Winter 2016
In this issue:
Students Celebrate Creativity in
Weeklong Program at Joslyn
2
2016 Omaha Symphony Guild
3
The Deb Ball - 50 Years of Holiday Memories 3
Meet our Musicians
The 2015 Debutantes and Stags
Grace notes
4-6
Symphony Guild Kick-Off
6
Deb Ball Marks 50th Anniversary
7
Table Art Tea & Sneak Peek
8
Mission Imagination Explores Music
It’s adventure time with the Omaha Symphony!
On Oct. 21, 2015, our Mission Imagination
program, The Misadventures of Melvin the
Explorer!, launched with performances at St.
Wenceslaus School for over 700 students.
Led by Melvin the Explorer and Conductor
Enrico, the program takes students on an
Indiana Jones-style quest to recover the
“golden baton” and learn about melody,
rhythm and harmony along the way.
Our new conducting fellow, Enrico LopezYañez, makes his Omaha Symphony debut
with this program alongside actor Lauren
Krupski-Carlson who portrays Melvin, the Three
Guardians of the Golden Baton and The Evil
Monkey King. Now that the show has launched,
the orchestra will perform it several times
throughout the season at area schools and
community centers.
Laura Schroeder and Kathy Knickrehm from
the Omaha Symphony Guild helped get
the students seated for both shows at St.
Wenceslaus. They enjoyed the program and
assisted in evaluations of student participation
and reaction to the shows. If you would like to
volunteer with upcoming Mission Imagination
programs, please contact Kathy Knickrehm,
[email protected], or Laura Schroeder,
[email protected].
3
Conductor Enrico Lopez-Yañez, the orchestra, and actor Lauren Krupski-Carlson perform
Mission Imagination for a young audience.
Grace Notes Winter 2016 • Page 2
Students Celebrate Creativity in Weeklong Program
at Joslyn
by Stacey Lickteig
Celebrate Creativity, a long-standing
education program presented in partnership with the Joslyn Art Museum, took
place Oct. 27-30. Over the course of
the four days, nearly 1,500 middle and
high school students participated in the
program, featuring hands-on creative
workshops, Joslyn gallery tours, and an
interactive Omaha Symphony concert.
We would like to especially thank the
wonderful members from the Omaha
Symphony Guild that made this event run
smoothly. Students could count on our
volunteers to direct them to their next
workshop or to answer questions on the
shuttle bus ride. Moving this great many
students to different workshops each
hour required many hands. Thank you to
all those guild members who were able
to share a morning of their time.
If you didn’t volunteer last year, consider
signing up this year – Celebrate Creativity is great fun! Each day began with
students descending upon the Storz
Fountain Court, many of them first time
visitors whose eyes widened and mouths
dropped as they took in the space. Each
student then embarked upon their own
unique schedule of creativity, participating in both visual and performing arts
workshops which featured everything
from figure drawing, painting, and simulated glass sculpture work to juggling,
tae kwon do, acting, or even creating
their own music video. Students also took
docent-led tours through one of Joslyn’s
galleries.
After a quick brown bag lunch in the
fountain court, the students made their
way into the Witherspoon Concert Hall
to experience the Omaha Symphony
performance. This year, the concert explored the creative process through the
lens of the visual arts; through a young
composer, Arsid Ketjuntra, who was in
attendance at the concerts; and through
the performance of soloists Ricardo Amador and his high school age daughter,
Celebrate Creativity exposes
students to a variety of artistic
mediums. Here students practice
charcoal drawing (above) and
stage make-up (right).
who performed Sarasate’s
Navarra, for two violins and
orchestra.
Celebrate Creativity continues to be a strong and
well-attended education
event with all days near or at
capacity and draws a large
number of students and
schools from well outside
the metro area. For some
students, their visit for this
program may be their first
exposure to Omaha! What a
wonderful introduction.
Grace Notes Winter 2016 • Page 3
2016 Omaha Symphony Guild
Leading
the Omaha
Symphony Guild
this year are
executive officers,
L to R: Suzanne
Koutula, Muffy
Flinn, Jane
Machado, Jessica
Feilmeier and
Nancy Ayoub.
The Deb Ball - 50 Years of
Holiday Memories by Catherine Mahoney
The Omaha
Symphony
Debutante Ball
marks a milestone
this December as
it reaches its 50th
anniversary. Over
the last 50 years,
the event has raised
funds to support the educational and outreach programs of the
Omaha Symphony Guild. This year’s ball was held on Sunday,
Dec. 27 at the La Vista Embassy Suites. The debutantes and
stags are high school seniors and are selected in recognition of
their families’ community service within Omaha and the Council
Bluffs area, as well as their support of the Omaha Symphony.
This year 60 Debutantes and 52 Stags were honored.
In keeping with the golden anniversary celebration, a new
Omaha Symphony Debutante Ball logo was created in gold
hues. Gold accents have been present all year in the planning
process. Aaron Carlson Designs transformed the stage and
table centerpieces with floral arrangements to create an elegant
and unforgettable night. Bridal Traditions and Mr. Tuxedo were
the official clothiers for the event. Garbo’s was the official salon,
and Michael Dwyer Photography and Mr. Video were the official
photographer and videographer respectively.
This event is put together by the Debutante Ball Committee,
led by Ball Chairman Laura Doll, Asssociate Chairman Danielle
Bunz and Advisor Brigid Wilkening. Committee members
include Patty Buser, Sally English, Donna Erker, Teresa Johns,
Julie Liakos, Joni Lindquist, Laura Luther, Cindy Magid,
Catherine Mahoney, Toody Moffatt, Janet Nichting, Lisa
Strohmyer and Becky Wincek.
MEET OUR
MUSICIANS
– Alyssa Griggs,
Flutist
Noted for her “high
level of fearless skill,” flutist
Alyssa Griggs is a dynamic
orchestral, chamber and
solo artist. In October 2010
Alyssa received first prize
in the Alexander & Buono
International Flute Competition where she gave her
solo debut recital at Carnegie Hall. Additionally, she
has won honorable mention
for the 2015 Myrna Brown
Alyssa Griggs
Competition, and first prize
in the 2014 Upper Midwest Flute Association Young
Artists Competition and the Florida Bach Young Artists
Competition. In 2013 Alyssa was a finalist in the Byron
Hester Competition in Houston. Alyssa has also been
named an Emerging Artist by Miyazawa Flutes.
Equally versatile as a piccolo artist, and praised as
“memorable” by the Boston Musical Intelligencer,
Alyssa is the newly appointed piccolo player of the
Omaha Symphony. In addition she is also piccolo/assistant principal flute of the Chattanooga Symphony &
Opera, second flutist of the Des Moines Metro Opera,
and piccolo with the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra.
She’s performed at Carnegie Hall as principal flute of
the New York Festival Orchestra and has also played
with the Minnesota Orchestra, Minnesota Opera, Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Civic Orchestra
of Chicago. She recently took the stage with The Cleveland Orchestra at the Blossom Music Festival as part of
the Kent-Blossom Summer Music Program. Alyssa has
participated in such prominent festivals as the Lakes
Area Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival, Sarasota
Music Festival, Orford Arts Centre, Domain Forget, and
the Pierre Monteux School.
Alyssa holds a master’s degree with honors from New
England Conservatory, where she studied with Paula
Robison, and a bachelor’s degree with distinction from
the Eastman School of Music, where she studied with
Bonita Boyd. She engaged in post graduate studies as
a student of BSO principal flutist Elizabeth Rowe and
piccoloist Cindy Meyers. Alyssa also earned a certificate from Eastman’s Arts Leadership Program and was
awarded membership to the elite Keidaeans Honor
Society.
Grace Notes Winter 2016 • Page 4
The 2015 Omaha Symphony Debutantes and Stags
and their parents are:
DEBUTANTES
Alexa Noelle Barnhart, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. William Barnhart
Olivia Anne Bradford, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Dana Bradford
Madison Elizabeth Briggs, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Briggs
Megan Nicole Brookhouser, daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Brookhouser
Alexandra Kathleen Ries Burdyny,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Burdyny
Siena Nelsie Gleason, daughter of Mr.
Kevin Gleason, Mrs. Mimi Post
Kady Lee Hosman, daughter of Dr. and
Mrs. Stephen Hosman
Kristen Danielle Gonzales, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Gonzales
Mary Shannon Jerram, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Christopher Jerram
Sara Maureen Greisch, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. James R. Greisch
Caroline Anne Jetter, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Matthew K. Jetter
Briana Grace Hanley, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Pete Hanley
Abaigeal McIntyre Johnson, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Johnson
Wallis Cathcart Harry, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Robert Harry
Taylor Marie Kahre, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Michael J. Kahre
Charlotte Elaine Hedican, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Hedican
Mary Elizabeth Knickrehm, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Craig Knickrehm
Kylie Michelle Korff, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. James Korff
Audrey Rose Burt,
daughter of Dr. and
Mrs. Charles Burt
Elizabeth Kristine Koukol,
daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Steven
Koukol
Ellie Claire Carmody,
daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Mike Carmody
Jillian Marie Kreski, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Kreski
Sophie Morrissey
Clark, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Fred Clark
Elisa Karen Kroeger, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Terry Kroeger
Delaney Jean Coffelt,
daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Bryan Hill
Hayley Noel Krumwiede, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Matthew
Krumwiede
Annaliese Michelle
Day, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Mike Day
Bryn Peck Lohrberg, daughter
of Dr. John Lohrberg and
Ms. Amy Peck
Susan Elizabeth Dineen, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Dineen
JoAnna Marie Ferris, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Dan Ferris
Emily Eileen Foje, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Todd Foje
Lauren Rae Gehrki, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Joseph Gehrki
Emma Catherine Heldt, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Derron Heldt
Juliann Papez Hellman, daughter of Dr.
Courtney Hellman and Mr. Jason Hellman
Jennifer Marie Hester, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Robert Gunia
Alexa Camille Hord, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Stacey Hord
Hallie Estelle McNamara, daughter of
Dr. and Mrs. Michael McNamara
Sarah Ann Mullen, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. James Mullen
Madelyn Jo Neppl, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. John Neppl
Michaela Roene Nielsen, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Mark Nielsen
Continued
Grace Notes Debutantes continued
Bailey Anne Nihsen, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Dustin Nihsen
Katherine Lorraine Pallesen, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Pallesen
Winter 2016 • Page 5
Charlotte Elizabeth Wortmann, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Wortmann
STAGS
Annastasia Lynn Peterson, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Dan Peterson
Anna Sophia Quint, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Lawrence Quint
Fiona Claire Raynor, daughter of Dr. and
Mrs. Stephen Raynor
Alexandra Noelle Regan, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Regan
Skylar Elizabeth Ricceri, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Thomas F. Ricceri
Brynn Willow Robertson, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Scott Robertson
Emma Viola Russell, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. James Russell
Nicole Justine Russell, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. John R. Russell
Alexandria Whitney Ryan, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Ryan
Gabrielle Margaret Ryan, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Ryan
Lauren Ellise Salerno, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Patrick Salerno
Kelli Rachel Schilken, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Michael Schilken
Elizabeth Ann Schumacher, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Schumacher
Thomas Randolph Ashford, son of
Congressman and Mrs. Brad Ashford
Jon Akira Doyle, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Jon Doyle
Matthew John Belford, son of Mr. and
Mrs. John Belford
Brendan Christopher Eglseder, son of
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Eglseder
Brett Richard Berger, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Richard Berger
Stephen Patrick Fluckey, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Barry Fluckey
John Paul Brandl, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Matthew Brandl
Daniel Robert Glazer, son of Mr. and
Mrs. John Glazer
Dylan Alfred Burkley, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Robert W. Burkley
Ryan Scott Golden, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Todd Golden
Maximillian McCormack Carlson, son of
Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Carlson
Isaac Harrison Greene, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Earl G. Greene
Ian Jeffrey Carstens, son of Dr. and Mrs.
Jeffrey Carstens
Jacob Addison Hedrick, son of Dr. Jodanne and Mr. Robert Hedrick
Hanna Noelle Sheehan, daughter of Dr.
and Mrs. Timothy Sheehan
Cooper Morrissey Clark, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Fred Clark
Gabrielle Elizabeth Simon, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. James R. Simon
Simon Morrissey Clark, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Fred Clark
Thomas Landen Huerter, son of Drs.
Shirley and James Huerter
Elizabeth Marie Van Dyke, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Van Dyke
Daniel Joseph Coyle, son of Mr. Michael
Coyle and Ms. Pamela Bloch
William Michael Hupp, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Michael Hupp
Johanna Lea Vasko, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Theodore Vasko
Augustin Reagan deMayo, son of Lieutenant Colonel and Mrs. Miles deMayo
Christopher Paul Kircher, Jr., son of Mr.
and Mrs. Christopher Kircher
Harrison John Hohman, son of Mr. and
Mrs. David Hohman
Continued
Grace Notes Winter 2016 • Page 6
Stavros Peter Piperis, son of Dr. and Mrs.
Peter Piperis
Jonathan David Vrana, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Charles Vrana
Micah Jeffrey Rensch, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Jeffrey Rensch
Michael Gerard Walsh, son of Mr. Michael
Walsh and Mrs. Julie Weiss
Wynn Fitzgerald Root, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Terence Root
Reece Tatsuya Watanabe, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Gordon Watanabe
Tyler Chase Schneiderman, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Scott Schneiderman
Robert Louis Wiseman, son of Mr. Perry
Wiseman and Ms. Elisa Blazek
Peter McBride Schropp, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Tobin A. Schropp
Chad Michael Witecy, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Manfred Witecy
Thomas Bagggarly Seline, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Steven Seline
Graham Howard Yost, son of Ms. Maggie
Diers Yost
John Richard Shoemaker, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Brian Shoemaker
Zane Dylan Zimmerman, son of Mr. and
Mrs. R. Todd Zimmerman
Thomas Mackenzie Miller, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Duane Miller
Marc Anthony Sisson, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Calvin Sisson
Reid William Zuerlein, son of Dr. Brian
Zuerlein, Ms. Christina LaFever
Mark Thomas Nichting, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Thomas Nichting
Max Barron Slosburg, son of Mr. and
Mrs. D. David Slosburg
Alex Thor Otterberg, son of Dr. and Mrs.
Erik Otterberg
Eric Francis Sullivan, son of Mr. John
Sullivan and Dr. Patricia Sullivan
Maximillian Wheels Petersen, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Eric Petersen
John Mitchell Ursick, son of Mr. and Mrs.
John Ursick
Stags continued
Harrison Jon Kratochvil, son of Drs. Jillyn
and Chris Kratochvil
Thomas Richard Kutilek, son of Dr. and
Mrs. Richard Kutilek
Robert Conal Lindsay, son of Mr. and
Mrs. John C. Lindsay
Spencer Toebben Link, son of Dr. Chris
Link, Ms. Jennifer Toebben
Johnny Egan Marcotte, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Jeffrey Marcotte
Jack Porter McLeay, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Bart McLeay
Daniel Mason Miller, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Duane Miller
Symphony Guild Kick-Off
The guild kicked off its year with a summer mixer at the home of Jan Vrana. With
James Johnson, president & CEO of the Omaha Symphony, are: Jeanie Owen, vicepresident social outreach, Jan Vrana, hostess, and Nancy Ayoub, president of the
Omaha Symphony Guild.
Looking forward to another year of service on the guild are: Carrie
Sitton, Cindy Hanley, Sarah Nihsen and Christine Nikunen.
Grace Notes Winter 2016 • Page 7
Deb Ball Marks 50th Anniversary
by Catherine Mahoney
In 2015, the Omaha Symphony Guild Debutante Ball
celebrated its 50th anniversary in the Omaha community.
The Debutante Ball raises funds raised to support the
educational and outreach programs supported by the
Omaha Symphony. The ball is organized and produced by
the Debutante Ball Committee, a group of 16 women who
volunteer their time to the mission of the Omaha Symphony
and Debutante Ball. The event is the guild’s largest
fundraiser and has become a holiday tradition for many
families.
The 50th anniversary year was com-memorated with two very
special events. The first was the Lizzie Post Luncheon, which
was held Jan. 15 at the Embassy Suites in La Vista. Approximately 450 guests attended the event to hear the great-greatgranddaughter of the acclaimed etiquette authority, Emily
Post. Lizzie Post shared etiquette advice on a wide variety of
topics using a fresh, modern-day perspective.
Matt & Anne Jetter and Brenda Christensen & Mike Morris, Event Chairs
of the Debutante Ball 50th Anniversary.
To further celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Debutante
Ball, a dinner dance was held Aug. 29 at Omaha Country
Club. Approximately 130 guests celebrated the occasion
with entertainment
provided by The Robert
Glazer Band and Sing
Sing Orchestra.
For both events,
honorary chairs were
Martha and David
Slosburg, and chairmen
were Brenda Christensen
and Anne Jetter.
Martha & David Slosburg, Honorary Chairs
of the Debutante Ball 50th Anniversary.
At the Lizzie Post Luncheon, L to R: Ann Kutilek ,
Martha Slosburg and Lizzie Post.
Wally & Mindy Duff and Kim & Jim Simon celebrate 50 years of
the Deb Ball.
At the Lizzie Post Luncheon, L to R: Lynne Boyer,
Lizzie Post, Sunny Lundgren.
At the Lizzie Post Luncheon, L to R: Mary Maxwell,
Lizzie Post, Marian Leary, Ginny Ostrand.
Grace Notes Winter 2016 • Page 8
Table Art Tea & Sneak Peek
A tea was held Dec. 10 at the home of Jan Vrana to underwrite the
upcoming Table Art 2016. Jan is pictured with event chair Melissa Marvin.
2016
Laura Doll,
Catherine
Mahoney and
Danielle Bunz
got a sneak peek
at select Mariposa tableware
at the 2016 Table
Art Preview.
PRESENTED BY THE
OMAHA SYMPHONY GUILD
featuring tableware from
MARIPOSA
Table Art Chair: Melissa Marvin
Honorary Chairs: Karen Dixon, Sandy Parker,
Amy Scott, and Lori Scott
Guild President: Nancy Ayoub
APRIL 5, 2016
EXCLUSIVE PATRON EVENT
Patron and Host Chairs: Cindy & Mogens Bay
APRIL 6, 2016 AT BAXTER ARENA
PREVIEW & SPEAKER LUNCHEON
Mariposa began in 1984, on the heels of founder
Livia Cowan’s youthful adventures through Mexico
with her sister. Nearly three decades later, Mariposa
has brought a myriad of new products and materials
to consumers, the majority being handcrafted from
100% recycled aluminum and glass soft drink bottles.
Whimsical, modern or classic, Mariposa will become
your family heirlooms and favorite gifts.
Rae Dyer, Fatima Basith, Janel Sunderland, Stacy Simon and Debbie Wood.