Eileen Jahn
director of Nebraskats, 308.865.8618
The Nebraskats, the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s show choir, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12, in the Fine Arts Recital Hall.
The Nebraskats, which includes seven men and seven women, will perform Manhattan Melodies, Friendship, Steam Heat, Medley from Smoky Joe’s Café and Disney Spectacular. The concert is free and open to the public.
According to Eileen Jahn, the ensemble director, the Nebraskats has been in existence longer than any currently performing collegiate show choir in Nebraska. Each spring, approximately 40-50 students audition for the 14 singer/dancer positions for the following year’s ensemble. Membership is open to all full-time UNK students.
“The Nebraskats are in great demand for performances on campus, and in Kearney and surrounding communities,” Jahn said. “In addition, the group has toured and performed in Chicago, Washington, D.C., Japan, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, England, China and Australia, as well as for UNK Alumni groups in California and Arizona.”
Jahn, who holds a master’s of music in vocal performance from Kansas State University, was a singer/dancer with the Nebraskats 1992-1996. She graduated from UNK in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in music. In addition to directing the Nebraskats, she operates a private voice and piano studio.
Members of the 2004-05 Nebraskats, listed alphabetically by hometown, include:
Ayr- Derek Gangwish, bass
Elgin- Meredith Beckman, soprano
Gibbon- Jenna Johannsen, alto
Grand Island- Russtanna Faimon, soprano; Thomas Carlson, tenor
Holdrege- Erin Kosmicki, alto
Kearney-Ashley Hellerich, soprano; Joseph Knispel, tenor; Logan Stickney, tenor
Leigh- Drew Marty, bass
North Platte- Brette Covington, alto
Omaha- Whitney Baker, soprano
Petersburg- Casey Stokes, tenor
Verdon- Dustin Johnson, bass
Members of the 2004-05 Nebraskats Band, also listed alphabetically by hometown, include:
Holdrege- Dirk Riley, percussion
Omaha- Sarah Reeks, alto saxophone; Adam Grazier, trumpet; Micah Yost, sound technician
Ravenna- Brad Bohn, bass guitar
Rogers- Joseph Krula, piano
COLORADO
Denver- Ryan Head, guitar
