Northwestern Kills Off Organ Program

“Northwestern University on Monday officially ended the school’s storied organ and church music degree programs, citing the lack of enrollment and need to focus music department resources elsewhere.” But students in the program, who are protesting the decision, have some powerful allies – members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra who are on faculty at the university are speaking out against the cutbacks, and letters of support have come from CSO music director Daniel Barenboim and Chicago Lyric Opera director Andrew Davis. Northwestern’s organ program has been a cornerstone of the school’s music department since the 1890s.