Suzuki School Junior Orchestra Director to Celebrate 20 Years at UNI (Blog)

Tom Schilke, director of the Northern Iowa Junior Orchestra (NIJO), will celebrate 20 years at the University of Northern Iowa at NIJO's annual spring concert at 6 p.m., Sunday, April 21, in Davis Hall, Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center.

Schilke is the former orchestra director for Hoover Middle School and current member of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony. He has served as director of the NIJO since 1993.

"NIJO is a regional treasure and Mr. Schilke makes it happen. He knows exactly what he can expect of his students and how it can be achieved," said Ute Brandenburg, director of the UNI Suzuki School. "The group always sounds fantastic. More importantly, the respect these young people show for each other and their ability to work as a team is phenomenal."

The NIJO was founded in the fall of 1990 by Michael Fanelli. NIJO, sponsored by the UNI Suzuki School, aims to challenge, educate and stimulate advanced students of music in Northeast Iowa. Current members include junior high students from schools in the Independence, Dysart, Waverly, Waterloo, Cedar Falls and New Hartford communities.

The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Cathy Craig, coordinator of the Suzuki School, at 319-273-2508 or cathy.craig@uni.edu.