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The student news site of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois.

The Daily Eastern News

The student news site of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois.

The Daily Eastern News

A lone student practices in the abnormally empty Dvorak Concert Hall at the Doudna Fine Arts Center. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, performances like "Composers's Forum," "Missoula Children's Theatre," "Spring Bloom" by the Eastern Symphony Orchestra, and a combination concert of Eastern's jazz, orchestra, concert band, and symophnic band were canceled.

What’s hitting the Doudna stages this semester

Gunnar Olson, Reporter January 16, 2024

A 15-time Grammy nominee and a world traveling Celtic rock group are just the tip of the iceberg for the upcoming performances coming to the Doudna Fine Arts Center at Eastern this semester. There...

The percussionist part of the Panther Marching Band perform two different pieces, the first from Cuba, and the second from Brazil, at the Dia De Los Muertos Gala.

Percussionists dream to teach music to next generation

Kyara Morales-Rodriguez, Campus Reporter November 9, 2022

Percussion instruments come in many different shapes and sizes, creating very different sounds. From the booming sound of a bass drum to the tinkling sound of a triangle, there is a lot of diversity in...

The Jazz Showcase performs in the Theatre Thursday night.

Jazz Showcase shows off Eastern’s jazz department

Kay Reno, Campus Reporter September 22, 2022

On Thursday night, Eastern’s music department held its 2022 Jazz Showcase showing the department’s four different jazz groups. The jazz groups included were the EIU Jazz Lab Band, Birdland Sexlet,...

August Frisby, a music performance major and alto saxophone player, performs a solo during the Jazz Ensemble performance on Tuesday night in Doudna Fine Arts Center.

Eastern Jazz Ensemble performs final, ‘best’ performance

Ryan Meyer, Multimedia Reporter April 26, 2022

The members of Eastern’s Jazz Ensemble took the stage for the final time this school year, performing 10 songs to the theatre audience.   Two of the songs the 16-musician band performed toward the...

Xander Wilson, a freshman history major, plays the baritone saxophone at the jazz concert alongside Chuck Israels in the Dvorak Concert Tuesday night

‘Jazz icon’ Chuck Israels visits Eastern Tuesday

Ryan Meyer, Multimedia Reporter March 22, 2022

Dubbed a “jazz icon” by Eastern jazz professor Paul Johnston, Chuck Israels took the stage with students and faculty on Tuesday night to perform sets of his own arrangements.   The evening...

Bob Sheppard, an American saxophonist, solos at the  62nd Annual Jazz Festival in the Dvorak Concert Hall in The Doudna Fine Arts Center on Saturday. Sheppard played alongside EIU students and faculty during the performance.

Eastern’s 62nd Annual Jazz Festival hosted postponed concert Saturday

Ryan Meyer, Multimedia Reporter February 5, 2022

Saxophonist Bob Sheppard traveled through delayed flights and a postponement to perform at the 62nd Annual Jazz Festival on Saturday.   Sheppard performed sets at the 1 p.m. concert in the Dvorak...

Angela Gausmann, a junior vocal performance major, and Makayla McPhedran, (right) a senior music major, talk with Mrs. Claus during the Holiday Winter Fest in Doudna Fine Arts Center Thursday night.

Holiday Winter Fest at Doudna

Ryan Meyer, Multimedia Reporter December 2, 2021

The Doudna Fine Arts Center’s Holiday Fest began Thursday evening with the Holiday Art Sale and a performance by Eastern’s jazz ensemble. The art sale was the first since 2019, after COVID-19 prevented...

Kirsten Hetzel, a sophomore music education major, plays the saxophone in honor of National Saxophone Day. Hetzel has been playing saxophone for nine years Hetzel said she plays because of the self improvement quallities. “I fell in love with playing it for myself and now I really enjoy playing it and challenging myself with new areas of the instrument.”

Saxophonists talk playing, learning about saxophones

Kyara Morales-Rodriguez, Associate News Editor November 7, 2021

The saxophone: A single-reed woodwind instrument known for its raspy tones and buzzy texture. An instrument popularized by jazz bands and musicians in the 1920s. An instrument that is known for allowing...

‘Blacktet’ group to perform at Doudna

Ryan Meyer, Staff Reporter February 6, 2020

Internationally renowned musician Marquis Hill is bringing his group, the Blacktet, to the Doudna Fine Arts Center this weekend to perform with the EIU Jazz Ensemble and to offer guidance to aspiring jazz...

EIU Jazz Ensemble releases new album

Staff Report April 18, 2019

The EIU Jazz Ensemble released an album and named it after Charleston’s zip code—“61920.” Samuel Fagaly, director of Eastern’s Jazz Studies program, said the album began production in the spring...

60th annual Jazz Festival hosts clinics for students, competitions

Austen Brown, Staff Reporter February 10, 2019

The Jazz Festival was hosted at the Doudna Fine Arts Center over the weekend, bringing in students from high schools and middle schools in Illinois and Indiana eager to showcase their musical talents and...

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