Pictured: Daniel Selzle, Jennifer Murphy, Anna McClellan, and Jeffmin Lin, celebrating together after all of their recitals were completed.

Jeffmin Lin, Anna McClellan, Jennifer Murphy, and Daniel Selzle, performed solo piano recitals celebrating their high school graduations as well as, on average, ten years of piano study.  Congratulations and best wishes to these outstanding students!

Congratulations to senior Daniel Selzle, who presented a solo piano and organ recital at St. Cecilia Institute featuring works by Beethoven, Buxtehude, Brahms, Vierne, and Bach.

Pictured: Daniel relaxing after his recital with his piano teacher, Anne Madison (Omaha Conservatory of Music), and his organ teacher, Dr. Marie Rubis Bauer (St. Cecilia Institute)  

Pictured: Pianist Sam Boocker, at the pianoCongratulations to Omaha Conservatory of Music pianist Sam Boocker, a student of Yulia Kalashnikova, who won first place and to Jeffmin Lin, a student of Anne Madison, who received honorable mention (3rd place) in the Nebraska Music Teachers Association Senior Piano Competition!

About 400 guests enjoyed a night out at Joslyn Art Museum at Omaha Conservatory of Music’s annual benefit, the Big Gig.  This year’s theme, “See the Music,” came alive as guests enjoyed hors devours and more than 100 student performances throughout Joslyn’s art galleries.  A trombone fanfare ushered enthusiastic listeners into Witherspoon Concert hall, where they were treated to a performance of composer Emily Meyer’s new work “Joslyn: Inside and Out,” performed by an orchestra of Omaha Conservatory of Music students, friends of Omaha Conservatory, and artist faculty under the baton of Maestro David Barg.  Images of six works from Joslyn’s permanent collection shined above the stage as the music they inspired filled the hall.  After being greeted by Big Gig hosts Terry and Jackie Kroeger and Paul and Annette Smith, delighted dinner guests enjoyed a gourmet meal around the Storz Fountain, serenaded by the smooth sounds of the Frontier String Ensemble.  It was a beautiful night!

Congratulations to pianist Elizabeth Matthews, who was named alternate (2nd place) at the state level of the Music Teachers National Association Junior Piano Competition!

Artist faculty pianist Anne Madison presented “Breathing Life Into the Notes” at the Nebraska Music Teachers Association State Conference in Hastings, Nebraska.

Pictured:  Pianist Anne Madison, presenting “Breathing Life Into the Notes” at the NMTA Conference in Hastings.

“See the Music,” Omaha Conservatory of Music’s theme for the year, jumped off the page at one of the Saturday morning music history classes at St. Paul United Methodist Church, where students excitedly enter the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque Eras and become immersed in the culture, art, food, and music of bygone times.

Pictured: Concentrated students playing name that musical style with Artist Faculty Violinist and “See the Music” instructor Erin Aguirre

Adult cello, violin, and piano students took the stage at the home of Stan and Loye Jaeger at the “Trot to Tunes” adult recital.  Following their performances, students enjoyed appetizers and took their beverages to the barn, where, before a fascinated audience, Loye and her horse “Send Me Dancing” demonstrated how music and counting are applicable to the world of horseback riding!

Omaha Conservatory pianists share their music in a performance for residents at Fountain View Retirement Community.

Pictured: Elizabeth Matthews

Omaha Conservatory artist faculty pianist Yulia Kalashnikova thrills audience in a performance of Rachmaninoff’s Variations on a Theme by Paganini with Orchestra Omaha under the baton of Maestro Ken Meints.

Pictured: Pianist Yulia Kalashnikova following her performance