FROM THE DESK OF THE DEAN | | |
December Quarterly Newsletter |
As the first snow of the season settles over Bloomington, I find myself reflecting on the remarkable journey we have shared at the Jacobs School of Music. This semester has been extraordinary, and my gratitude for your steadfast support grows deeper each year. Whether you once walked these halls as a student, join us for performances or milestone celebrations, partner with us on special initiatives, or enjoy our performances from afar through LIVE@jacobs, you remain an essential part of our story.
To our alumni: your achievements and passion continue to inspire our current students and faculty. The traditions you helped build, the memories you created, and the excellence you pursued are woven into the fabric of our school. Every time we gather for a performance or celebrate a new milestone, I am reminded of the legacy you have left and the vibrant community you helped shape.
I also want to take this opportunity to thank the incredible faculty and staff who inhabit the halls of the school. Whether in classrooms, studios, rehearsal halls, offices, performance spaces, or behind the scenes, their work shapes the daily life and long-term excellence of this school. They bring artistry, expertise, and care to everything they do, and the impact is felt across our community and beyond.
As always, updates from the school are below. I hope you will take pride in all that we have accomplished together and look forward to the exciting moments ahead. | | |
Twentieth Anniversary of the Naming of the Jacobs School of Music |
On November 17, 2005, a defining moment in the history of Indiana University’s School of Music ushered in a new era of possibility, pride, and artistic ambition. With the naming of the Jacobs School of Music in honor of Barbara and David H. Jacobs, the university recognized not only an extraordinary act of generosity, but also a profound commitment to the transformative power of the arts. The Jacobs family’s visionary support marked a milestone that continues to shape every corner of the school—from the opportunities available to students, to the strength of its programs, to the global reputation it enjoys today.
The naming ceremony two decades ago was a celebration of partnership and purpose, symbolizing a shared belief that music can illuminate lives, bridge communities, and inspire generations. In the years since, the enduring legacy of the Jacobs family has grown ever more vibrant, infusing the school with resources, momentum, and confidence to pursue excellence at the highest level. As we commemorate this twentieth anniversary, we honor not only a historic gift, but also the spirit of generosity, vision, and passion that continues to propel the Jacobs School of Music forward—toward new achievements, new discoveries, and an ever-brighter future for the musical arts. Enormous thanks to David Jacobs for continuing this legacy and for his decades of support. |
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A Love Letter to the Marching Hundred |
For more than a century, the IU Marching Hundred have braved every insult the Midwest sky could throw at them—rain that feels personal, snow that definitely feels personal, and winds that turn sousaphones into flying saucers. And for what? To loyally soundtrack football seasons that—let’s be honest—didn’t always sparkle with glory. But this crew, made up of more than 90% non-music majors who somehow manage to march, memorize, and play while also surviving chemistry labs and business exams, never wavered. They showed up, they played loudly, and they held the line until destiny finally caught up.
And in 2025, destiny arrived wearing cream and crimson! As the Hoosiers stormed through their shocking 12–0 season, fans pointed to new coaching, star recruits, or improved offensive schemes. But those who really know IU football understand the truth: the Marching Hundred powered the miracle. Their halftime heroics, their pregame swagger, their never-say-freeze attitude—all of it fueled the magic. After decades of standing in the cold waiting for greatness, the band didn’t just witness IU football’s perfect season—they summoned it.
So here’s to the Marching Hundred—the heartbeat of Hoosier Nation. We salute their spirit, their resilience, and their brass-powered magic . . . and we can’t wait to hear them bring the heat (and hopefully not the sleet) in the postseason.
If you would like to support the Marching Hundred during this incredible season, please consider making a gift here. Each contribution helps sustain the sound, passion, and long-standing traditions of the Marching Hundred, ensuring the band continues inspiring Hoosiers for generations to come. | | |
Jacobs’ Nutcracker on PBS |
This holiday season, the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and WTIU-TV are delighted to present a magical broadcast of Tchaikovsky’s beloved Nutcracker
ballet, airing nationwide on nearly 300 local public television stations—reaching 90% of the U.S. market! Recorded last December in the Musical Arts Center, this two-hour special brings the enchantment of Clara’s journey, the sparkle of the Sugar Plum Fairy, and the dramatic showdown with the infamous Mouse King right into your living room. Alongside the dazzling performance, viewers will enjoy exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpses into our production process, from rehearsals to interviews with the talented set designers, builders, musicians, faculty, and artistic leadership who make the magic happen.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the generous donors who made this festive celebration possible: Kathy and Gary Anderson, Jim Hodge, and the Wennerstrom Phillips Fund for Classical Music. Be sure to check your local listings—don’t miss this chance to experience the wonder and whimsy of The Nutcracker with the Jacobs School family. | | |
Five-hundredth Opera Production at IU |
This fall, the Musical Arts Center was the stage for a truly remarkable milestone—the five-hundredth production by IU Jacobs School of Music Opera Theater. On September 27, 2025, the curtain rose on Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, marking an extraordinary chapter in the school’s history.
Our journey began in 1948 with The Tales of Hoffmann, under the guidance of Dean Wilfred C. Bain, and since then, we have come so far. Across decades and hundreds of productions, thousands of student singers, instrumentalists, dancers, technical personnel, audio engineers, and more have brought opera to life in magical and sometimes mysterious ways for Bloomington audiences.
Some of my favorite moments are hearing alumni share how they first fell in love with opera at IU, whether they studied business, languages, sciences, or any other field. That passion, sparked years ago, continues to resonate today. Bravissimo to IU Jacobs Opera and Ballet Theater on this tremendous accomplishment, and heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been part of this journey. | | |
Ballet Department Community Engagement |
The music of Fred Rogers always inspires goodness and kindness in its listeners. This past fall, Ballet Department chair Sarah Wroth took that inspiration into the Bloomington community. With choreography to songs like “When Your Heart is Full of Love,” “You Are Special,” “Sometimes People Are Good,” and “It’s Such a Good Feeling,” the junior class of the Ballet Department challenged local children and families to watch classical ballet and consider how showing kindness, honoring differences, and expressing emotion using the human body can be a strengthening tool in our communities. In September, the dancers performed at each branch of the Monroe County Public Library: downtown, southwest, and Ellettesville, then brought the
program to the MCCSC school system in October, performing at University, Arlington Heights, Templeton, and Rogers elementary schools.
In each show, the audience was asked what they thought ballet was, and the movements described were then demonstrated by the dancers onstage. It was explained that ballet goes beyond movement and often involves emotional expression and storytelling. The children’s answers to questions like “How do you show kindness to someone else?” or “Why don’t you look exactly like anyone else in the room” were particularly touching for all to hear. Wroth also demonstrated the storytelling in classical ballet through choreography to the tale of Little Red Riding Hood presented to a recorded, spoken-word story then repeated later in the program to Tchaikovsky’s “Little Red Riding Hood” from Act III of The Sleeping Beauty.
Wroth noted that her students, often feeling trapped inside their instruments and their pursuits of perfection, each said how this experience made their days better and helped them see the goodness potential of their art form. Sharing our art in an accessible way is such an important part of our students’ education and offers an integral point of balance to all the other excellence-based work we do. | | |
Impact Summit for Emerging Leaders |
We are excited to announce the upcoming Impact Summit for Emerging Music Leaders
, scheduled for June 7-10, 2026, at Jacobs. This is not simply another conference—it’s a three-and-a-half-day, high-intensity leadership accelerator designed exclusively for the next generation of pioneering leaders in higher music education. Over the course of the summit, participants will engage deeply with four core pillars of twenty-first-century music leadership: building on institutional legacy, unifying stakeholders, assessing personal leadership strengths and opportunities, and converting ambition into strategic administrative success.
We hope you’ll spread the word among your networks: the summit is capped at only 25 participants and is ideal for those poised to shape the future of music institutions—whether as deans, program directors, department chairs, or forward-thinking administrators. For many, this could be the next step in a long career of influence and mentorship rooted in Jacobs tradition. Registration opened December 1, with an early-bird rate available through March 1. We look forward to welcoming a new wave of leaders—perhaps even you. | | |
GenAI at Jacobs |
While many in the arts are deeply concerned about the potentially negative impact of AI on their creative work, it is now part of the ecosystem in which all of us are living and in which our students will build their careers. By ensuring students are trained in AI, we ensure they can integrate it into their workflow, make informed creative choices, advocate for their rights, and recognize when AI is being misused and how to respond.
Indiana University is a leader in training students, faculty, and staff on how to use and leverage generative AI. Since launching a GenAI 101 course in August, more than 40,000 within the IU community have taken it. Now, the course is available to all IU alumni completely free of charge. I completed it in September and am grateful to have a better understanding of how to use the tool for my daily work.
Additionally, the Jacobs School of Music has launched its inaugural AI Grant Program to support innovative projects that explore the role of artificial intelligence in teaching, learning, performance, research, and creative work. With $20,000 available, the program will fund faculty and student proposals that thoughtfully investigate the benefits, challenges, and ethical considerations of AI in the arts. By encouraging the development of responsible, imaginative applications of emerging technologies, we affirm our commitment to understanding how AI is reshaping music, dance, and academic practice and to leading informed conversations within the university and beyond.
The 2026 AlgoRhythms Summit on Music & AI will take place Thursday through Saturday, March 26-28. This year’s project will focus on exploring how emerging technologies are reshaping the work of music artists, researchers, and educators. While remaining mindful of the challenges and ethical concerns surrounding AI, the summit will highlight how current and future technologies can enhance creative practice. Our goal is to provide participants with a uniquely comprehensive view of the rapidly evolving landscape of music and AI, bridging industry innovation, academic research, and creative practice.
AlgoRhythms will partner with participants from across the Jacobs School of Music, Maurer School of Law, the Media School, IU Innovates, the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, the Kelley School of Business, and the Arts & Humanities Council as well as the Department of Music Technology at IU Indianapolis. The summit will also continue its partnership with the City of Bloomington, through The Dimension Mill, and maintain and expand its strong ties with the music industry.
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Abra K. Bush |
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David Henry Jacobs Bicentennial Dean |
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Indiana University
107 S. Indiana Ave
Bloomington, IN 47405
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