::The following stories come from Alumni who have gained
a great amount of success through their education at Millikin University.::
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~From a Commercial Music pianist who started as a cruise ship musician and within a short time became music director for the entire cruise ship line:

“In July I accompanied La Musica Lirica student opera program in Italy and I am their webmaster…I was commissioned by the Mundelein High Scbool Show Choirs to do four of their arrangements for their season.  I did a video editing project for a trumpet player out in Palm Springs, one who played with all the great stars and bands, as well as being the lead trumpet in Harry James’ band…I’ve been collaborating and working on new show running orders with Liberace protégé Steve Garey out in Vegas.  I redesigned his website and I’m going out to Vegas tomorrow to do a show with him in Laguna Hills… Then I go on a cruise ship to Hawaii for 6 weeks to work as a musical director and bandmaster (a managerial position).

Daniel Everitt Solberg
DSôl Productions
Chicago Illinois
Commercial Music 2003
www.danielsolberg.com

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~From a university musicology professor who majored in piano performance:

“I also learned about jazz theory to a certain extent…wasn’t even involved in the Commercial Music program, but just being around it gave me a broader background, and an appreciation of our American heritage."

“I myself was given a lot of chances I would never have been given at a large school—performances, extra attention from professors, and a feeling that I as a student was important to the university…they really take care of their students.”

“Performance opportunities are a big selling point…everyone has to get up on stage, and that is so important.”

Terry L. (Wait) Klefstad
Southwestern University
Georgetown, Texas
Piano Performance 1992

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“Creating the shows, improvising ‘dance music’ on the spot, directing musicians, and giving it a professional polish—Millikin is responsible for nurturing those skills.

“Improvising ‘by ear’ is one thing, but understanding tone properties and chord structures, is another.  The latter I learned at Millikin.

“Millikin, more often than not, treated me fairly and made attempts to do so with all minority students.”

Michael Weaver
President, Show Design, Inc.
Chicago, Illinois
Commercial Music 1986

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‘[Millikin] was a great learning experience and IT WAS FUN!!!...It was great competitive musical enrvironment, but it wasn’t a cold-spirited competition, it was a time of growing and seeing your peers grow at the same time.”

Jeffrey J. Nelson
Owner, Blue Canoe Group (Independent Song Promotion Business)
Nashville, Tennessee
Commercial Music 1990

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“I could have to believe that someone on the [piano] faculty could be the right person for [each] student…The entire faculty supported me.”

D’Arline Fabian
Independent Teacher of Piano
Charlotte, North Carolina
Piano Performance 1986

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~From the Associate Conductor of the national tour of Disney's The Lion King:

"I love the performing we got to do on Thursday recitals, also hearing others do their thing. I love the diversity of Millikin...I value all the people I accompanied in lessons and recitals--the practice of constantly sight-reading, as well as being exposed to many different genres of music was invaluable."

"As far as convincing someone to go to Millikin, I couldn't recommend it highly enough."

Flint Hawes

BA Music and Spanish, 1999