Glenn Korff School of Music Blog

The halls of the Westbrook Music Building are once again busy and our faculty, staff, students and alumni are all doing amazing things! Read about them here:

William Shomos

William Shomos will be staging a production of Aaron Copland’s THE TENDER LAND for the Muddy River Opera Company in June.

Cooper Creal

Cooper Creal (BM, Junior) will be performing the principal role of Pedrito in the children’s opera MONKEY SEE, MONKEY DO produced in June and July with Opera in the Ozarks in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. He will also be singing in the chorus of the festival’s productions of Mozart’s ABDUCTION FROM THE SERAGLIO and Puccini’s LA BOHÈME.

Jared Hiscock

Jared Hiscock (DMA) will be performing the role of Guglielmo in Mozart’s COSI FAN TUTTE with Opera Orvieto in June, where he won a full scholarship and travel funding to participate. Jared will then go on to perform the role of the Marquis de la Force in Poulenc’s DIALOGUES OF THE CARMELITES with Saltworks Opera. In August, Jared begins his tenure as a Holland Community Fellow with Opera Omaha, a full-time engagement 2019-2021.

Kalvin Schreiner

Congratulations to Kalvin Schreiner! He has won the 2019 John Shildneck Solo Competition with the Lincoln Municipal Band. He wins a cash prize and will perform this summer with the Lincoln Municipal Band at the Shildneck Bandshell in Antelope Park. He is the ninth trombonist from the studio to win the competition joining Liam Hughes, William White, Claire Knaus, Luke Thallas, Joe Mumm, Craig Mathis, Andrew Binkard and Bryant Scott.

Student Updates

We asked our students to update us as this semester comes to a close. We will share their thoughts as they come in.

Claire Boes

Favorite memory as a GKSOM student: Throwing Dr. Gilbert a surprise baby shower. Our MUED class made snacks and decorated the room and everything.

Summer plans: Going back home to work and save some money up.

Cal Cross

Graduating: Bachelor's of Music Education

I will be teaching 9-12 Vocal Music at Elkhorn South High School in Omaha.

Favorite memory as a GKSOM student:

Traveling to Omaha with University Singers to sing music from Final Fantasy with the Omaha Symphony

Mee-Hwa Roche

Favorite memory as a GKSOM student: I’ve really enjoyed the convocations with guest artists and getting to hear about the creative process as a professional. I’ve also appreciated the supportive environment amongst the students and faculty.

Accomplishment: Made the fall Dean’s List.

Seth Burk

Favorite memory as a GKSOM student:

Playing in the Westbrook Saxophone quartet

Summer plans:

Work, taking lessons with Dr. Haar

Christian Johnson

Graduating: Master of Music: Piano

I will be attending UNL to complete my D.M.A. in Piano

Favorite memory as a GKSOM student:

There was something that became very special to me getting up early, going to History of Opera with Dr. Starr at 8:30am, and all of us are sipping on coffee talking about all things opera. Anytime I get up early now while enjoying coffee, I think back to that morning class. Yes, it was THAT great!

Summer plans:

I will be in Shanghai, China for the entire duration, spending time with my fiancée's family and practicing!!

Ellie Stone

Favorite memory as a GKSOM student: My favorite memory from this year as a Glenn Korff School of Music student has been Bass Day. It's so fun to meet other bassists, young and old. It's great to just jam with a bunch of other people who appreciate your instrument as much as you do.

Summer plans:

I am going home for the summer to work, relax, and practice.

Liping Xia

Favorite memory as a GKSOM student:

Great faculty.

Summer plans:

Wedding (she is getting married). Attend a festival in Europe.

Uriah Mata

Favorite memory as a GKSOM student: The first day on campus! I remember feeling excited, curious, and optimistic about how much I’m going to grow here as an adult and as a musician!

Summer plans: Go back to my hometown, work a full time job, practice Trombone, tour Nebraska with the 43rd Army Band, travel to Saint-Lo France to participate in the Battle of St. Lo Commemoration as an honor guard member, take Trombone lessons from professors around Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, give Trombone, Music Theory, and Aural Skills lessons all across Scotts Bluff County and relax hopefully!

Lucy Collins

Summer plans:

I will be attending the Brevard Music Center Institute!

Ruben D Gomez

Favorite memory as a GKSOM student:

The amount of academic support received from the faculty.

Summer plans: I will be in Colombia and Perú guest-conducting a couple of bands and an orchestra. Also, I will teach a couple of conducting workshops in these two countries.

Accomplishments and Awards in 2018-19: National Student Composer Competition sponsored by the MetWinds (Boston); F. Pace Woods Scholarship

Patrick Knowles

Favorite memory as a GKSOM student: Phi Mu Alpha.

Summer plans:

Working, traveling to Indiana and Alaska.

Sasha Smoot

Favorite memory as a GKSOM student: Being a part of such a wonderful MUED class. They have been so great to me this year, since I was new at the start of this school year.

Summer plans: I will be taking a few summer courses, working as a Westbrook building monitor, and getting my level 1 World Drumming Certification.

Clayton Spray

Summer plans:

I will have a sales intern position at Sandhills Global.

Accomplishments: I received President’s List

Chauncey Kleveland

Graduating: Bachelor's of Music Education

I have accepted a position as the K-12 Music Teacher at Parkview Christian School in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Favorite memory as a GKSOM student:

I will always cherish the friendships and memories made as a student of the school of music.

Clara Smith

Favorite memory as a GKSOM Student:

Decorating Dr. Bailey's office for his birthday

Summer plans:

Working, giving flute lessons, going on vacation, and running a marathon

Claire Lux

Graduating:

I will be graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Music Education

Next year I will be teaching general music at Mary Our Queen Catholic School in Omaha, Nebraska.

Favorite memory as a GKSOM student: My favorite thing about the Glenn Korff School of Music is the people. I have made so many wonderful friends here that I will have for the rest of my life.

Matthew Armstrong

Graduating: DMA in Choral Conducting

2019/2020 will be my fourth year as Director of Choral Activities at Wayne State College. I will present at NCDA and ICDA in the summer of 2019. I will conduct the Iowa Ambassadors of Music on a tour of Europe in the summer of 2020. My future scholarly plans include submitting parts of my doctoral document to journals for publication and composing/arranging choral music with more vigor.

Favorite memory as a GKSOM student:

I worked incredibly hard in graduate diction class to improve my skills and improve areas of weakness, particularly French. My small class prepared for our French exam so diligently that we surprised Professor Kate Butler with our test scores. As a result, the day she returned the exams she provided a lovely buffet of French pastries and coffee on a beautifully decorated table. It was such a thoughtful gesture and wonderful celebration of hard work and success.

Conner Viets

Summer plans: CHannel2 Percussion Duo will perform at the National Conference on Percussion Pedagogy (NCPP) in Lubbock, TX; Participant in the Heartland Marimba Ensemble 2019 Summer Tour with performances in Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan between June 5-22.

Accomplishments: 3/1/19––CHannel2 Percussion Duo received first place in the duet category at the Mid-Missouri Percussive Arts Trophy; 3/9/19––CHannel2 Percussion Duo performed at the TEDxUMKC Conference held at the National WWI Museum in Kansas City, MO; 4/11/19––CHannel2 Percussion Duo gave the world premiere of "Pluviality" by Kyle Rieger at the Society of Composers, Inc. Region VI Conference in Commerce, TX.

Asael Arévalo González

Favorite memory as a GKSOM student: My favorite memory is learning color guard outside in Instrumental Music Methods with Georgina the Turkey!

Summer plans: I will be studying abroad in Vienna, Austria. My program is a 5 week Summer Music History and Performance course through IES.

Awards/Accomplishments: I received the UNL MAPS scholarship, an IES scholarship, and a grant from the GKSOM (among other scholarships) to fund my travel over the summer! I also served as an undergraduate representative for the UNL Faculty Bassoon Search Committee this last semester. A fun opportunity was being apart of Steel 2, a new steel drum ensemble for non-music majors and non-percussion majors!

Jacob Wheeler

Graduating:

I'm graduating with a Bachelors of Music Education

I am employed with Omaha Public Schools as an itinerant strings teacher

Favorite memory as a GKSOM student:

Building friendships that will last for the rest of my life.

Drew Firkins

Graduating: Bachelor of Music Education

I'll be the vocal music teacher at Russell Middle School in Millard Public Schools next year! I'll be directing the 6-8 choirs, designing and teaching a music technology course, directing two show choirs, a musical, and an a cappella group.

Favorite memory as a GKSOM student: Pretty much all of Theory III with Dr. Kleppinger, and when Snarky Puppy came to convocation! Also getting to be a part of the Cornhusker Marching Band, because it was so different than anything I've done in my music career up to this point.

Accomplishments: I just received a nomination for "Best Arranger" for the 2019 FAME Aspire Awards, an awards series that recognizes show choir professionals throughout the country each year.

Sarah Jo Aymond

Graduating:

Master of Music in Wind Band Conducting

In July, I will begin working at Roosevelt High School in Sioux Falls, SD. As one of their two band directors, I will be responsible for the program’s four concert bands, four jazz bands, and their nationally acclaimed marching band.

Favorite memory as a GKSOM student: Working with the Cornhusker Marching Band and the Big Red Express Pep Bands will forever hold a special place in my heart. Listening to the CMB play “Cali Chords” as they warmed up each morning in Memorial Stadium while most of the student body was still asleep and the sun was just beginning to rise is a particular feeling that I will never forget.

Trey Meyer

Trey Meyer, who is completing the first year of his DMA studies in Vocal Performance, won the young artist division of an international singing competition based in London.

Meyer entered the young artist category for singers aged 23-25 in The Music of Eastern Europe category in The Music of Europe Competition for instrumentalists, singers, and chamber ensembles. This competition is a celebration of the Eastern European, Southeastern European, and Balkan classical music.

The finals of the international competition were judged by a panel of eight professionals reviewing video submissions of live performances. The winners of the global competition based in London, England were announced on April 8, 2019.

Trey Meyer's winning submission was the Russian romance На нивы желтыйе нисходит тишина (Silence descends on the golden cornfields), Op. 39, No. 3, by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and was performed with Michael Cotton, collaborative pianist.

Meyer's applied voice and acting professor Alisa Belflower said, "Trey Meyer is devoted to growing into the best performing artist possible. The work he has accomplished during his graduate studies in the Glenn Korff School of Music has been life-changing. He is blessed with a glorious lyric baritone and has developed his instrument and his ability to interpret music into an international award-winning art. He is entirely deserving of this award."

Travis Worsham

Travis Worsham (DMA, May 2019) successfully defended his terminal document: CROSSING THE LINE: THE LIFE AND MUSICAL LEGACY OF FRIEDRICH GULDA THROUGH A STUDY OF PLAY PIANO PLAY

Read the abstract here: https://unl.box.com/s/n7zpd4n8h7t5ftwnk943x0cv16229a59

Wataru Niimori

Wataru Niimori (DMA, May 2019) successfully defended his terminal document: STRING QUARTET NO.1 IN G MAJOR

Read the abstract here: https://unl.box.com/s/sfrafkv495u3at76oqywcmf92mvt39fy

Anne Gassmann

Anne Gassmann (DMA, May 2019) successfully defended her terminal document: THE SINGING CONDUCTOR: INTERVIEWS ON THE BENEFITS AND LIMITATIONS OF CHORAL CONDUCTORS AND TEACHERS CONTINUING TO SING

Read the abstract here: https://unl.box.com/s/gnr5zjccjcdh36kcbmfu159ihsmws0hf

Julie Grives

Julie Grives (Ph.D., May 2019) successfully defended her dissertation: THE IMPACT OF TRAINING AIDS ON AERODYNAMIC AND ACOUSTIC MEASURES IN SINGING

Read the abstract here: https://unl.box.com/s/xea77o8wz365fjdqguajalkkho94t4am