The Federated Music Teachers Association of the Quad-Cities recently held its 37th Annual Classical Piano Competition, with submissions turned in by video and instead of judged in person. The Federated Music Teachers Association (FMTA) – part of the 122-year-old National Federation of Music Clubs — is a group of local music teachers that runs a Classical Festival one year, alternating with a Baroque Festival the following year. In the Classical Piano Festival, entrants needed to perform one sonata or sonatina from the Classical period (1750-1820) and depending on their level, a second piece... Read More

Western Illinois University will begin offering its major in Public Health at its Quad Cities campus, beginning in Spring 2021. Courses will be offered virtually via livestream and online formats. According to Lorette Oden, chair of WIU’s Department of Health Sciences and Social Work, the degree will offer students the opportunity to improve and impact the health of individuals and communities. “Students in our program may focus on one of three emphasis areas, along with a minor of their choice,” said Oden. “The emphasis areas include Community Health Education, Environmental... Read More

It’s Sunday, and QuadCities.com proudly presents FUN10, a list of the top 10 things to do in the Quad Cities this week, and every week! Every Sunday, we drop a new FUN10, to give you a head start on your week and a heads up on what’s going on over the coming seven days. Check out FUN10 every Sunday for the details on ten awesome events happening around town. It’s a cool read, and a great way to get started planning your entertainment for the week. FUN10 — ten ways for you to have fun in the Quad-Cities, this week and every week, running every Sunday, only on your site for fun, free, local... Read More

A fundraising initiative for Western Illinois University’s Atlantis program, through the College of Business and Technology, is underway and will end Jan. 31. The goal is to raise at least $5,000 for scholarships to cover tuition and other related expenses for students entering the program. Founded in 2007, Atlantis is a Transatlantic Dual-Degree Program that fosters academic excellence and provides qualified students an opportunity to obtain a transatlantic dual degree and undergraduate or graduate degree in the same time it typically takes to earn one degree. Students spend their junior... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Giving Tuesday is a worldwide fundraising movement held the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, and Western Illinois University has taken part since 2014. The 2020 event, which was held Dec. 1, is the most successful in WIU’s six-year Giving Tuesday history, raising over $35,000, and a matching gift challenge of $5,000 for the WIU Student Emergency Fund set by WIU alumna Jody McCamey, in memory of her late husband Bill, a 30-year WIU law enforcement and justice administration professor, was also met during the 24-hour giving event. This year’s goal was to raise at... Read More

This has undoubtedly been a bear of a year. No joke, 2020 has been brutal. And it’s still hanging in there being surly. BUT… there IS good news in the Quad-Cities! And every month, we at QuadCities.com, in partnership with our friends at KWQC-TV6 and “Paula Sands Live,” present you with What’s The Good News? a column on some of the positive things happening in and around the area. So, what’s the good news for December? Glad you asked… Local Author Jason Platt Honored For Young Adult Series Jason Platt, an author/illustrator from Davenport, has once again... Read More

In a crazy year when most theaters and choirs have canceled performances, the Nova Singers have found a way to come together in person, to bring some much-needed peace, love and joy into our lives on Saturday. Under the direction of their fearless, passionate founder, Dr. Laura Lane, the 20-member vocal ensemble will present its first livestream event on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m. On Facebook Live, “Peace, Love, Joy!” will feature solos, small group performances, and songs by the whole ensemble, with commentary by artistic director Laura Lane, director of choral activities at Knox College,... Read More

The Quad Cities River Bandits will move up a level of play and become a Kansas City Royals affiliate, whenever the team ends up playing again after covid-19 mitigations. Major League Baseball announced today that the Quad Cities River Bandits and eleven other Midwest League teams will be moving up one level of play, as the team and the league have been promoted from Single-A to Advanced-A baseball. That puts Quad Cities players just below Double-A and one step closer to the major leagues. The River Bandits also announced today the team has been invited to become the Advanced-A affiliate of the... Read More

For the most pawsitively terrific holiday gift, head over to the Western Illinois University Bookstore (in person or online!) and pick up the 2021 Western Illinois University Col. Rock IV (aka Ray) calendar. The 2021 calendar, designed by University Relations Graphic Designer Mark Austin, features photos — taken by WIU Visual Production Center photographers and by Rocky’s “people” Joe and Ketra Roselieb — of Western’s much-loved mascot Ray, along with a few photos of retired mascot Rocky, along with important WIU dates, such as Founders’ Day, Homecoming... Read More

Each year, the Western Illinois University Foundation reaches out to the WIU Department of Art to select a student to design the Foundation’s holiday greeting card. The opportunity not only gives a student the chance to showcase their skills, while building their portfolio, it provides to Western’s alumni and friends a glimpse of the talented students attending WIU. Senior graphic design (studio art) major Aeliana Campbell of Wiggins, MS, was selected by her instructors to paint a winter-themed picture for the annual WIU Foundation holiday card. The finished product is an original lithograph... Read More