VanderCook College of Music is one of the nation’s leading institutions in the field of music education, fostering teachers with strong character, skill in teaching, and respect to the essential role of music in our culture. For nearly 100 years, VanderCook has been preparing the next generation of music educators who go on to impact the lives of children in schools here and abroad.
Kimberly Farris is the 7th President of VanderCook College of Music. She previously served as the Director of Admissions, where she led a team in recruitment and taught graduate and undergraduate courses in classroom and ensemble settings. She received her Bachelors in Music Education from Illinois State University in Normal, IL and her Masters in Music Education from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, IL. She also holds a Masters of Administrative Leadership from Concordia University in River Forest, IL.
Prior to joining VanderCook, Mrs. Farris served as the Director of Performing Arts at Roosevelt and Robert Morris Universities where she administered all facets of a comprehensive arts program including instrumental music, choir and theatre.
Mrs. Farris has 28 years of public school teaching experience. Her experience includes teaching and conducting band, jazz, and marching band students. She also taught flute methods at Northwestern University.
In addition to her leadership roles in higher education and instruction, Mrs. Farris currently serves as District 7 Chairperson and Executive Board member for the Illinois Grade School Music Association.
Mrs. Farris is the recipient of numerous National Band Association Citations of Excellence, awarded the Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator Award, and elected to the Phi Beta Mu National Band Director’s Honorary Fraternity. She is a member of the Music Educators National Conference, the Illinois Music Educators Association, and the National Band Association.
N’DIGO recently sat down with Farris to discuss the history of VanderCook College and the importance of music education. She also discussed the significance of its Inaugural Gala on April 25 and encouraged everyone to support it and purchase tickets.
N’DIGO: Tell us about the history of VanderCook College of Music.
Kimberly Farris: Hale Ascher VanderCook started the school in 1909, beginning with basic mail-order trumpet lessons. Over time, the program grew, and in 1928, VanderCook was incorporated as a college of music education.
VanderCook was a musician, composer, and cornetist. Old school conductors were also cornetists. He composed marches and brass solos. We still have those arrangements, and my students continue to play his compositions. That is how I, as a teacher, was introduced to him. He realized the community was looking for music teachers. He started as a trumpet teacher, and the demand grew. His curriculum provided music education across the board. Every student had the opportunity to learn at a high level the dynamics of becoming a music teacher and to be highly qualified in band, choir, general music, and orchestra. This is the evolution of VanderCook into a comprehensive music curriculum.
What is the significance of the Gala on April 25?
It is the start of something new. It is the beginning of our future. Everything that the college should be starts here. The Gala will represent the start of our future. This is an elevated experience to spread the word and help people realize that we are the only college in America that trains music teachers. People outside of our internal music circle need to know what we do to share and inspire the importance of music education.
Tell me what to expect at your Gala?
It will inspire people and bring joy. There will be music everywhere, showcasing a two-level experience at the ZHOU B Art Center.
Guests will explore a variety of genres from start to finish, featuring VanderCook students.
We have incredible special guest artists collaborating with professional musicians like Roderick Dixon, Ryan Nyther, Larry Brown Jr., and Zara Zaharieva. Fred Nelson III is the Musical Director.
Our guests will transition from strings to band, wind instruments, and chamber ensembles. Music will be everywhere. The theme of the gala is “Chi Chic,” and all of our artists have a connection to our city.
This gala is a celebration of what we do in Chicago. Art Norman is our host for the evening, and Mark Gonte, Bears sports reporter, is a special guest.
In today’s educational climate, why is music education more important than ever?
Music is the one thing that everyone can relate to. It is a universal part of the human spirit. Given today’s world climate, it is essential to have something that everyone understands—something to enjoy, bring happiness, and help children grow in this environment. It is important.
Tell me about your program “One City.”
This program was created for several reasons. We strongly believe in music’s positive impact on children and communities. It was launched in 2018 to give our students in the community access to music, especially children who lack music programs at their schools. We provide instruments, instruction, and materials at no cost to One City students. A key feature is that VanderCook students serve as instructors, gaining hands-on experience in a lab school setting, through live teaching, and under the mentorship of VanderCook faculty. This creates a win-win situation: we give back to the community, our students develop teaching skills, and our faculty mentor them.
The students participate in a string program, a jazz program, and a percussion program. The jazz and percussion programs target middle school students from 5th to 8th grade. The strings program is a Suzuki-based program where children can start as early as 2 years old. This is a relatively new initiative, as string instruments can be made small enough for young children. The main goal is to provide access to music education for those who do not have it through their schools.
VanderCook has a long legacy– how are you balancing tradition with innovation?
This is my main focus. Our 116-year history is valuable to our community both internally and externally in the music field as music educators. The significance of what we do and how we do it has been a longstanding tradition. We don’t want to break that; instead, we aim to expand it through innovation as we prepare for the future and integrate the two.
As President of a unique school, what is your proudest moment?
The moment I was able to step into the position of president after 30 years of being in the classroom, fueled by my passion and love, to have the ability to now ensure that the future of music education is safe and secure for the next century. I am proud and honored to be a part of doing that. It is special.
