Student Featured Events

September 20-21, 2026

The Millikin Vocal Festival is an event designed to inject excitement into your students early in the school year with a Festival Choir experience. Join us for two days of singing, concerts from Millikin choirs, and fun!

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About our Festival

Festival Choir

This choir takes more than 200 students from zero to performance in just over 28 hours. Through top tier teaching, support from our Millikin students, and pure musical excitement, the students are brought to a musical mountain top. Students return home ready to take on the new school year!

Vocal Coaching

Students can select to sign up for 10-minute 1-on-1 vocal coaching with our distinguished voice faculty.

Solo Competition

This solo competition grows out of the vocal coaching sessions. A cash awards will be given to the top 3 singers who also have the honor of performing that evening on the Festival Finale Concert! 

Directors Events

Directors will be provided with opportunities to reconnect with colleagues, and earn professional development credit by attending sessions from our distinguished faculty, rehearsal observation, and singing in the Director’s Chorus.

2026 Millikin Summer Piano Camp: June 27 - July 2

Millikin University’s School of Music is pleased to offer its Summer Piano Camp for students ages 12 and up (including adult students). Over the course of six days, intermediate to advanced students will have the opportunity to refine their skills at our all-Steinway school under the guidance of Dr. Chung-Ha Kim, Dr. Jun Hong 'Ivan' Jiang, Dr. Pei-I Wang and Dr. Chee Hyeon Choi. Activities include masterclasses, private lessons, pedagogical presentations, collaborative piano, faculty and student recitals, and competition opportunities. This camp will conclude with a formal student gala recital in Kaeuper Hall, which will be open to the public. Additionally, participants will have a chance to enter the Millikin Piano Camp Competition and compete for awards and $4,000 Millikin Music Scholarship. The competition includes junior, senior, piano ensemble, and concerto categories. There will be lots of individual one-on-one instruction as well as collaborative opportunities. This year's focus will be on patriotic music. 

Registration deadline: Residents- May 22, Commuter- June 5 

Cost: Residents- $650, Commuter- $425, Adult Day Pass $75 per day 

(MCAA reserves the right to cancel any camps due to low enrollment)

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

~Piano Camp Slideshows~

2017  2018  2022  2023

Instructors

Dr. Chung-Ha Kim

Chung-Ha Kim grew up in Germany and moved to the US in 1995 to pursue a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at the Manhattan School of Music in New York. She subsequently earned a Master of Music and a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. Read full bio...

Dr. Jun Hong 'Ivan' Jiang

Ivan (Junhong) Jiang has appeared as concerto soloist on prominent venues such as Boston’s Paramount Theater and the Foellinger Great Hall at Krannert Center. Jiang is a frequent prizewinner in competitions, such as the University of Illinois Concerto Competition, Artist Presentation Society Competition, Luminarts Classical Piano Fellowship, the Masters of Piano Concerto Competition from Great Composers Competition Series, and the MAP International Online Music Competition. Read full bio...

Dr. Chee Hyeon Choi

Chee Hyeon Choi is an Assistant Professor of Piano Pedagogy at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She is an active recitalist, clinician, and educator, having frequently presented and performed at international and national conferences and venues. Dr. Choi has previously taught at Bradley University, Millikin University, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she earned her master's and doctoral degrees. She also served on the faculty of the Illinois Summer Youth Music piano camps and currently directs the University of Louisiana Piano Institute.

Dr. Pei-I Wang

Dr. Pei-I Wang is Coordinator of Keyboard Studies at Millikin University in Illinois, USA. Recognized for her versatile and expressive performances, Wang has presented concerts across Asia, Europe, and the United States. She performed as a featured soloist with the Illinois Symphony Chamber Orchestra, Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra, Sangamon Valley Civic Orchestra, Taiwan National Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Illinois Symphony Orchestra. Her recent performance of S. Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2 captivated the audience and was enthusiastically reviewed as “spectacular and mesmerizing.” She received awards in various competitions, such as the Liszt-Garrison International Piano Competition, the Mauro Paolo Monopoli Prize Asian Auditions, the Vivaldi International Music Competition, the UIUC Concerto Competition, the 21st-Century Piano Commission Competition with composer John Ritz, among others. Her performances have been broadcast by China Television, WILL FM, WLDS/WEA1 Radio, and Texas Public Radio. Additionally, she was named a Gilmore International Keyboard Festival Fellow and received scholarships for outstanding young musicians from leading music corporations, including Yamaha and Kawai. Read full bio...

Flute Day 2026

Cost: $10 (includes an exclusive Flute Day T-shirt) 

Hosted by Professor Amanda Pond, Adjunct Instructor of Flute at Millikin University and Principal Flute of the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra, Flute Day is a celebration of all things flute for intermediate to advanced flutists of all ages. Participants will have the opportunity to work on different aspects of flute playing in small and large group settings, visit with flute specialty shop Wind City Flutes, and hear performances by student and faculty ensembles. 

Participants can receive tickets to attend the evening’s 7:30 PM Millikin Symphonic Wind Ensemble concert in the Kirkland Fine Arts Center. 

Click Here To Register

Questions? Email Professor Amanda Pond at apond@millikin.edu and/or Dr. David Cook, Chair of Instrumental Performance Studies, at dcook@millikin.edu.

Attend a University Choir Concert in Your Area! 
 

Alumni, parents, friends and prospective students: Join us in January for one or more concerts by the Millikin University Choir! No charge to attend and no RSVPs necessary; Millikin staff will be there to greet you!

• Thursday, January 8 7:30 pm 
  Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception 
  524 E Lawrence Ave, Springfield, IL 62703
• Friday, January 9 7:00 pm
  St. Vincent de Paul 
  1010 W Webster Ave, Chicago, IL 60614 
  (Performance with Francis W. Parker School & Evergreen Park Community High School)
• Saturday, January 10 7:00 pm 
  Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church 
  195 S Kankakee St, Coal City, IL 60416 
  (Performance with Coal City High School)
• Monday, January 12 7:00 pm 
  Webster Hills United Methodist Church 
  698 W. Lockwood Ave, Webster Groves, MO 63119 
  (Performance with Webster Groves HS & Maplewood Richmond HS)
• Tuesday, January 13 7:00 pm 
  Westminster Presbyterian Church 
  3900 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37205 
  (Performance with Wilson Central High School & TBD)
• Thursday, January 15 5:30 pm 
  St. Brigid Catholic Church 
  1520 Hepburn Ave, Louisville, KY 40204
• Sunday, January 18 2:00 pm 
  St. Patrick Church 
  407 E. Eldorado St, Decatur, IL 62523
• Thursday, January 31 7:30 pm 
  Illinois Music Educators Convention Performance

Millikin Guitar Day provides a full day of enriching guitar-related activities for high school guitarists. The event will include masterclasses and workshops on guitar performance, technique, and ensemble, and an evening concert given by Millikin's world-class faculty. There will be additional opportunities to explore Millikin's state-of-the-art recording facility Millitrax, take a tour of Millikin, meet with admissions representatives, and attend and participate in classes that Millikin guitarists are involved in. The event is led by Dr. Mark Tonelli, coordinator of guitar studies, Prof. Michael Hull, director of the classical guitar ensemble, and students from Millikin's esteemed guitar studio. We hope you will join us for this fantastic event!

Click Here To Register

February 17, 2026
Registration: $10 if received by 2/15; $15 at event

Lunch and dinner will be provided.
Please make out checks to Millikin University and mail to:
Mark Tonelli
Coordinator of Guitar Studies
School of Music
Millikin University
1184 W. Main St.
Decatur, IL 62522

Contacts:
Mark Tonelli - mtonelli@millikin.edu 
Brian Justison - bjustison@millikin.edu 
Christina Jones - chrjones@millikin.edu

Millikin Composition/Piano Festival 2026

2026 Millikin Composition/Piano Festival is a two-day immersive experience for intermediate and advanced composers and pianists of all ages. This event is free and open to the public. While we strongly encourage participants to attend in person on campus, virtual participation is available for students residing at a distance. 

We are thrilled to feature guest artist Dr. Matt Mason, Assistant Professor at Roosevelt University. A distinguished composer, pianist, and educator, Dr. Mason was featured as the commissioned composer for the 2024 ISMTA Conference. His composition, The Pianist's Guide to Illinois, premiered at the conference to rave reviews. This year’s event spotlights the dual role of the composer-pianist. Dr. Mason brings a brilliant spark to this unique event, offering insights and compositional techniques into the performance practice of works by contemporary and living composers. The Opening Artist & Faculty Recital will take place on Friday, Feb 13 at 6:00 PM in Kaeuper Hall.

Students participating in the masterclasses are encouraged to perform works by living or pedagogical composers, though standard repertoire is also welcome. Many contemporary curricula—including the National Federation of Music Clubs, Achievement In Music (AIM), and RCM programs—now either emphasize or incorporate pieces by living composers. This event offers a rare opportunity for participants to work directly with a composer-pianist, gaining a fresh interpretive lens on these contemporary works. 

Our distinguished festival faculty includes Millikin's Keyboard Coordinator Dr. Pei-I Wang, Adjunct Instructor of Composition Dr. Ralph Lewis, and Millikin alumnus and celebrated jazz pianist Dr. Leon Lewis-Nicol ('20). In the Saturday afternoon, faculty will offer mini-lessons in composition, classical piano, and jazz piano. The festival will conclude with a Gala Concert on Feb 14 featuring the festival participants in Kaeuper Hall at 4:00 PM. 

All events take place in the Millikin University Perkinson Music Center (1184 W. Main Street, Decatur, IL 62522) or virtually via ZOOM. Millikin University is an All-Steinway school. Questions? Please contact event host Dr. Pei-I Wang (pwang@millikin.edu) or Dr. Ralph Lewis (rallewis@millikin.edu). 

Click Here to Register

Join Millikin University faculty on Saturday, Feb. 7, for a day exploring all things percussion! 

Junior high and high school students will get hands-on instruction during clinics led by Millikin’s Percussion Faculty, before performing with the University’s Percussion Ensembles. Attendees will also take in a concert by the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra featuring a solo performance by one of Millikin’s student percussionists! 

Click Here To Register

Learn more & register at: millikin.edu/Featured-Events

February 7     1 PM–5 PM

Clarinet Day is a comprehensive, one-day festival for intermediate to advanced clarinetists of all ages. Participants will perform in clarinet choir alongside Millikin University students, engage in clarinet masterclasses, and work on clarinet fundamentals for performance. 

Participants can also receive tickets to attend the 7:30 PM Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra concert in the Kirkland Fine Arts Center. 

Hosted by Dr. David Cook, associate professor of clarinet and principal clarinet of the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra.

Click here to register

Cost: $10 if registered before Jan. 29

$15 if registered after Jan. 29th registration

No refunds

Send registration payment (check payable to Millikin University) by mail to:

Dr. David Cook
School of Music
Millikin University
1184 W Main St
Decatur, IL 62522

This program is partially supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Illinois Arts Council Agency, and the Decatur Area Arts Council.

Lake Effect Clarinet Quartet’s appearance is partially supported by Vandoren USA and The Music Shoppe, Inc.

Brass Bonanza 2026

Saturday, January 24

1–5 PM

Cost: $10

Hosted by the Millikin University Brass Faculty and Dr. Neal Smith, Director of Bands, Brass Bonanza is a celebration of all things brass playing. This event is for trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium and tuba players of all ages. Participants will have the opportunity to work on different aspects of brass playing in small and large group settings, as well as hear faculty performances. All participants will perform in a combined brass choir at the Closing Concert in Kaeuper Hall (free and open to the public). 

Click here to register

We ask that all participants register by Friday, January 16. Send registration payment via mail to: 

Dr. David Cook  
School of Music  
Millikin University  
1184 W. Main St.  
Decatur, IL 62522 

Checks should be made payable to Millikin University; indicate Brass Bonanza in the subject line. No refunds.

Questions? Email Professor Logan Clark, Brass Area Coordinator, at ltclark@millikin.edu, Dr. Neal Smith, Director of Bands, at nsmith@millikin.edu and/or Dr. David Cook, Chair of Instrumental Performance Studies, at dcook@millikin.edu. 

First awarded in 2003, the Hollis Prize represents the highest form of recognition bestowed upon a vocal or instrumental performer at Millikin University. The Hollis prize is unique among undergraduate music competitions in light of its recital performance format and rigorous audition process.

Students compete in a semi-final round for the chance to compete before a live audience in the final round event. The winner of the final round receives a monetary award of $3000 and an opportunity to perform a solo recital at the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin; runners up receive a cash awards of $750 & $500.

The annual competition is made possible by Dr. C. Kimm Hollis, a 1972 Millikin graduate and retired department chair, Professor of Music, and Artist in Residence Emeritus at Hanover College in Hanover, IN.

2026 Winner: Morgan Reckamp - Soprano Vocalist

Click here to read the article

Complete List Of Winners

All-State Band & Orchestra Workshop

Sunday, September 21, 2025 1:00–4:30 PM

Free admission

Registration deadline: Monday, September 15

A workshop for high school woodwind, brass and percussion musicians preparing for the ILMEA All-State auditions. Participants will work with Millikin University faculty and students to fine tune their audition materials and receive insights on how to play the best audition possible.

Click here to register

For more information, email Dr. David Cook, Chair of Instrumental Performance Studies at  dcook@millikin.edu and/or Dr. Neal Smith, Director of Bands at nsmith@millikin.edu

Millikin University School of Music 

Double Reed Chamber Fest 2024

Saturday, November 9 1–5 PM 

Cost: $10 (includes an exclusive Double Reed Chamber Fest T-shirt) 

Hosted by Professor Evan Tammen, Adjunct Instructor of Oboe at Millikin University and Principal Oboe of the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra, and Professor Claire Taylor, Adjunct Instructor of Bassoon at Millikin University and Principal Bassoon of the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra, Double Reed Chamber Fest is a unique opportunity for oboists and bassoonists to get back in shape for concert band season and celebrate life as a double reed player! Participants will have the opportunity to work on different aspects of double reed playing in small and large group settings, as well as hear performances by student and faculty ensembles.

The Closing Concert at 4 PM in Kaeuper Hall (Perkinson Music Center) is free and open to the public.

Participants can attend the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra concert "American Soundscapes” at 7:30 PM in the Kirkland Fine Arts Center, featuring Professor Claire Taylor as soloist on John Williams’ bassoon concerto The Five Sacred Trees.

Click here to register

To guarantee T-shirt, please register by Friday, November 1. Send registration payment via mail to:

Dr. David Cook
School of Music
Millikin University
1184 W. Main St.
Decatur, IL 62522

Checks should be made payable to Millikin University; indicate Double Reed Chamber Fest in the subject line. No refunds.

Questions? Email Professor Evan Tammen at etammen@millikin.edu, Professor Claire Taylor at cetaylor@millikin.edu and/or Dr. David Cook, Chair of Instrumental Performance Studies, at dcook@millikin.edu.

Millikin’s most beloved event returns signaling the beginning of the holiday season with a sumptuous evening of carols, choirs and candlelight. Over 200 musicians join for this joyous musical feast.  Songs from past centuries combined with familiar carols and arrangements create an evening of seasonal warmth for the whole family.

Saturday, December 7th
KFAC
2:00 & 7:30pm 

Sunday, December 8th
KFAC
2:00pm     

Tickets: $16/14/12 

Available at KFAC Ticket Office (424-6318) or online