Glenn Korff School of Music Blog

Husker Horn Choir Performance

The Husker Horn Choir gave a 50-minute concert over the noon hour on Wednesday, December 18, consisting of traditional holiday favorites. Several of the selections were performed as a sing-a-long where the audience got to take part in the performance. This concert has become a tradition that has developed quite a following. This year more than 100 people attended the Christmas at the Capitol concert.

The Husker Horn Choir is an extension of the Husker Horn Studio at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and consists of UNL horn students, non-majors, and community hornists. This group performs approximately 5 concerts each year at UNL, at local venues, and also a seasonal favorite - the Christmas concert at the Capitol Building. The ensemble performs a wide range of works and transcriptions, from horn quartets to pieces written for 20 horns.

Stanley Kleppinger's Advanced Tonal Theory class

Associate Professor Music Theory Dr. Stanley Kleppinger's Advanced Tonal Theory class “performed” an eighteenth-century music theory in student-teacher dialogue: Joseph Riepel’s Fundamentals of Musical Composition (1752). Kleppinger asked some of the class to participate in the “continuo” performance that accompanies the dramatic affair. Students took turns being the master and pupil as well.

West Central NATS' Conference and Regional Student Auditions

Forty-eight Glenn Korff School of Music voice students traveled Thursday, October 31 to Manhattan, Kansas for West Central NATS' Conference and Regional Student Auditions, which serve as the qualifying auditions to advance to NATS National Student Auditions.

From the GKSOM voice faculty, Dr. William Shomos, Prof. Donna Harler-Smith, and Dr. Jamie Reimer also attended the conference and served as adjudicators during the two days of auditions. GKSOM GTAs: Kiya Fife, Elaina Matthews, Trey Meyer, and Hayley Shoemaker also served as adjudicators during portions of the auditions.

As West Central NATS' regional governor, Alisa Belflower planned the 2019 conference, presided over the region's board meeting, and hosted the varied events during the conference attended by NATS members, collaborative pianists, guest artists, and voice students—collectively 520 people participated in this year's conference at Kansas State University.

Glenn Korff School of Music students made an impressive showing in these regional auditions with a record-breaking 411 students entered from across the Midwest.

The GKSOM had 11 students qualify to move on to the national round of this competition in the spring.  Our students earned a total of 43 recognitions for their vocal performances of classical and music theatre repertoire.

Three of the students performed in master classes with eminent guest artists during the 45th annual West Central NATS Conference, which was held simultaneously with the Student Auditions.

In addition, Hayley Shoemaker (student of Jamie Reimer) was chosen as one of only five finalists in the biennial NATS Artist Awards (NATSAA) for emerging young artists. The regional NATSAA auditions were judged by Rebecca Copley, Donna Harler-Smith, and Todd Staerkel on Thursday, October 31, 2019, in Manhattan KS.

Here is a list of the individual awards won by UNL students:

(Note 1st place designates the winner of a category)

First Year Classical

Treble Voices

     semifinalists   Lauren Breed—student of Jamie Reimer

                          Abbi Brundrett—student of Jamie Reimer

                          Sarah Jane Duralia—student of Alisa Belflower

                          Jacquelyn vonAschwege—student of Alisa Belflower

First Year Classical

Tenor, Baritone or Bass Voices

     semifinalists   Harrison Boe—student of Alisa Belflower

                          Hayden Fuelberth—student of Bill Shomos

Sophomore Classical

Treble Voices

                     4^th Maddy Stark—student of Alisa Belflower

     semifinalists   Sammy Cope—student of Alisa Belflower

                          Andrea Lock—student of Donna Harler-Smith

                          Tessa Yeo—student of Alisa Belflower

Sophomore Classical

Tenor, Baritone or Bass Voices

     semifinalists   Jacob Fee—student of Bill Shomos

                          Samuel Kennedy—student of Bill Shomos

Junior Classical

Treble Voices

     semifinalists   Emma Thomas—student of Jamie Reimer

                          Samantha Thomas—student of Alisa Belflower

Junior Classical

Tenor, Baritone or Bass Voices

      semifinalist   Ryan Wortmann—student of Jamie Reimer

Senior Classical

Treble Voices

                     4^th Susan Twiehaus—student of Alisa Belflower

     semifinalists   Katelyn Hinderer—student of Alisa Belflower

                          Sarah Koch—student of Jamie Reimer

Senior Classical

Tenor, Baritone or Bass Voices

                     1^st Matthew Carter—student of Alisa Belflower

                     3^rd Connor Husa—student of Bill Shomos

                     5^th Cooper Creal—student of Bill Shomos

      semifinalists   Dakota Mathew—student of Alisa Belflower

                           Jacob Thomas—student of Alisa Belflower

Advanced/Graduates Classical

Treble Voices

                     4^th  Hayley Shoemaker—student of Jamie Reimer

Advanced/Graduates Classical

Tenor, Baritone or Bass Voices

                     2^nd  Trey Meyer—student of Alisa Belflower

Lower College (Freshman & Sophomores)

Music Theatre

Treble Voices

                    1^st   Maddy Stark—student of Alisa Belflower

                    3^rd  Tessa Yeo—student of Alisa Belflower

     semifinalists   Sammy Cope—student of Alisa Belflower

                          Brannon Evans—student of Alisa Belflower

                          Camryn Self—student of Alisa Belflower

                          Jacquelyn vonAschwege—student of Alisa Belflower

Lower College (Freshman & Sophomores)

Music Theatre

Tenor, Baritone or Bass Voices

     semifinalists   Harrrison Boe—student of Alisa Belflower

                          Michael McGann—student of Alisa Belflower

                          Brandon McMiller—student of Alisa Belflower

Upper College (Juniors & Seniors)

Music Theatre

Treble Voices

     semifinalists   Karin Berg—student of Jamie Reimer

                          Katelyn Hinderer—student of Alisa Belflower

                          Samantha Thomas—student of Alisa Belflower

                          Susan Twiehaus—student of Alisa Belflower

Upper College (Juniors & Seniors)

Music Theatre

Tenor, Baritone or Bass Voices

                     1^st  Matthew Carter—student of Alisa Belflower

                     3^rd Dakota Mathew—student of Alisa Belflower

     semifinalists    Ryan Savage—student of Jamie Reimer

                           Jacob Thomas—student of Alisa Belflower

Best Performance of a Work by a

Female Composer in Concert Finals

             winner   Matthew Carter—student of Alisa Belflower

NATS Young Artist Awards (NATSAA)

              finalist   Hayley Shoemaker—student of Jamie Reimer

COLLABORATIVE PIANISTS who made this all possible:

Helena Aung—GKSOM GTA

Justin Eisenbeis—GKSOM senior music education major

Stacie Haneline—UNO's Coordinator of Collaborative Piano

Graham House—GKSOM alumnus

Denis Plutalov—GKSOM alumnus

Madeline Rogers—GKSOM GTA

Bryan Stanley—freelance collaborative pianist based in Omaha

Potter and Students in London

Professor of Viola Clark Potter and some students were in London recently. They had a lecture and concert over the weekend at Churchill College, Cambridge University!  They did take some time to see London.  Here is Potter with Madeline Rogers and Adrienne Stratton at the Tower of London with the Tower Bridge behind them.