Northeast Iowa School of Music-News

NISOM News

Juilliard in June June 8, 2009 Rehearsal at Clarke College

Student newsletter: 1st Trimester 2009-10 (opens in PDF)

July 30, 2009: NISOM Director & Students Demonstrate Excellence in Music

The Muscatine Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce that Tracey Rush, Executive Director of the Northeast Iowa School of Music and teacher in the Dubuque Community School District, has been commissioned to compose a new work for their 2009-2019 season. This year the Symphony held a call for composition through the Iowa Composers Forum. Numerous applications were received and pared down to a final four competition that was judged by the musicians of the Symphony and the Board of Directors. Tracey Rush was the winner of the call and will be composing a multi-movement symphonic work that is inspired by the collection of photographs by Oscar Grossheim held at the Musser Public Library. The work will be performed in conjunction with the displaying of many of the inspirational photographs. This one-of-a-kind and historic performance will be held on April 17, 2010.

Two NISOM students also placed in Iowa Composer’s Forum annual Student Composers Competition in the junior high division. Joshua Nichols took second place with “Prehistoric Ritual,” while Jacob Melssen received an honorable mention for “A Day at the Circus.” Both age 13, they entered the competition through Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School and study cello at the Northeast Iowa School of Music under instructor Karen Geyer of Platteville. For more information about the competition, visit http://www.iowacomposers.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=91.

Additionally, NISOM student and Asbury resident Sija Cao (age 16) received a performance award, taking second place in the 11th Annual Chopin Youth Piano Competition in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Sija competed in the senior division during the Polish Festival on June 21. On Sunday, July 12, she also preformed in an encore presentation featuring all of this year’s winners. Sija studies at the Northeast Iowa School of Music in Dubuque with instructor Jeff Schoonover of Platteville. Visit http://www.geocities.com/chopin_competition/ or http://www.polishfest.org/cypc.html for more information about the Chopin Youth Piano Competition.

July 6, 2009 : NISOM Receives New Piano Lab and Other Grant Awards

NISOM's new piano lab is now up and running for summer piano group classes. The electronic pianos previously in the lab were badly in need of replacing, as many did not work at all. Thanks to a grant from the Dubuque Racing Association, NISOM can continue to offer group piano lessons. The lab now features four full-size student electronic pianos with a variety of programs and features. Stop by for a demonstration! The DRA also funded an update to our Quickbooks financial software and a carrying case for our portable clavinova.

The City of Dubuque Arts and Culture Commission awarded NISOM two grants this year. Operational support will provide much needed general funding, while a project award will allow us to start a New Horizons band here in Dubuque led by John Woodin. Look for more information about this program coming soon.

The Youth Area Philanthropists (YAPPERS) division of the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque is also supporting a new NISOM program: an Iowa All-State Vocal Workshop in August. Their funding allows us to keep the participation fee to students as low as possible. Visit our upcoming events page for more information on this program.

Finally, Rotary Club of Dubuque has agreed to join Leisure Services of Dubuque as an on-going scholarship sponsor. NISOM offers need-based scholarship assistance to help bring music to students of all economic backgrounds. Scholarships are awarded each fall, but applications submitted throughout the year are considered as funds allow. This program is invaluable to those whose lives could not otherwise be enriched by music education.

THANK YOU to all these organizations!! These programs would be possible without your support!

April 27: Juilliard in June, Sold Out

NISOM is proud to announce that Juilliard in June sold out more than a month prior to the event. Thank you to all the supporters of this fundraiser, especially our sponsor US Bank. Enjoy the show!

If you were not able to purchase tickets, contact our office to ask about a waiting list.

February 16: NISOM Brings Juilliard to Dubuque

On Monday, June 8 NISOM presents another unique concert opportunity for Dubuque audiences when Michael Gilbertson brings Juilliard home to Dubuque. Six of Juilliard's finest students will regale audience members with a chamber music concert in Jansen Hall of Clarke College. Don't miss the next generation of Music. Save the date for Juilliard in June!

January 28, 2009: Sam's Club Awards Funding, Rotary Club Provides Scholarships

Many thanks to all those who have responded to our annual fund drive to help us meet our new year's resolutions. In addition to private donors, Sam's Club has awarded NISOM $2,000 in much needed operational funding.

The Rotary Club of Dubuque has also provided NISOM $1,500 in scholarship funding, enough for qualifying students to continue to receive scholarships this spring. NISOM thanks Leisure Services of Dubuque and other private donors who contributed funding for the first two trimesters this school year. In keeping with our mission to provide music education regardless of background, NISOM awards a limited amount of need-based scholarship funding each year.

If you are able to contribute, please see the Annual Fund Drive information below. Additional operational funding is greatly needed, and we are still looking for special donors to join Club 602.

We are very grateful for this support!

December 17, 2008: Annual Fund Drive

NISOM is beginning a fund drive with our three New Year's Resolutions and three ways to help our school.

RESOLUTION #1: ANNUAL FUND DRIVE

Last June, when we finalized our budget for this 2008-2009 year, the goal for our annual fund drive was set at only $15,000.
Then this economy took a turn for the worse, and our enrollment dipped 25%. In these times when people have to make choices, music lessons seem like a luxury. But many of our operational costs do not fluctuate with enrollment dips, and we still need to pay our bills.

Now, we need to meet our most optimistic fund drive goal ever - $30,000.

So many businesses are closing; so many organizations nation-wide are in trouble. We are resolved to keep the doors of NISOM open and be here for the Tri-State community through the tough times as well as the good times. We desperately want to continue to be your destination for music education, but only if we can be fiscally responsible doing so.

We need your help. Please give to our annual fund drive today. Help us keep the music playing.

RESOLUTION #2: ANNOUNCING THE NEW CLUB 602

In addition to our general operating costs, we’ve had a bank loan hanging over our heads since we started in 2001.

We are resolved to pay off this loan by July 1, 2010. To do so, we are looking for 50 special donors who will pledge to donate $602 to NISOM over the course of the next 18 months.

Why such an odd amount? That is the amount of our current monthly payment towards this bank loan. That’s $602 each month that comes out of our general operating budget.

How did we acquire such a debt? We started with nothing—only a dream and a handful of dedicated people willing to work hard to establish a community music school. But as with any new venture, there were start up costs of equipment, office supplies and furniture. Also, every year we’ve managed to come up about $5000 short on our fundraising efforts. It all adds up. Now we must erase that deficit. With your help, we can.

RESOLUTION #3: AFFORDABLE LESSONS FOR EVERYONE

One of our goals at NISOM has always been to provide lessons to people of all ages, ability levels, and economic status. We are resolved to keep the giving lessons to those who can not afford the full tuition cost.

Tuition only covers 70% of the entire cost, but some students cannot afford even the 70%. So far, we have never turned anyone away for inability to pay and we never want to. But the money needs to come from somewhere. Several of our teachers are donating a portion of their paychecks to cover those who cannot afford the full tuition. This year, more students than ever have applied for scholarship assistance and have been given financial aid for the first two trimesters. It would be heart-breaking if these students could not take lessons the entire year.

The Northeast Iowa School of Music believes that music is a necessity, not a luxury. If you share this belief, please resolve to help us. Thank you.

Please make checks out to NISOM and mail to:

2728 Asbury Rd, Suite 200

Dubuque, IA 52001

Be sure to specify your resolution.

More News in Archive