Illinois Valley Community College music and theatre instructor Norman Engstrom will be featured in the free 15th annual faculty concert at 7:30 pm Friday, April 29 in the Cultural Centre. It will be Engstrom’s finale as he retires from IVCC effective June 16. Former IVCC student Mary Cornwall will be the accompanist.

Engstrom has been educating students and entertaining audiences throughout the Illinois Valley for the past 15 years. Before coming to the Illinois Valley, Engstrom spent 25 years performing professionally in and around Chicago at such theatres as Marriott’s Lincolnshire Theatre, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Light Opera Works, Cincinnati Opera and Wisdom Bridge Theatre. He studied mime in England and toured Asia with the USO. This concert marks Norm’s 50th year of performing on the stage.

“Over the years, Norm has become so interwoven into the entertainment events and classroom offerings here at IVCC that he has become an IVCC tradition. We will miss him and wish him all the best in what I’m sure will be a busy retirement,” said Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts Dr. Brian Holloway.