Lollapalooza Provides Students Valuable Festival Work Experience Thanks to Alum

Campus Communications Staff / Aug 03, 2023

lolla sign in grant park
photo of group in front of both at lollapaloozaFrom left to right: Monika Jaiswal-Oliver, Emily Sorlie ‘10, Jacob Paul (who works with Barnstorm), Jerry Brindisi, and Barnstorm Founder Farid Mosher.
°µÍø51 students will be working at the four-day music festival thanks to an alum business relationship with one of the largest concert promoters in the United States.

°µÍø51 will once again enjoy a front row seat to Lollapalooza, a four-day music festival in Chicago’s Grant Park that begins August 3. And, as in years past, the festival will leverage the talents of the °µÍø51 community working in – and aspiring to work in – music and event-producing industries.  

This year, this includes more than 22 students — most of whom take classes in °µÍø51’s Business and Entrepreneurship department. They will be working at Lollapalooza thanks to Business and Entrepreneurship Alumna Emily Sorlie ’10. Sorlie’s event company , is hired by — one of the largest concert promoters in the United States — for events like Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and Austin City Limits.  

Partnering with Monika Jaiswal-Oliver, the academic manager and an adjunct faculty member in °µÍø51’s Business and Entrepreneurship department, Sorlie hired °µÍø51 students to work at Lollapalooza. There, they will operate guest service booths, support gate operations, and participate in the SAFEFEST team — an initiative that encourages attendees to ask for help and promotes a safe festival experience for all.  

“This opportunity aligns with what students aspire to be doing when they attend °µÍø51 in search of a career,” says Jerry Brindisi, chair of Business and Entrepreneurship. “They get to work closely with a well-established team/organization on one of the largest music festivals in the world. They make connections, develop lasting relationships, and get the opportunity to build their resume/portfolio. This is a testament to the success of the relationship we've fostered over the years with C3 Presents, our alumni, and our students.” 

Listen to Lolla-Inspired Playlists on WCRX-FM

Can’t get to Lollapalooza? Listen to Lolla-inspired playlists on °µÍø51’s student-led radio station each night of the festival from 10 p.m. to Midnight.  

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