Our Mission

Vesper Concerts provides the greater Omaha community with unique, memorable, and accessible music experiences that engage, educate, and inspire both patrons and performers.

In addition to the free performances to the Omaha community, Vesper Concerts is proud to offer educational outreach opportunities to local schools. Many performers provide masterclasses and workshops to help young musicians hone their craft.

Simon, a member of the Queen’s Six, instructs a workshop at Bellevue West High School.

Elizabeth Borowsky works with a violinist during her trio’s outreach at the Omaha Conservatory of Music.

Donald Ryan talks to a student before his performance at Sacred Heart School.

Anita Graef works with a fellow cellist during a workshop at Millard North High School.

“Getting to hear Ms. Graef play up close and receive advice on how to achieve a more resonant tone was a game changer!”

- Millard North High School Student

“Vesper Concerts provides an unmatched support for artists to explore and connect with audiences, and what’s more, fosters an environment inspiring all to be creative, collaborative, and curious.”

- Garrett Arney, performer

“I have especially appreciated the annual outdoor concerts with a great variety of musical offerings. My husband and I are so grateful for the rich opportunities provided by the Vesper Concerts series.”

- Audience Member

“Donald and Baron Ryan were amazing musicians and even finer gentlemen. They spent time chatting with our students, learning their names and showing genuine interest in them and their lives. It was an exceptional experience for our students. Thank you!”

- Jim Swanson, Director of Student and Family Support at Sacred Heart School

Our History

Vesper Concerts began on September 25, 1988, with a single concert to dedicate the newly-installed Hutching-McFarland-Beaudry organ at Presbyterian Church of the Cross. A program of chamber music created by Dana Sloan, the church’s organist at the time, became known as the Organ Vesper Series, then Vesper Concerts in 2011. A group of Omaha musicians was named for the occasion, The Organ Plus Chamber Players. In the thirty-one years that followed, Vesper Concerts has showcased local, national, and international talent, including nearly 250 concerts by hundreds of performers and many ensembles, both large and small.

Chamber Music is a vital part of the performing arts, as audiences look to make a personal connection with both musicians and their music and seek smaller venues for concerts. Vesper Concerts looks forward to presenting multi-disciplinary and diverse chamber music ensembles, offering new compositions, and making a connection to the Omaha community and beyond through music education and outreach. We look forward to the next thirty years.

Dana Sloan performs with other musicians during the series.

History of Our Hutchings-McFarland Organ

Much of the organ you see and hear today including about half the pipework, the windchests for the manuals, the keyboards, stop knobs, and reservoir have been in existence for over a hundred years. Most of the organ was built specially for this project including pipework, case, key, stop, and combination actions.

James R. McFarland arrived with a crew to begin installation of the organ on January 23, 1987. The first stop of the organ was heard in church on Mother’s Day of that year. In June of 1987 personal and professional considerations made it impossible for McFarland to continue with the project. At that time, Mr. Philip Beaudry, a noted organ builder from Lowell, MA, assumed directorship of the installation responsible for the completion of the physical installation and voicing assisted by Mr. Mark Vik of Cathlamet, WA. These gentlemen worked until March of 1988 to assure a satisfactory completion of the organ.

The stoplist of the organ was designed by McFarland in consultation with Dana Sloan, who was Director of Music at Presbyterian Church of the Cross at that time. Its 31 stops controlling 39 ranks (over 2,000 pipes) are played from a two manual and pedal console directly in front of the central case. As you look at the organ, the central case contains the pipes for the manual (played by the hands) divisions in a two-stories arrangement. The pipes for the Great division (lower manual) are directly behind the front pipes on the upper level. The pipes for the Swell division are directly behind the swell shades (louvers) on the lower level of the central case. The pipes for the Pedal division (played by the feet) are divided between the two side cases.

Board of Operations

Executive Director

Kristi Treu

Board Members

Darold Bauer, President

Kevin Hendrix

Thomas Kluge

Brenda Graumann

Charlotte Hubbard

Sam Rennick

Kate Morris

Nancy Robson

Kathy Leach

John Morey

Staff Members

Annika Shaw

Julianna Cooper