🎷

Diego is a saxophonist majoring in Music Education this fall. He perfectly captured the spirit of our campus when sharing what he's most excited for:

"I am ecstatic about this upcoming year because I can’t wait to be surrounded by and create music with others who share the same passion that I do."

We are just as excited to have you here, Diego! Welcome to the community where passion meets purpose. 🎶

Leave a comment below to welcome Diego to the family! 👇

Join us on campus in Chicago for a dynamic 4-day Summer Choral Connections Workshop! 🎶

This workshop goes beyond standard repertoire selection to explore the science of musicality, the art of building community, and the practical steps of moving students from rote learning to independent music reading.

Register today: https://hubs.la/Q04mbN8C0

📷: Highlights from the 2025 Summer Choral Connections Workshop

🎶 Music Educators 🎶 Are you heading to the Sweetwater Director Academy at the Bands of America Summer Camp next week?

We are offering the opportunity for music educators to earn credit through our Retrospectives. You’re already investing time in learning and collaboration—now turn that effort into credit for license renewal or salary advancement.

Register today: https://hubs.la/Q04lVlV10

🎶 Music Educators 🎶 Heading to The 2026 National Mariachi Education Workshops in Las Vegas next week?

We are offering the opportunity for music educators to earn credit through our Retrospectives. You’re already investing time in learning and collaboration—now turn that effort into credit for license renewal or salary advancement.

Register today: https://hubs.la/Q04lT-Yq0

🎶 VanderCook's MECA Summer Orff Instructors are looking forward to inspiring musical growth, collaboration, and fun!

We are still taking registrations, but great numbers for all levels.
Learn more and Register Today! https://hubs.la/Q04lJ15P0

Big congratulations are in order! We are incredibly proud to announce that graduating senior Peter McDonald has officially landed a job as the new Assistant Band/Choir Director at John F. Kennedy Middle School!

Peter has brought so much passion, leadership, and musical excellence to our campus. We have no doubt he is going to inspire the next generation of young musicians to find their own rhythm, just as he did here.

Join us in celebrating another amazing addition to our legacy of educators! Leave a comment below to wish Peter the best of luck. 🎓✨

Dive into “Choral Connections,” a dynamic 4-day intensive designed to bridge the gap between podium gesture and pedagogical outcome. This workshop goes beyond standard repertoire selection to explore the science of musicality, the art of building community, and the practical steps of moving students from rote learning to independent music reading.

Join VanderCook on campus this summer and take your teaching to the next level! https://hubs.la/Q04lzhTy0

On June 9, 2026 Quinlan and Fabish hosted their annual Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator Awards. We are proud to announce that 4 of the 6 recipients are associated with VanderCook. Moulee Gupta (MMEd '08) - Carl Sandburg MS - Mundelein, Dan Farris-MECA faculty, Lisa Heemstra (BMEd '00) - Bednarcik JHS-Oswego, Alex Kaminsky - VCM Director of Bands, George Quinlan Jr. presented the awards and is a current VCM Board member. Congratulations!

Attention, music educators! 🎶

VanderCook College of Music's featured late summer online MECA course is: Marching Band Techniques: Back to Basics Review with Dan Farris!

Marching Band Techniques is a course designed to develop skills, obtain knowledge, and study the application of methods, techniques, styles and systems related to the total spectrum of teaching and administering marching bands.

Register today to secure your spot! https://hubs.ly/Q04l4hjt0