NCC: Ann McKinley papers

Ann McKinley received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music at the University of Michigan. She later earned her Ph.D. in musicology from the same university. McKinley began teaching at North Central College in 1968 as a music theory professor and taught within the music department for 26 years. During this time, she developed a close bond with one of her students, Stephen Sturk, who achieved success as a conductor, composer, and singer. Sturk graduated from North Central in 1972. He majored in Latin and Greek and envisioned a career in journalism. As a student he was editor of North Central’s student newspaper The Chronicle. Sturk also took music classes during his time at North Central. During an interview with the alumni magazine in 1992 he noted “My composition career began in Ann McKinley’s classroom.” Sturk was the 2008 recipient of North Central College’s Fine Arts Medal, and most notably sang on the soundtrack of Walt Disney’s 1991 animated film Beauty and the Beast. McKinley was given the title “professor emerita” prior to her death on January 21, 2013. Sources: The Chronicle, The North Central College Alumni News