Page 25 - 1990

Sophomore Kristin Jenkins went to New
York City to play at Carnegie Hall with
the Omaha Youth Symphony. Jenkins is
also in the school band.
Seniors Mike Rhode and Jason Near play
guitar while Dustin Lutz sings "Free
Bird" at Mr. RHS.

Youth Symphony

Students play at Carnegie Hall

By Pam Melichar The Omaha Symphony performed with
A dream shared by all musicians, even two other groups, a high school orches­
the greats, was fulfilled by three Ralston tra from Indianapolis and another or­
students. Stephanie Lawrence, junior vio­ chestra from Houston for one show.
list, Kristin Jenkins, sophomoreviolinist and Jenkins said that the Omaha Symphony
Carisa Leise, eighth grader, played at Car­ was placed last on the bill because they
negie Hall with the Omaha Area Youth had the most difficult repertoire of Men­
Symphony. delssohn and Tchaikovsky and received
Symphony Director Steve Hobson, said a standing ovation at the end of their
that the group was invited to perform in performance.
New York after being heard at the Midwest "As soon as you walked in the hall,
International Band and Orchestra Clinic you had this feeling-it is just indescrib­
held in Chicago during the fall of 1989 by able-just knowing that earlier composers
representatives form Mid America Produc­ like Mahler and Tchaikovsky had stood
tions. So, on April 6, they left for the Big there conducting.", said Jenkins. Law­
Apple. According to Lawrence, the trip cost rence said that, "It (Carnegie Hall) was
each of them $900. Each musician was about the size of the Orpheum, but the
Playing guitar for The Woodpeckers at sound was so much better. The last note
Mr. RHS is Senior Chris Sandquist. required to provide $450 of the fee and the
rest was made up by fundraisers and dona­ just rang out."
tions by both private and corporate sources.