'All-American Fanfare' Concert Prelude with Maestro Wilkins

345-0606 or www.omahasymphony.org

Don't miss A SPACE ODYSSEY-with Maestro Wilkins!

What: A Space Odyssey ~ Sights & Sounds concert
Sponsored by First National Bank & KPMG
When: Saturday, April 10 @ 8 PM

Where: Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas Street
Tickets: Call 402.345.0606, 402.342.3560, or visit www.omahasymphony.org


Omaha, Neb – Join Maestro Thomas Wilkins and the Omaha Symphony for “A Space Odyssey” Saturday, April 10 at 8 p.m. at the Holland Performing Arts Center. Fun, familiar pieces from Star Wars, Star Trek, and E.T. will take audience members on an out-of-this-world musical journey, ending with Gustav Holst’s The Planets.
Part of the Omaha Symphony’s new Sights & Sounds series, this performance includes an exciting visual element: incredible footage direct from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, produced by Hatch Productions. Stunning images from space missions, as well as animation sequences, will be projected on a big screen above the orchestra during The Planets, creating a unique multimedia concert experience that delights ears and eyes!

World Premiere pictures

To see the entire album, click here.

Must-hear masterpieces, fun films, legendary rock songs mark Omaha Symphony’s 90th Season

Omaha, Neb – The Omaha Symphony’s 2010/11 season, under the leadership of music director Thomas Wilkins, offers a dazzling spectrum of live musical experiences for the entire community. From Midori to the music of Michael Jackson, Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” to The Oak Ridge Boys, this new programming is brimming with variety, visuals, energy, and exceptional national and local talent. This dynamic collection of concerts is the perfect way to celebrate the Omaha Symphony’s 90th anniversary.

The 2010/11 line-up is united by one common element: the talent and passion of one of the finest orchestras in the country. “Whether taking centerstage for a MasterWorks classic or beautifully complementing of our popular guest artists, our musicians are experts at creating space for people to think, feel, and enjoy,” says Thomas Wilkins, Omaha Symphony music director. “There truly is something inspiring and entertaining for everyone who chooses to experience this season with us.”

“The 2010/11 season showcases the incredible artistry and versatility of our orchestra, while delivering memorable musical experiences for everyone in attendance,” said Rob Hallam, president & CEO of the Omaha Symphony. “We are thrilled to share it with the community we serve.”

The new season includes more than 50 concerts in six distinct series—MasterWorks, Symphony Pops, Symphony Rocks, Chamber, Sights & Sounds, and Family—to give audiences of all ages a wide array of entertainment choices. Some highlights of the 10/11 season include:
v Child prodigy turned violin virtuoso Midori
v Grammy Award-winning Patti Austin sings Ella Fitzgerald classics
v World premiere of a work composed by Omaha’s resident conductor Ernest Richardson
v The Oak Ridge Boys, one of country’s most successful, longest-running groups
v Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, a glorious “Ode to Joy” featuring local choirs
v Rock & roll tributes to Michael Jackson, The Eagles, and Paul McCartney
v Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush silent film with a live soundtrack

For a full listing of 2010/11 programming, please visit www.omahasymphony.org, or you may request to have a season brochure mailed to you.

Season ticket packages for all 2010/11 Omaha Symphony series are now available, and single tickets for all performances will be available for the general public in August 2010. To purchase season tickets, call 402.324.3560, log on to www.omahasymphony.org, or visit the Omaha Symphony Box Office, located at 1605 Howard St.

"Playing with the professionals"

Photo taken by Kiley Cruse, OWH

Thanks to reporter Carol Bicak and photojournalist Kiley Cruse from the Omaha World-Herald for their terrific reporting on our annual Carnegie Hall LinkUP! education concerts.

From the 3/18 article:

Hundreds of recorders can make a joyful noise.

So it was Wednesday morning when about 3,500 fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders and their teachers took part in two Omaha Symphony concerts at the Holland Performing Arts Center.

As part of the Carnegie Hall Communities LinkUP! educational concert series, young musicians on recorders and stringed instruments played along with the symphony musicians on several numbers that demonstrated such musical concepts as rhythm, tempo and syncopation.

Read the rest HERE.

Musician Q & A: Libby Barnette

Meet Libby Barnette, the newest member of the horn section. Libby successfully auditioned for the 3rd horn position in November 2009.

What has your favorite concert been this season--and why?

My favorite concert so far has been the third Masterworks concert - Fountains of Rome, Britten's Four Sea Interludes, and Scheherazade. I really enjoyed playing all that great music on one concert! I did have a lot of fun playing Bugs Bunny on Broadway, too.

How intense was the audition process?

Auditions are always nerve-wracking. I had auditioned for the Omaha Symphony four times prior to this! The first time, I was runner-up. The next time, being 8 months pregnant, I didn't have the air capacity to make it through the phrases. The third time was for Principal horn, when Jason DeWater won. The fourth audition was just 7 weeks after the birth of my second daughter. My muscles just weren't back in shape. So, I was very hopeful that this time, not being anywhere near pregnant, I could show the committee what I could do! It was a long day; waiting in between rounds to hear if you've made it to the next round is probably the worst part.

When you're not on stage or practicing, where will concertgoers most likely find you?

When I'm not practicing, I'm with my two little girls, Nora and Georgia. We like to go to the zoo, Fontenelle Forest, and the Children's Museum. I formed a playgroup in my neighborhood. On occasion, I get out without my kids. I like going out to dinner with my husband. I also play Bunco with a group of neighborhood women once a month.