DePaul University School of Music

06/15/2026

Sending congratulations to faculty member and alum Joe Clark for his work on this amazing project with Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Abbott. Read the full NYTimes article here: https://bit.ly/3Q249GX

Congratulations, Joe!!

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra has recorded a new score by local composer Joe Clark to accompany “Intergalactica," a mixed-reality video game specifically designed to aid with blood donation.

06/13/2026

Celebrate with us tonight!

The School of Music commencement ceremony, with the College of Science and Health will be held from 6PM - 8:30PM.

Join us on livestream as we celebrate our graduates. It has been our honor to have you as a part of the School of Music. We are confident that you are prepared and ready to make a positive difference in the world!

Cheers to the class of 2026!

For livestream and commencement program: https://linktr.ee/depaulsom

06/05/2026

The DePaul University School of Music is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Yi-Yang Chen as Associate Professor of Piano, starting in the fall of 2026. Dr. Chen joins the Music Performance department after most recently serving as a tenured Associate Professor at the University of Kansas, and East Tennessee State University.

“Dr. Yi-Yang Chen's vision for our piano program is grounded in his brilliance as a pianist, great insight as a teacher, and deep curiosity about the future of our field.” said Dean John Milbauer. “He is a terrific addition to our faculty and, as a pianist myself, I am delighted that he will be a catalyst at the DePaul School of Music starting this fall."

Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Dr. Chen has been playing the piano since the age of 8. He completed his BM and DMA degrees at the Eastman School of Music with Douglas Humpherys, and an MM at The Juilliard School with Robert McDonald and Jerome Lowenthal. He has had additional studies with Itzhak Perlman, Emanuel Ax, Daniel Pollack, Joseph Kalichstein, Glenn Dicterow, Thomas Sauer, and members of the Cleveland, Shanghai, Borromeo, Brentano, Ying, and Guarneri String Quartets.

Yi-Yang Chen shot onto the international stage with back-to-back victories in the 2017 Washington International Competition, 2018 Sussex International Piano Competition, and the Waring International Piano Competition. He has performed on five continents in acclaimed venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Melbourne Recital Centre, National Concert Hall in Taipei, Banff Music Centre, ZK Matthews Great Hall in South Africa, and the Assembly Hall in Worthing, UK, with such orchestras as the Eastman Philharmonic Orchestra, National Chinese Orchestra, and the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra. He has appeared at the Perlman Music Festival, Taos School of Music Summer Chamber Music Festival, Music Academy of the West, Four Seasons Winter Workshop, and Brevard Music Center.

“I am deeply honored to join the piano faculty at the DePaul University School of Music and to work with the extraordinary students and distinguished colleagues within this vibrant artistic community,” said Dr. Chen. “My hope is to cultivate a piano program that embraces contemporary piano pedagogy, artistic and academic excellence, and meaningful connections to the broader musical profession through performance, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community engagement.”

For more information on Dr. Chen's career and background, visit: https://bit.ly/Yi-YangChenPiano

Welcome Yi-Yang!

06/03/2026

Join us for the Livestream for the final SOLD OUT DePaul Opera Theatre production this academic year from our students and faculty in DePaul Voice & Opera Details below!

Tickets Flew Away Faster Than a Bat at Midnight!

The theater may be sold out, but the party is still happening online! Tune in to the livestream of Die Fledermaus.

Link in Comments.

05/28/2026

We are deeply saddened to share the loss of Samuel Magad, School of Music alumnus (SOM ’55), DePaul faculty member, and 35-year concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, holding the position longer than any other player in the CSO’s history. He died on May 25 at the age of 94.

Samuel’s extensive support for the School of Music began as he joined the performance faculty in 2007, serving for many years as faculty and then as a member of the Advisory Board. Over his time at DePaul he received numerous accolades, including the Distinguished Alumni Award, the Pro Musica Award, and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the university. Magad’s family ties to DePaul ran deep as his wife, daughter, and grandson were all graduates from DePaul, as well.

Dean John Milbauer writes, "Samuel Magad's extraordinary contributions—as one of the most respected and admired concertmasters of the 20th century and as a devoted faculty member and advisor—continue to shape the DePaul School of Music, particularly in our pursuit of orchestral studies at the highest level. We are honored to carry his legacy forward."

We extend our condolences to Samuel Magad's family, and to his many students, colleagues and friends. He will be missed greatly.

To read more about the life and legacy of Samuel Magad, visit: https://bit.ly/SamuelMagadSOM

05/04/2026

This Monday, May 11, we will present our next Faculty Artist Series Recital with members of our DePaul Percussion Faculty at 8PM in Gannon Concert Hall.

Join Ian Ding, Cynthia Yeh, and Eric Millstein for a captivating recital featuring the evocative works of George Crumb and Béla Bartók, with celebrated pianists John Milbauer, School of Music Dean, and Winston Choi.

Tickets range from $5 - $15, with no charge for faculty, staff and students in the DePaul University community.

Visit https://bit.ly/FacultyArtistSeries for program details and to reserve your tickets.

Please join us!

05/04/2026

The DePaul University School of Music is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Justin Caithaml (they/them) as Professional Lecturer of Music Education with an emphasis in Choral Music Education, starting full time in the fall of 2026. Dr. Caithaml joins the Music Education department after most recently serving as Assistant Professor of Music Education, Chair of Music, and Coordinator of Music Education at the University of Bridgeport, CT.

“We have a thriving Music Education program at DePaul, and the addition of Justin Caithaml to the faculty adds breadth and dimension that will help prepare our future music educators,” said Dean John Milbauer. “Justin brings expertise, enthusiasm, and growth mindset to DePaul, and I am delighted to welcome them to our faculty."

A passionate advocate for equity and access in music education, Dr. Caithaml’s current research focuses on more deeply understanding gender and sexuality discourse in the music education profession. When they join the Music Education program this fall, they will be teaching foundational courses, choral methods, and graduate coursework.

Visit https://bit.ly/SOMCaithamlAppointment to learn more about Dr. Caithaml's career and background.

Welcome, Justin!

04/23/2026

04/08/2026

Spring Quarter events are underway - with three student recitals, a performance from the DePaul Percussion Ensemble and the Kleinman Hirt Vocal competition, featuring both undergraduate and graduate students in our voice area.

All events are free and open to the general public. Visit https://bit.ly/SOMConcertSchedule for all the details and to reserve your seats!

03/08/2026

Congratulations to DePaul University School of Music recipients Josh Jones and Na’Zir McFadden on the extraordinary honor of receiving the 2026 Sphinx Medal of Excellence! Learn more about these artists and the award here: https://bit.ly/SOMSphinxMedal