INSIDE:

MUSICAL BRIDGES

Inside the Mind of the Artist — p.2 | OCM Summer Institute — p.6 | String Sprouts — p.3

Omaha Conservatory of Music | 3504 S. 108th St. | Omaha, NE 68144 | 402.932.4978 | omahacm.orgOur Mission: To build musical community through education and performance to enrich lives!

The Omaha Conservatory of Music NewsletterFall 2015 Edition

See insideTHE NEW OCM

p.4-5

Like any good crescendo, the Conservatory’s latest season of the Inside the Mind of the Artist series started quietly with an acoustic salon concert featuring members of the Omaha Guitar Trio. They shared stories between performances of songs and arrangements that have inspired their personal music journeys.

Just two weeks later, we welcomed visiting cellist Stan Sharp to give a Master Class with the Conservatory’s most promising cello students. Stan, whom you’ve likely heard playing on many of your favorite movie scores, is a full-time faculty member of Colburn School of Performing Arts and has even performed for royalty — British and Hollywood alike.

Master Class mania will continue in a big way in January 2016 as we welcome, in partnership with the Omaha Symphony and Opera Omaha: world-renowned violinist Caroline Goulding; celebrated mezzo-soprano Elise Quagliata; and young “super-virtuoso” pianist Gleb Ivanov.

In the spring, we’ll be welcoming back conductor David Barg as he leads the area’s finest young orchestra players in our annual Winter Festival Honors Orchestra, an intense weekend of rehearsal culminating in an evening of fine performances sure to impress.

And that’s not all! We’ve got lots more in store for IMA 2016, including a guest lecture uncovering the mysteries of how we learn, and a performance by our ever-famous Frontier Strings. Watch for details on these and more notable events on our website and social media. î

Members of the Omaha Guitar Trio Max Meyer (left) and Andrew Stickman (OCM guitar Artist-Faculty, right) perform at the Salon Concert. (Sept. 19, 2015)

Stan Sharp gives Leon Hemstreet a lesson on the Elgar Cello Concerto. (Oct. 2, 2015)

Below, from left: Caroline Goulding, Elise Quagliata, Gleb Ivanov, Amernet Quartet, and David Barg. Caroline Goulding and Gleb Ivanov appear in partnership with Omaha Symphony. Elise Quagliata appears in partnership with Opera Omaha. Amernet Quartet appears in partnership with Omaha Chamber Music Society

A SERIES BUILT FOR MUSIC MASTERY

IN COLLABORATION WITH:

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This past May, the Omaha Conservatory of Music hit an important — and prestigious — milestone in our organizational history: becoming a recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the most influential arts funder in the country.While this very competitive grant secured funds to support research related to our String Sprouts program, we expect this grant will play a major role in opening doors to additional regional and national attention not only for this extraordinary program, but for the Conservatory as a whole.

We are proud to share this honor with you — our parents, students, donors, faculty and friends who make our community what it is.

The Conservatory’s ground-breaking String Sprouts™ program continued to gain momentum in 2015, expanding into Council Bluffs and Nelson Mandela Elementary this fall; renewing expert evaluation of the program by University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Munroe-Meyer Institute. First-year violin Sprouts began their weekly evening classes at Franklin and Longfellow elementaries in September, under the instruction of two new Artist-Faculty, Ayumi Ohishi and Tyler Roberts.

With help from the team led by UNMC-MMI Program Evaluator Dr. Lisa St. Clair, we’ve shown how our Sprouts program has a positive impact on pre-K children, helping them advance in vocabulary, executive function and school readiness.

String Sprouts was also welcomed into the elite programming line-up at Nelson Mandela Elementary School, a unique Omaha school “committed to maximizing the educational success of all students and bridging learning and achievement gaps” by way of an innovative and selective curriculum.

While preparing to lead this slightly modified version of String Sprouts, which happens during the school day, Nelson Mandela teacher and OCM Artist-Faculty member Jess Davis was introduced to Sam, a student in the school’s first class who was born without a left hand. In keeping with the Sprouts vision to make music education available to every child, Jess and Sprouts administrators have been working with engineers, luthiers, educational therapists from Penn State and even world-famous one-armed violinist Adrian Anantawan to make String Sprouts accessible for Sam. Using the most advanced technology, from 3D imaging to 3D printing, a prosthetic was designed to allow Sam’s “cool arm” to do the bowing while his right hand will be trained to do fingering — an arrangement opposite the typical violinist.

Meanwhile, program creator Ruth Meints welcomed our first Year 3 Violin classes at Kellom Elementary, the Kroc Center, and Benson West. These inaugural Sprouts will spend this venture into reading music as they begin to apply lessons and activities from the past two years.

We’re thrilled by the continued growth of this program and look forward to seeing all of our Sprouts flourish throughout this academic year — and beyond! î

Below, from left: Caroline Goulding, Elise Quagliata, Gleb Ivanov, Amernet Quartet, and David Barg. Caroline Goulding and Gleb Ivanov appear in partnership with Omaha Symphony. Elise Quagliata appears in partnership with Opera Omaha. Amernet Quartet appears in partnership with Omaha Chamber Music Society

NEA GRANT BRINGS NATIONAL ATTENTION

Save The Date!Sprouts & the Symphony

will be June 5, 2016, at UNO’s new Baxter

Arena, located just south of Aksarben

Village, between 64th and 67th streets.

STRING SPROUTS GETS BIGGER AND BETTER

Above: Ayumi Ohishi teaches String Sprouts how to pluck their violins on the first day of class at Longfellow Elementary in Council Bluffs. (Sept. 17, 2015)

Sam tests out the prosthetic for his “cool arm” for the first time. (Sept. 17, 2015)

Below: Caregivers help their third-year Sprouts follow along with teacher Ruth Meints on the first day of class at Kellom Elementary. Meints, creator of the String Sprouts program, is introducing music-reading as Sprouts enters its third year. (Sept. 17, 2015)

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The construction site at 7023 Cass Street has been positively buzzing these past few months as the Omaha Conservatory of Music prepares to welcome families, faculty, and staff to its new permanent home. After many, many months of planning, we are SO EXCITED to continue our journey in 2016 at this state-of-the-art facility, which will not only provide our students and families with excellent performance spaces to fit our community’s needs perfectly.

From sound-proofing to humidity controls, from practice rooms to recording booths, from a spacious study area to an acoustically engineered garden, this facility will allow the Conservatory to continue its pursuit of excellence through performance and education in beautiful spaces equipped to inspire. î

MAKING OUR

Save The Date!Join us for our formal Grand Opening Gala

on April 15, 2016.

Follow Our Blog: Watch the evolution of our new permanent home at omahacm.org/newocm

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BIG MOVE

Follow Our Blog: Watch the evolution of our new permanent home at omahacm.org/newocm

CONCERT HALL

CONFERENCE ROOMADMIN SUITE

RECEPTION

RECITAL HALL

STUDIOS

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OCMI LEVELS UP IN 2015The Omaha Conservatory of Music welcomed a record 171 students to this past summer’s gaming-themed week-long Summer Institute, which mixed video game favorites into its notably robust programs. Orchestras and choirs brought Mario themes to life while preparing advanced repertoire like the Dvorak serenade for performance at the Final Concert. And of course, there was epic dodgeball again this year!

Right and Below: OCMI students learn a brand-new instrument — the ocarina — in this year’s featured elective. Dr. Brian Levels, one of OCM’s woodwind Artist-Faculty members, showed them the basics, and on the final day they performed themes from “Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.” (July 20, 2015)

WHAT’s YOUR SUPERPOWER?

July 16th-23rd

to sign up early, visit omahacm.org/ocmi today!

2016

Above: Laurie VanderPol directs the voice/theatre majors in their group number. (July 24, 2015)

Above: Bassist Matt Gold leads Sinfonietta (the beginning orchestra). (July 24, 2015)

Above: OCM Artist-Faculty member Yulia Kalashnikova works with students in the keyboard lab. (July 24, 2015)

Above: A guitar major prepares to solo in Improv and Songwriting (July 23, 2015)

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Omaha Conservatory of Music teachers Cody Jorgensen and Luke Polipnick trek to the Winnebago reservation each Tuesday morning — as they’ve done each academic year since 2011 — for the OCM @ St. Augustine program, which endeavors to bring music education to an outlying area of the state. Cody’s recorder students and Luke’s guitar students perform at the end of the semester, showcasing what they’ve learned.

OCM welcomes gifts through wills, life insurance plans, securities, trusts, real estate and other non-cash vehicles. Our Board Chair, Dr. Jasper, has named Omaha Conservatory of Music in his estate plans and encourages others whose lives have been touched by OCM to do the same.A variety of techniques may be used, depending on the method of giving that is best for you. You may name the Omaha Conservatory of Music as a beneficiary in your will, living trust, retirement plan, or insurance contract or give through one of the charitable trusts that provide income to both you and OCM.

You may choose to be celebrated publicly or remain anonymous, and designate your gift to a specific program area, or to the area of greatest need as determined by OCM. With your inclusion of OCM in the vehicles outlined above, you can add your name to the list below and become a founding member of the OCM Legacy Society (founded 2015). To learn more, please contact Kevin Mahler, Director of Development, at 402.932.4978 ext 208 or kevinmahler@omahacm.org.

“OCM is a tremendous force for good for our students, our city, and our region. What better way to designate a portion of your estate?” — DR. DAVID JASPER

Anna Lundberg Memorial Scholar

Kelley Kim (violin)Cosentino Scholars

Mallory Burton (piano)Emma Nothelfer (piano)Ryan Parmenter (piano)

Jasper ScholarsAlexander Smith (cello)Isabella Amador (violin)

Kohll ScholarJason Kim (viola)

McDaniel Memorial ScholarWenbo Jia (violin/piano)

Ross ScholarAddisson Stugart (viola)

Roth ScholarBridget Nothelfer (violin)

Schrager ScholarsAriana Ruiz (violin)

Dmitrii Shaposhnikov (piano)Smith Scholar

Alexis Nothelfer (piano)OCM Merit Scholarships

Quentin Bair (piano)Morgan Bennett (violin)

Oliver DeGraw (cello)Tabitha Dendinger (guitar)

Alina Hatfield (piano)Jae Hyun Lim (violin)

Allison Luo (piano)Madeline McCabe (voice)

Claire Peng (piano)Trevor Petersen (cello)

Winston Schneider (composition)Samantha Stafford (piano)

Alisha Stafford (violin)Seonghyeon Um (guitar)

Ethan Valencia (viola)Maksim Valencia (violin)

Jamie Youn (cello)Anita Zhou (piano)

PLANNED GIVING

OCM MERIT SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES:

OCM @ ST. AUGUSTINE

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$10,000Provides underwriting for big

events like Winter Festival Orchestra, OCM Summer

Institute, and Inside the Mind of the Artist events.

$2,500Provides scholarship funds for

one year of private lessons for a student.

$500Provides scholarship funds for a student to attend OCM Summer

Institute

$250Provides an instrument for a

String Sprout

$100Provides tuition for a student to attend OCM group classes for a

semester

B r i d g e s

YOUR GIFT Can Bui ld

2 0 1 4 - 1 5 D O N O R S

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OCM’s fiscal year runs July 1st-June 30th. Donors listed below have made gifts to Omaha Conservatory of Music between July 1, 2014, and October 21, 2015.

Yourgift of

Thank you for your support! The Cosentino Scholarship • The Dr. David Jasper Scholarship • The Kohll Scholarship •

The Jonathan McDaniel Memorial Scholarship • The Myron H. Ross Scholarship • The Ruth & Victor Roth Scholarship • The Annette & Paul Smith Scholarship • The Dr. David Jasper Teacher Enrichment Fund • The Anna Lundberg Memorial Fund

Anonymous • Cindy & Mogens Bay • Cassling Family Foundation • Ramona & Deryl Hamann • Hawks Foundation • Beth & Norm Holly • Dr. David Jasper • Wende & John Kotouc • John and Elizabeth Lauritzen Foundation • Lozier Foundation • Richard

Brooke Foundation • Sherwood Foundation • Eve & Fred Simon • Betiana & Todd Simon • Slosburg Family Charitable Trust • Annette & Paul Smith • Weitz Family Foundation

$50,000+

$25,000+ Anonymous • Nebraska Arts Council • Peter Kiewit Foundation • The Nelson Family Foundation • William and Ruth Scott Foundation

Carm Cosentino • Connie Cosentino • Carol Gendler • Harley and Beth Schrager Foundation • Heider Family Foundation • Holland Foundation • Iowa West Foundation • Katie Kelly • Omaha Community Foundation • Polina and Bob Schlott • Sunny Durham Family Foundation

$10,000+

$500+ Janet & Ronald Brendis • The Brown Sheep Company • Michael Crabb • Mary & Kurt Davey • Linda Davis • Robert Doucette • Liz Carvlin Fuesel & Greg Fuesel • Dr. Amy Haddad and Steven Martin • Happy Hollow Club • Sue & Travis Hiner • Pamela & Harold Huff • Archana Janakiram & Suseela

Neelakanta • Rosangie & Paul Madison • Dryden Meints & Jacob Olson • Sonia Bomzon & Nick Palikhya • Susan Rothholz • Christie & Ben Shaver • Cricket & John Simmons • Smith Hayes Advisors, Inc.

P R E S T I S S I M O

P R E S T O

A L L E G R O

A N D A N T E

UP TO

$500ACG of Nebraska • Vicki Adams • Jiyoun & Jongsam Ahn • Jo Anne Amoura • Marcelita Anderson • Valerie Avella • Mary & Jeff Barker • Mary Beth Barmettler • Anne Begley • Nancy & George Behringer • Ed Bennett & Margot Wickman-Bennett • Karen Benson • Mary Bernstein • Lora & Neal Blomenkamp • Marcia Blum • Frances Blumkin • Amelia & Greg Bociek • C.L. Bowker • Joe Buschelman • Rebecca Carney • Clear Choice Orthodontics • Kimberly Clure • Jennifer & Milo Coots

• Soris Cox • Troy Cox • Jean & Donald Crabb • Ian & Suzy Crabb • Michelle & Thomas Craig • Cyril M. Klimesh Trust • Mrs. & Dr. Glenn Dalrymple • Mary & Hal Daub • Claudia & Anthony Deeb • Amy & John Dempsey • Eunice Denenberg • Brandy & Jeff DeRuiter • Ariel Distenfeld • Ann Dolton • Drs. Sherill & Mark Domet • Catherine & C.D. Duran • Gina Dvorak • Beth Eliason • Catherine & Terry Ferguson • Hal France • Lois & Sol Friedman • Ricky & Mary Fulton • Agneta Gaines • Thomas D. Gensler. • Ankita & Paurnima Ghotikar • Ida & Michael Gibson • Kurt Gold & Sue Ellen Deverich • Erin & Stephen Gross • Judy & Terry Haney • Hearty Electric, Inc. • James M. Hearty • Laiden Heinrichs • Shari Hess • Joel Frederic High • Ashley Hillman • Phyllis Holcomb • Bonnie Horwich • Kristine Irons • J Squared Booster Club • Nancy & David Jacobson • Janice & Richard Jacobson • Mary & Jim Jansen • Johnson Livingston Fund • Michelle & Christopher Johnson • Marian Kaiser • John S. Katelman • Joanne & Jacob Krieg • Somjit & Greg Kunkel • Barbara & Marshall Kushner • Kristi Langford • Sharon & Michael Lawler • Marisa Leavitt • Jooho Lee and Seohee Son • Hong Li • Lorry & Stuart Mahler • Patricia Malnack • Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Manger • Mark Sanford Group, LLC • Marilyn Marsh • Patrick McNamara and Aviva Segall • Nancy & Alan Meyer • Garbo’s Salon • Judith & Richard Mori • Bonnie & Steve Nelson • Ralph Neuhaus • Nancy & Stephen Nielsen • Carolyn & J Evan Nordstrom • Sharon & G. Larry Owens • Jessica & Dennis Pate • Cara & Thomas Perkins • Brenda Petersen • Planit, Inc. • Janet Powell • Mary Rankin • Christel & Doug Riddington • Victoria & Greg Rihanek • Dr. Diane Wells Rivers • Charney & Jerry Rosinsky • Madonna Runco & Sandy Bushaw • Carol & Edward Schneider • Molly & Toby Schropp • Alex Serwatowski • Susan & Douglas Shaver • Liat & Gary Shyken • Suzanne Singer • Raissa & Nick Smith • Sandra Kay Squires • Carolyn “Rocky” Stern • Leslie & David Tien • Janice & John VanNewkirk • Marla & Gene Waldron • John Wehrle & Diane Owens • Lauren Wehrle • Renee Wehrle • Jim Welsh • Andrea West • Kara & Jason Wheeler • Steven White • Marlena & Noah Witchel • Therese & John Wolters • Boming Wu and Minghua Wang • Myung Hea Yoon

E S P R E S S I V O

V I V A C E

Daniel A. and Jennifer T. Hamann Charitable Fund • Inroads to Recovery • Jackie & Terry Kroeger • Darleen & Hugh Mahler • Oregon Trail Community Foundation • Psychiatric Services of Western Iowa Inc • Simmonds Family Foundation • United

Way of the Midlands • The Valmont Foundation • Maru & Greg Whitmore $5,000+

A L L E G R E T T OAnonymous • Susan & Tom Baker • Andrew & Colleen Batcheler • Leah Bauer • Michael Cosentino, Jr. • Betty & Michael Cosentino, Sr. • Ryan Ellis • Barbara & William Fitzgerald • Five Points Bank • Sue Fletcher • Jennifer Genua-McDaniel • Dr. Anne Hubbard / The Claire M. Hubbard Foundation • Loye & Stan Jaeger • Jewish Federation of Omaha / The

Karen Sokolof Javitch Fund • Kohll’s Pharmacy and Homecare, Inc. • Susan & Gale Larsen • Stacey & Greg Lickteig • Maginn Family Foundation • Madeleine & Tom Matthews • Dr. Jerry Moskus • Dr. Gordon H. Mundell (in memory of Elvira B. Garcia) • Nebraska City Apple Corps. • Mary Ann Nipp • Ruth Ann & Ron Popp • Quality Clinical Research, Inc. • Heather & Bryan Schneider • Ann & Kenneth Stinson • The Soener Foundation • United Way • Fred Vakili & Sheila Christ • Valley Bank and Trust Co. • Kristin & Eric Wiebe • Winnebago Community Development Fund • Pamela & Richard Witt • Erica & Don Wogaman

$1,000+

Yourgift of

Yourgift of

Yourgift of

Yourgift of

Attendees of the 2015 Sprouts & the Symphony Event, the Inside the Mind of the Artist events, and the OCM Summer Institute Final Concert • Individuals who supported OCM through Omaha Gives! in May 2015 • Attendees of the AIA Omaha ART[house] tour in September 2015