Participants of the 2023/24 Concert Series

About:

As the pride of Riordan, the toast of San Francisco, the Riordan Band represents the best of the high school experience. Most students in the band programme arrive at Riordan with no previous musical training but go on to represent the school as some of the most sought after instrumental performers from the Bay Area at many colleges and universities. The Riordan Band, currently under the direction of Lance C. Ohnmeiss, 11th director of bands, has been entertaining San Francisco audiences since its inception inf 1949. The Archbishop Riordan award winning music programme’s mission is to provide a performance based musical education, through the fundamentals of musicianship, technical instruction of individual instrument groups, practice in self discipline, student leadership, service, and performances at both community events and competitions/festivals. It has won many first and second place awards for marching band, concert band, jazz band, winter percussion, and winter colour guard. The Riordan Band has performed in the past in London, England, Vancouver, British Columbia, Hawaii, and Rome Italy as well as all across the western United States.

About the Director:

Mr. Ohnmeiss is the Director of Bands, Artistic Director of the Northern Appalachian Wind Symphony (NAWS) in northeastern Pennsylvania and a professional French horn player. An alumnus of San Francisco State University, Lance holds a Bachelor of Music, with an emphasis in music education and a Master of Music, in conducting from Messiah College, Grantham, Pennsylvania. As a clinician and conductor he has taught music clinics to a wide variety of schools throughout Northern California and guest conducted for the Luzerne County High School Honor Band, Pennsylvania. Over the past nine years he has coached six Northern Californian Drum Major Champions. Mr. Ohnmeiss currently is one of the Area VI representatives for the California Music Educators Association Bay Section board of directors and is a member of many musical and educational organizations in California and Pennsylvania.

Social Media:

Website: www.riordanhs.org

Instagram: riordanbands

About:

The Nebraska Youth Orchestra consists of exemplary student musicians from two of Nebraska’s awarding wining youth orchestras, Lincoln Youth Symphony and The Omaha Area Youth Orchestra.

The Lincoln Public Schools founded the Lincoln Youth Symphony in 1957. Students from throughout the city were invited to be charter members of an exciting new project. It was the goal of the founders to create a ‘cream of the crop’ orchestra made up of the city’s best young performers. The orchestra has maintained this excellence throughout its history and as a result, many musicians in Lincoln and around the country have begun their musical careers with the Lincoln Youth Symphony experience. The Symphony is proud of its long history of excellent conductors and staff.

The orchestra’s international travel history has included recent visits and performances in Rome (2009, 2019), Vienna and Budapest (2011), Leipzig, Dresden and Prague (2014), and Dublin and Belfast (2016). The orchestra has been involved in international performances and cultural exchanges with youth orchestras in Mexico City, Hong Kong, and Guangzhou, China. As part of the Chinese exchange, LYS and the orchestra from Guangzhou gave a joint performance in Lincoln in the fall of 2000. Lincoln Youth Symphony completed a successful performance trip to Beijing, China, and performed a concert at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing in March, 2003. In the spring of 2005 the orchestra toured Austria, playing concerts in Vienna, Graz, and Bad Ischl with additional visits to Salzburg and Innsbruck.

The Omaha Area Youth Orchestras (OAYO) was established in 1958 and consists of four ensembles that provide instruction and performance opportunities for over 300 students each season. Students audition annually in April for positions within three progressively more challenging ensembles or may be recommended by their teacher for our non-auditioned orchestra.  OAYO participants range in age from 8 to 18 and are from over 100 schools and 20 school districts in the Omaha Area.

The Omaha Area Youth Orchestra programmes enhance the lives and musical abilities of youth in a group setting that also builds leadership skills, fosters discipline, and develops educated listeners and future arts supporters. Although only some of these students will become professional musicians, all of them are provided with the skills to enjoy a life of active participation in the arts as volunteers, teachers, and concert attendees.

About the directors:

Mr. Clark Potter, Musical Director, Lincoln Youth Symphony

Clark Potter has conducted the Lincoln Youth Symphony since 2007 and has conducted that ensemble in seven European nations. LYS recently celebrated its 65^th season of bring great music to the community and the world. A native of the state of Washington in the USA, Mr. Potter is Professor of Viola at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, where he is also on the conducting faculty.  He is a member of three chamber ensembles, is an active recitalist, and he recently retired from the

principal viola position of Lincoln’s professional symphony after 26 years. He has overseen research in breathing habits and training in upper string players and recently finished his own edition of the Bach cello suites for viola. Potter is in demand as an adjudicator and clinician at schools around the nation, he has conducted middle-level All-State orchestras in four US states and has conducted a

youth orchestra in Budapest. In 2008, Mr. Potter was recognized by the Nebraska chapter of the American String Teachers Association as String Educator of the Year. His college degrees are from Western Washington University, Indiana University and

California Institute of the Arts, with significant study in viola and violin from Peter Marsh, James Dunham, Richard Goldner, Charmian Gadd, Mimi Zweig and Georges Janzer.

Mr. Terry Rush, Musical Director, Lincoln Youth Symphony

Prior to Terry R. Rush’s retirement as a long standing music educator for Lincoln Public Schools, he was the instrumental music director at Lincoln Southwest High School for five years and the Director of Instrumental Music at Lincoln High School for twenty-five years. Before that was the Director of Bands at Pius X High School. He has been a member of the Lincoln Symphony for 50 seasons and the Lincoln Municipal Band for 51 years serving as principal trombone as well as guest soloist.

Since retirement, he has had the opportunity to assist at Doane University and continues to serve as a low brass, jazz, marching and concert band clinician and adjudicator throughout the Midwest of America, as well as directing numerous conference honour bands and orchestras. In 2001 Mr. Rush was appointed Assistant Director of the Lincoln Municipal Band. In 2002 he was appointed Assistant Music Director and brass coach of the Lincoln Youth Symphony. Mr. Rush is a past officer on the board of the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association. He is a past winner of the Donald A. Lenz Outstanding Nebraska Bandmaster, recipient of the John Philip Sousa Foundation National Legion of Honour Award and the Nebraska National Guard Medal of Freedom for his support to military music programmes. Mr. Rush is the 2010 recipient of the Lincoln Symphony Golden Baton Award and was awarded the 2018 John Shildneck Service Award from the Lincoln Municipal Band.

Ms. Aviva Segall, Musical Director, Omaha Area Youth Orchestra

The 2023-2024 Season marks the 25th season that Aviva Segall has held her “dream job” as Music Director and Principal Conductor for the Omaha Area Youth

Orchestras. Ms. Segall works as a guest conductor and clinician with a variety of ensembles. A sample of groups she recently worked with include the Omaha Symphony, ASTA national conference, Sewanee Summer Music Festival, Wisconsin middle level All State and school districts throughout the country. She served on the Board of Directors for the American Symphony Orchestra League, Youth Orchestra Division, the Nebraska Music Education Association and on panels for the National Endowment for the Arts. Ms. Segall previously held conducting positions with the Oregon Symphony Orchestra and the Portland Youth Philharmonic. Ms. Segall studied at Wellesley College, the University of Southern California and Northwestern University. Ms. Segall’s principal conducting mentors include Victor Yampolsky, Daniel Lewis, Murry Sidlin, and James De Priest.

Social Media

Website: www.oayo.org

About:

The Great Oak Jazz Ensembles enter their 20th year anniversary under the Direction of Jerry Burdick-Rutz. The ensembles have been honored to host several well known artists including Sherry Williams; Kornel Fakete-Kovacs; Delfeayo Marsalis; and most recently Derek Brown (aka Beatbox Sax). The Jazz Ensembles under the moniker “Soul Tree”, have performed on stage in the American Cathedral in Paris and Cadogan Hall in London.

About the Director:

Mr. Burdick-Rutz enters his 20th year as Director of Music at Great Oak H.S. He earned his masters Degree from the University of New Mexico & his Bachelors of Music from Michigan State University. At MSU, he was the Drum Major of the Spartan Marching Band, and was Drum Major of the 1993 World Champion Cadets of Bergen County Drum & Bugle Corps.

Social Media: 

Website: SpiritofGreatOak

Facebook: SpiritofGreatOak

Youtube: SpiritofGreatOak

About:

The Vestavia Hills High School Choral Department is located just south of Birmingham, Alabama in the suburb of Vestavia Hills. The Choral Department, under the direction of Taylor Stricklin and Noah Burns, consists of eight choirs. These choirs meet daily and consistently work to develop proper vocal techniques, music theory skills, sight-reading skills, leadership, and community through ensemble singing.

The Vestavia Hills High School Choral Department has performed in many locations within the United States including New York City, New York; Orlando, Florida; and Kansas City, Missouri. The choir is very excited to performing internationally for the first time!

About the Directors:

Taylor Stricklin is the Choral Director at Vestavia Hills High School. Mr. Stricklin is a native of Birmingham, Alabama. He earned his Bachelor of Choral Music Education degree from Samford University. In the spring of 2020, he graduated with a Masters in Music in Choral Conducting from Louisiana State University. Prior to Graduate in his studies Mr. Stricklin taught choral music at Dauphine Junior High School and at Enterprise High School in Enterprise, Alabama. He currently sings in several professional ensembles around the southeast and serves as the Assistant Conductor of Iron City Singers, a community choir in Birmingham.

Noah Burns, is the Assistant Choral Director at Vestavia Hills High School. Mr. Burns received his undergraduate degree in Music Education from the University of Alabama. While at Alabama, he served as a student conductor of the Chamber Choir and founded Tune In, a co-ed 16-member a cappella ensemble at UA.

Social Media:

Website: www.vestavia.com

Facebook: vestaviahillschoir

Instagram: vestaviahillschoir

About:

The West Boca Raton High School Band, known as the “Vanguard”, is made up of 175 student musicians performing in seven different musical ensembles. The band programme features the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Bands 1&2, Pep Band, Percussion Ensemble, and various Chamber groups as well. The “Vanguard” shines as one of the top band programmes in both Palm Beach County and all of Florida, as each of its ensembles consistently receive Superior ratings at both the District and State levels.

In the spring of 2018, the West Boca Wind Ensemble was invited to and performed at the Music for All National Concert Band Festival held in Indianapolis. In both 2016 and 2020, the West Boca Band traveled overseas acting as ambassadors for both Palm Beach County and the entire State of Florida with performances in the London New Year’s Day Parade in London, England. The Vanguard is thrilled to be here in Rome for New Year’s 2024!

About the Director:

Mr. Larry Shane, a National Board Certified teacher, received his Bachelor’s degree in Music from the University of Miami in 1991 and his Master’s degree in Education from the University of Central Florida in 2004. He is currently in his twelfth year as the Band Director at West Boca Raton HS, with previous experience teaching in high schools in both Florida and North Carolina.

Social Media:

Website: West Boca High School Vanguard

About the Band:

The West Boca Raton High School Vocal Academy is made up of 125 student musicians performing in five different musical ensembles. As one of the top choral programmes in the State of Florida, the Vocal Departments consistently receive Superior Ratings at the District and State levels. Recently, we were invited to perform at Carnegie Hall as well as the Florida ACDA convention.

About the Director: 

Ms. Briggs is the Choral Director at West Boca Raton Community High School. Graduating from Illinois Wesleyan University, she pursued a Masters in Choral Conducting from Florida Atlantic University and a Masters in Music Education from Silver Lake College. Ms. Briggs is the Co-Founder of Espressivo, a professional ensemble.

Social Media: 

Facebook: westbocachoir

X: @westbocachoir

Instagram: @westbocachoir

YouTube: westbocachoir