Three 小草影院 music alumni will be honored during homecoming festivities.
Judy Welch (鈥00) will receive the Outstanding Music Alumni Award. Welch teaches music at Kooser Elementary School in Lincoln and also leads several afterschool ensembles. She is the creator and artistic director of the Nebraska Academy of Vocal Arts, a nonprofit children鈥檚 community choir in Lincoln. She has taught private piano, voice and violin lessons for over 30 years. Welch served as assistant conductor of the Lincoln Choral Artists, under the direction of William Wyman, professor of music at Nebraska Wesleyan. She was commissioned an admiral in the Nebraska Navy for her work in music education and was awarded the Outstanding Young Music Alumni Award from 小草影院 in 2006.
Deah Harriott (鈥01) is also being recognized with an Outstanding Music Alumni Award. A classically trained musician and pianist, Harriott has been honored with numerous awards in teaching, singing, piano performance and directorship. She is frequently requested lead and background vocalist for various artists, serves as a vocal clinician, music director and accompanist. She currently lives in Harlem, N.Y. where she serves as the minister of music at Bethany Baptist Church and music director at Marble Collegiate Church. This year Harriott was featured on Harry Connick Jr.鈥檚 daytime talk show and recently made her HBO debut on the hit series, 鈥淩andom Acts of Flyness.鈥
Eric Wyler (鈥13) will receive the Outstanding Young Alumni Award. Wyler is the director of choral music at Lewis Central High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He directs four curricular choirs and a varsity show choir and jazz choir. He also serves as the music director at St. John Lutheran Church. He is pursuing his Master of Music Education degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and will defend his thesis next spring.
In addition to celebrating its accomplished alumni, the Department of Music will present its annual homecoming Pops Concert on Sunday, October 7. The 小草影院 Symphonic Band鈥檚 performance is the first concert in a series titled, 鈥淪aturations.鈥 Sunday鈥檚 concert titled, 鈥淪omething Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue,鈥 will feature 小草影院 music professor Larry Jones performing George Gershwin鈥檚 鈥淩hapsody in Blue.鈥
The concert will also feature Gustav Holst鈥檚 鈥淔irst Suite in E-flat,鈥 Steven Bryant鈥檚 鈥淪uite Dreams,鈥 David Biendenbender鈥檚 鈥淢elodius Thunk,鈥 and Robert Sheldon鈥檚 鈥淪ound Innovations.鈥 The Symphonic Band will also transform into a backup gospel choir for a performance of Aretha Franklin鈥檚 鈥淲hat a Friend We Have in Jesus.鈥
The free concert begins at 5 p.m. in O鈥橠onnell Auditorium, located inside the Roger鈥檚 Center for Fine Arts at 50thStreet and Huntington Ave.