A select group of Phoenix Academy students performed with the Omaha Symphony http://www.omahasymphony.org/ at the Omaha Symphony’s Holiday Concert. The concert was held on Thursday, December 19th at 7:00 p.m. at the Salvation Army Kroc Center (2825 Y St.) http://omahakroc.org/ Our students did a marvelous job.
The students first learned the songs from our music teacher Dr. Laureen Pickle. The Maestro Hal France, http://www.pinnaclearts.com/artist.php?id=102 conductor of the holiday concert, then spent an afternoon at school working with the students. Mr. France taught the students new vocal and diction techniques and made it fun for them at the same time.
Dr. Pickle & Phoenix Academy students
Two other local schools participated in the concert, Highland Elementary and Wilson Focus School. The combined choirs rehearsed at the Kroc Center one afternoon alone and then before the concert had a dress rehearsal with the Omaha Symphony.
The Kroc Center even provided dinner for the children the night of the concert. The event was free to the public and filled to capacity. In addition to the songs performed by the students, the symphony performed several selections, two groups of Omaha Conservatory of Music students performed, and special guest, soprano, Shelby Van Nordstrand delighted the audience with her lovely voice.
The evening culminated with a sing-a-long medley of traditional Christmas carols. It was a beautiful event and we thank Dr. Pickle for giving our students such a wonderful opportunity. WOWT6 did a short story on the event. You can watch it here.http://www.wowt.com/news/