Jackson Berkey at Morning Assembly

Musicians speak to students, work with K-O vocalists

Musicians Almeda and Jackson Berkey offered composition and performance workshops to K-O choral students and spoke to the entire school community during their two-day visit Wednesday, April 14 and Thursday, April 15 as part of the Schools Goodman Banks Series of visiting artists.

At K-O on Wednesday, the husband and wife pair held a master class with the Upper Schools elite Outlook Singers (formerly known as Chamber/Jazz), focusing on Evening Shadows. They then worked with Cantabile, the elite 7th- and 8th-grade choir, on the commissioned work Certain Am I.

On Thursday, Jackson Berkey was the featured guest of an all-school assembly, where he performed and spoke to students and faculty. The pair then held an open seminar class with interested students and faculty. Before leaving, the couple had one final master class with Cantabile.

Both have extensive musical backgrounds. Jackson Berkey is a composer, performer and teacher. His published catalog offers more than 400 titles, including choral, solo vocal and instrumental, chamber ensemble, and band and orchestral works. Perhaps best known as a pianist and recording artist, Jackson Berkey has been the featured keyboardist with the multiplatinum-selling group Mannheim Steamroller for 37 years.

He has received numerous honors and awards, including the Nebraska Individual Artist Fellowship for Performing Arts Distinguished Achievement in Composition Award and first prize in the New Music for Young Ensembles Composition Contest.

Almeda Berkey, known as a conductor, lyric soprano, lyricist and teacher, co-founded Nebraskas Professional Chorale Soli Deo Gloria Cantorum in 1988 and continues to direct its artistic endeavors. She also has conducted the Omaha Cantata Choir for 30 years.

She has played keyboard with Mannheim Steamroller in concerts since 1973, taking her across the United States, Canada and Europe. She continues to sing and guest conduct.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Jackson
• Berkey
• Manheim
• Steamroller
• Kingswood-Oxford
• K-O