In Saturday’s (1/16) Omaha World-Herald (Nebraska), John Pitcher writes, “Erin Bejot spends most days conducting student musicians at Omaha North High School. So she was understandably excited, even giddy, when she stepped in front of the Omaha Symphony on a recent afternoon at the Holland Performing Arts Center. … Bejot was one of nine music teachers from Omaha Public Schools who attended a new education program last week with the symphony. ‘Educator as Maestro’ provided these teachers with one of the rarest and most valuable commodities in the classical music world—podium time with a professional symphony orchestra. … Orchestras around the country often engage in outreach with their local schools, said Jennifer Boomgaarden, the symphony’s vice president for education and community partnerships. … But ‘Educator as Maestro’ is different. ‘I can’t think of another city where the music teachers actually get to conduct the professional orchestra,’ Boomgaarden said.” Local music teachers spent nearly two days working with the Omaha Symphony, Music Director Thomas Wilkins, and Resident Conductor Ernest Richardson.
In photo: Omaha Symphony Music Director Thomas Wilkins and middle-school teacher Rose Morgan.
Credit: Chris Machian/The World-Herald
Posted January 20, 2010
