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Our City, Our School, Our Program
Kearney Nebraska, the county seat of Buffalo
County, is located on the north bank of the southern most point of
the Platte River and adjacent to Interstate 80. Kearney is home to
over 28,000 people who enjoy an enviable balance of urban amenities
and small town quality of life. It is home to the University of Nebraska
at Kearney, two major hospitals, regional shopping and services, cultural
and recreational attractions, excellent schools, numerous corporate
headquarters and many other major employers. http://www.kearneycoc.org
Kearney Public Schools is comprised
of 11 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 senior high school.
Over 4,500 students
attend KPS, with instruction and services provided by 600+ full time
and part-time faculty and staff. http://www.kearneypublicschools.org
Our Program
The Kearney Public Schools Orchestra program offers
seven different orchestras at three different levels.
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The middle level program includes three different
orchestras; sixth grade strings, seventh grade strings, and eighth
grade strings. Each of the string orchestras meets separately in
each of the two middle schools. Three times a year, these orchestras
are combined at grade level for public performance. These orchestras
have had the opportunity to perform for the Nebraska Legislature
during the "Music In Our Schools" celebration in 1998, 2000, 2004
and again in 2010. In addition, the seventh grade orchestra was the
only middle school selected to perform for the Nebraska Music Educators
Conference in November 2007.
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High school orchestra students are provided with
three different orchestras to participate in: Symphonic Strings,
Symphonic Orchestra and the Camerata Orchestra. Symphonic Strings
serves as an entry level orchestra for the less experienced player.
The Camerata Orchestra is an auditioned orchestra of the more advanced
players. Symphonic Orchestra is a combination of the Symphonic Strings,
wind and percussion players. All three groups have consistently received
superior ratings at district contest. In 1999, the Symphonic Orchestra
and Symphonic Strings received superior ratings as well as best in
their division and best overall at the Festivals of Music-Music In
The Park at Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2008,
the students repeated their success with best in their division and
best overall at the Festivals of Music-Music In The Park at St. Louis,
Missouri, Chicago, Illinois, Minneapolis, Minnesota and Denver, Colorado.
The Symphonic Orchestra was the only Nebraska high school orchestra
to be selected to perform for the Nebraska Music Educators Convention
in 2003.
In Addition:
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The summer program consists of two weeks in June
where various levels of performance are offered. Two weeks of beginning
lessons are offered to anyone grades 5 and up. During those two weeks,
various areas of performance are offered to the exisiting player.
Week One includes: Computer instruction (iMovie, Podcasts, Composition), "Virtuousi" (Youtube), "Never
enough time for..." and "Small group performance." Week
two is"Fiddle Camp" with Cristina Seaborn. Week Two concludes
with an evening concert and bar-b-que.
The staff for the orchestra program includes:
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Dave L. Klein is in his 32nd year of teaching
with the last 23 years as string specialist for Kearney Public Schools.
Prior to teaching orchestra, he was a band director in Ewing, Valentine,
and Norfolk. Dave attended Grand Island High School, and was a student
of the late Larry Maupin, graduated from Hastings College and received
his Masters in Music Education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
He has served as Chairman of Orchestra Affairs for Nebraska Music Educators
Association, twice as well as past president of the Nebraska Chapter
of American String Teachers Association. Dave was awarded “Outstanding
Citizen” in Valentine, The Hastings Symphony “Jim Johnson
Memorial Chair”, selected the "1999 Teacher of the
Year" by the Nebraska Chapter of American String Teachers Association
and the 2010-2011 National Federation of State High School
Associations (NFHS) Outstanding Music Educator of the Year for Nebraska.
During his teaching career Dave’s ensembles and students
have received consistent superior ratings both at the district and
national
level and constantly had impressive numbers in the Nebraska All-State
Orchestra, State Honor Groups, and participated in National Select
Orchestras. In 2003, the Kearney High School Orchestra was selected
to perform for the Nebraska Music Educators’ convention. Dave
is currently principal bass for the Hastings Symphony, and a freelance
musician, as well as active clinician and adjudicator. Dave has played
an assortment of instruments and genre as a semi and professional musician
since he was thirteen years old.
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Carol Ellenwood is in her nineteenth year of
teaching for Kearney Public Schools. Prior teaching experience includes
thirteen years with Pleasanton Public Schools and four years with
Amherst Public Schools. She has earned her Bachelors and Masters
in Music Education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Her
current teaching assignment includes elementary orchestra (11 schools)
and team teaching sixth and seventh grade orchestra at both middle
schools. Her professional organizations include Nebraska Music Educators
Association; American String Teachers Association and their Nebraska
chapter of which she serves as their webmaster; National Education
Association; and executive secretary for the Kearney Concert Association.
In 2003, Carol was selected the "Teacher of the Year" by
the Nebraska Chapter of American String Teachers Association.
The success of the program is a result of four essential
parts;
The school district, who provides the financial
commitment to the program.
The staff, who provides the instruction.
The parents, who provide the encouragement.
The students, who with their hard work make
it all happen.
If you have any questions or comments, please let us know.
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