Liam Teague, Northern Illinois University Professor of Music and Chair of Steelpan Studies has been awarded the title of Presidential Research, Scholarship and Artistry Professor. The award was created in 1982 to recognize faculty excellence in teaching, research, scholarship, artistry and engagement at NIU. Recipients of the award are selected on the basis of significant and sustained scholarly or creative work, including the achievement of national or international reputation in their individual fields.
Hailed by many as the “Paganini of the Steelpan,” Teague is popular around the world for his unique music style and virtuoso playing of the instrument. A native of Trinidad and Tobago, Teague came to NIU as an undergraduate to join the university’s Steelpan Studies program and to play in the NIU Steelband, the longest-running steelband at any college or university in the United States, founded by Al O’Connor and Cliff Alexis.
Under their mentoring, Teague blossomed from student into professor and would go on to direct the steelpan program, the only program in the country to offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in steelpan performance. In an interview with the NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts blog, Teague explained how his career brought him to this moment.
“Originally, I didn’t want to teach,” Teague said. “I wanted to focus on being a performer and a composer, but Al O’Connor saw something in me and he groomed me to take over when he retired. Once I started teaching it opened new doorways to me and a respect for the teaching profession.”
Teague is the third faculty member from the School of Music to win this award, joining Jan Bach (1982) and Stephen Duke (1999).
