The Division of Student Affairs at Notre Dame sent an email Wednesday morning informing the student body that Olusegun “Segun” Olubunmi Soyemi, a second-year graduate student, had died over Christmas break. In the email, University President Fr. Bob Dowd, Provost John McGreevy and vice president for student affairs Fr. Gerry Olinger shared that Soyemi was in the master of sacred music program studying voice. He was from Lagos, Nigeria.
Soyemi was buried on the Notre Dame campus at Cedar Grove Cemetery in December 2025.
The email clarified that members of the sacred music program were notified of Soyemi’s death in December, but administrators shared the information this week with the entire campus in order to offer support for community members who had returned for the spring semester.
The master of sacred music is a two-year degree requiring 48 credit hours, with a curriculum focused on applied music, sacred music history and analysis and liturgical studies. Students enter the program through one of three studios: choral conducting, organ or voice.
According to the University website, “The MSM program equips students for professional careers in church music – where employment opportunities are plentiful – while also providing them with the foundations to pursue doctoral studies or other professional career paths, including music education, music ministry and concert performance.”
The email included available support resources and plans to gather in remembrance.
Campus Ministry is available to offer pastoral support to any members of the University community affected by Soyemi’s death. The University Counseling Center also offers confidential counseling services to all degree-seeking students currently enrolled at Notre Dame, as well as international non-degree-seeking students.
The University will celebrate a Mass of remembrance in Soyemi’s honor on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 5:15 p.m. in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Dowd will preside over the Mass, and Fr. Pete McCormick, assistant vice president for Campus Ministry, will deliver the homily.
In the email, University administrators encouraged members of the community to support one another and to keep Soyemi and his loved ones in their prayers during this time of loss.
