Thursday, October 29, 2009

MCF makes opportunity possible for Sarpy Co. kids

Thank you to the Midlands Community Foundation for supporting the Sarpy County schools' participation in the Choral Collaborative education program (Bellevue East, Bellevue West, Papillion-LaVista, Papillion-LaVista South). This photo (courtesy: Melissa Anderson/Omaha World-Herald News Service) was taken at yesterday morning's check presentation. Thank you, Midlands Community Foundation!

Front row, Left to right: Vickie Peyton, RSAFE Coordinator, Lutheran Family Services; Kristin Herrera, Development Associate, Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries; Megan Maryott, Community Manager, American Cancer Society. Back Row, left to right: Karla Rupiper, president of Midlands Community Foundation (MCF); Randy Sump, Grants Chair, MCF; Ernest Richardson, Resident Conductor, Omaha Symphony; Tony Raimondo, Chairman, Dream It Do It, Nebraska Advanced Manufacturing Coalition; Jeff Wiles, principal, Plattsmouth High School; Tim Bivens, Program Specialist, Nebraska Food Bank Network, Inc., and Tonee Gay, executive director, MCF

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Itzhak Perlman--premier violinist of our time--to perform with Omaha Symphony


TICKETS: $40 - $150 Great seats still available! 402.342.3560 www.omahasymphony.org

Itzhak Perlman, undeniably the reigning virtuoso of the violin, will perform with the Omaha Symphony November 7 at 8 p.m. at the Holland Performing Arts Center. One of the few classical artists to achieve genuine celebrity status, Perlman is beloved throughout the world for his tremendous talent and heartwarming charm. His playing and personality recently shined at President Obama’s Inauguration Ceremony. He is equally comfortable playing on The Tonight Show as he is at the Holland Center. Don’t miss the rare opportunity to see this living legend in concert in Omaha!
Perlman will play several crowd-pleasing pieces at the November 7 performance, including Mozart’s joyful Third Violin Concerto, Kreisler’s romantic Liebesleid and Tambourin chinois, and John Williams’ Theme from Schindler’s List, which he originally played in the Academy Award-winning film.
Born in Israel in 1945, he was propelled into the international arena with a 1958 appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Since then, Perlman has played with every major orchestra and in recitals and festivals around the globe. He is also a frequent presence on the conductor’s podium: this season marks his second as Artistic Director of the Westchester Philharmonic Orchestra.
A major presence in the performing arts on television, Itzhak Perlman has been honored
with four Emmy Awards, most recently for the PBS documentary Fiddling for the Future, a film about the Perlman Music Program and his work as a teacher. He has been a featured guest on shows as diverse as The Late Show with David Letterman, Sesame Street, the Grammy Awards telecasts, and numerous Live From Lincoln Center broadcasts.
Perlman’s recording career is equally varied and prolific. In 2008, he was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in the recording arts. His albums regularly top the charts and have garnered 15 Grammy Awards. His most recent releases include an all-Mozart recording with the Berlin Philharmonic (EMI) with Mr. Perlman performing as both soloist and conductor, and a recording for Deutsche Grammophon with Mr. Perlman conducting the Israel Philharmonic.
November 7 is the Omaha area’s opportunity to hear from this living legend who has performed for presidents, Her Majesty The Queen, and even Sesame Street’s Telly! Great seats for this special concert are still available: tickets start at $40. For more information, contact our Box Office at 402.342.3560 or visit us online at www.omahasymphony.org. Don’t miss an extraordinary evening of entertainment with Izhak Perlman and the Omaha Symphony!

Monday, October 26, 2009

"Grade schoolers get in tune with music at Mission: Imagination"


Photo: Kiley Cruse, Omaha World-Herald

From the fantastic Omaha World-Herald article on 10/24/09 by Carol Bicak:
"Elementary school students from Omaha and nearby towns recently met Mozart.
Yes, Mozart the composer. (Or at least someone who looked like — and called himself — Mozart).
The composer accompanied the Omaha Symphony Chamber Orchestra and conductor Ernest Richardson for a “Mission: Imagination” concert Oct. 7 at St. Wenceslaus, a Catholic grade school in west Omaha. Students from five other schools were bused in for the concert, too.
Many know Mozart was a flamboyant guy, but who knew he was so funny? He had the preschool through second-grade students laughing, singing and playing instruments they had made. At one point, youngsters even got to conduct."
Click here to read more...

Monday, October 19, 2009

Mission: Imagination photos




Lights! Camera! Orchestra! October 24


WHAT: “THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA” Debut Concert of NEW series!

Series sponsor: First National Bank Concert sponsor: Woodmen of the World

WHEN: Saturday, October 24, 2009 @ 8 PM

WHERE: Holland Performing Arts Center 1200 Douglas Street

TICKETS: Starting at $10! Call 402.342.3560 or order online @ www.omahasymphony.org


Omaha, Neb – Get in the Halloween spirit with the Omaha Symphony at Phantom of the Opera on October 24 at 8 p.m. at the Holland Performing Arts Center. Concertgoers will watch the classic 1925 silent film The Phantom of the Opera starring Lon Chaney on a big screen above the orchestra. Musicians will provide a live, spooky soundtrack, showcasing ghoulish gems like Gounod’s Faust and Saint-SaĆ«n’s Danse macabre.
Delighting eyes and ears, this performance marks the debut of the symphony’s new Sights & Sounds Series. This exciting programming combines the best of movies and music to create a unique entertainment experience for all ages. Other Sights and Sounds performances this season include Bugs Bunny on Broadway—a celebration of Warner Bros. cartoon classics—and A Space Odyssey, featuring exclusive NASA footage.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Learn about the audition process & meet our newest musician!



"Playing was never such hard work as at an audition"
By John Pitcher, Omaha World-Herald
Published - 10/4/2009

"Libby Barnette’s lucky number must be 4.

Last Monday, the veteran French horn player engaged in one of classical music’s most agonizing rituals. She auditioned for a symphony job.

After a grueling eight-hour day of high-stress playing and anxious waiting, Barnette, 39, won the job. It was her fourth audition for the Omaha Symphony in as many years. She beat out 19 musicians to become the orchestra’s newest part-time section player.

“I knew I had it in me,” said Barnette, who looked both relieved and spent after her artistic and emotional ordeal.

An Omaha resident, Barnette had good reason to feel elated. Jobs with professional orchestras are not plentiful."

READ the entire story HERE. Thank you to reporter John Pitcher for his coverage of this process.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Mission: Imagination coming to a school near you!

WHAT: Mission: Imagination In-school Concerts for age 4 – 3rd grade
WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 7 @ 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. St. Wenceslaus School / 15353 Pacific St.

Thursday, Oct. 8 @ 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. St. Mary’s School / 903 Mission Ave., Bellevue

Omaha, Neb – On October 7 and 8, the Omaha Symphony will present its Mission: Imagination education program to nearly 500 students from Nebraska and Iowa. Mission: Imagination allows learners age 4-3rd grade to get "up close and personal" with the orchestra, teaching them about basic musical concepts and individual instruments in an entertaining, interactive way. Students will sit within a few feet of the conductor and musicians, participating in listening activities as well as sing- and conduct-alongs to keep their imaginations engaged throughout the concert.
Participants will even get to play along with the orchestra, using instruments they made in class. This year’s concert is entitled “Mozart's Missing Memory.” Mozart is premiering his latest piece with the Omaha Symphony; however, through a freak accident during the rehearsal, Mozart loses his memory! With the concert only moments away, students will work with orchestra members to help Mozart, teaching him about tempo, dynamics, instrumentation, and accompaniment so he can complete his masterpiece!