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As Sing Omaha is a 501c3 federally-recognized non-profit organization, we depend on volunteer and financial support from our friends in the community.
402-933-7234
Sing Omaha Office
8438 Park Dr.
Omaha, NE 68127
Adult Choir Conductor, Leadership, Middle-High School Choir Conductor
Dr. Matt Hill founded Sing Omaha Inc. in January, 2007. This 501c3 non-profit organization serves as Nebraska’s Premier K-12/adult choral arts organization, and is comprised of nine choirs, which serve more than 200 singers in Douglas and Sarpy County each year. He currently serves the organization as Artistic Director; conducting two choirs, planning the five-to-seven concert season, and managing artistic staff. As Executive Director, Matt coordinates with the Board of Directors on long-range projects, and manages the day-to-day administrative needs of the organization.
At Sing Omaha Studios, Matt teaches private voice and piano lessons, co-directs the 6-10th grade Summer Show Choir Camps, and serve as the curriculum director for the studio’s voice and piano faculty. Matt works in partnership with the studio’s Business Manager to facilitate day-to-day management of the studio, and to bridge the studio and choir operations.
In addition to his work with Sing Omaha, Matt has served in music ministry steadily since 2003, and has performed as a conductor, chorister, and featured soloist with numerous local and regional ensembles.
Matt was honored as the “Choral Director of the Year” in 2019 by the Nebraska Choral Directors Association. The same organization recognized him as the “Young Choral Director of the Year” in 2015.
Matt earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting under the advisement of Dr. Pete Eklund at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 2019. Matt earned a Master’s degree in choral conducting as a Graduate Assistant at Oklahoma State University in 2012, under the tutelage of Dr. Z. Randall Stroope.
In September, 2014, Matt was hired to serve Peru State College as the Director of Choral Studies. His teaching duties at PSC include: Music Theory, Music History, Choral Methods, and direction of the Concert Chorale and Women’s Choir. Peru State College recognized Dr. Hill as the 2019 “Teaching Excellence Award” winner. His commencement address is viewable on his YouTube channel here.
Also in 2014, he incorporated “Matt Hill Arts” to promote his work as a composer, conductor, clinician, and lecturer. A new website for the endeavor was launched in July 2019, and is live at www.matthillconductor.com.
K-6 Coordinator
Nicole Chapman has been a member of the Sing Omaha faculty since 2009, and currently serves as the K-6th Coordinator for Sing Omaha Choirs. In this role, Nicole oversees the operation of our six elementary-aged choirs in Elkhorn, Millard, and Papillion; working with artistic and administrative faculty and staff to facilitate the Children’s and Youth Choirs operation.
Nicole is the Administrative Intern at Holling Heights Elementary School. Prior to that, she taught 12 years as the elementary music teacher at Holling Heights. Nicole has presented at many local, state, and national conferences including Nebraska Music Educators Conference, Nebraska Choral Directors Conference, Great Plains Orff Chapter, and American Orff Schulwerk National Conference. Nicole has directed Children’s and Youth choirs at Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church, Holling Heights elementary, and for Sing Omaha over the past 12 years. She has also worked as the assistant choral director with Opera Omaha’s children’s ensemble.
Nicole attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Music Education. She is currently pursuing her Educational Specialist (EdS) and Doctorate of Education degrees (EdD) through Doane University. Nicole received her Orff-Schulwerk Level I and II training at UNL and received her Orff Level III certification from the University of St. Thomas.
Sing Omaha Operations Manager
Girls Choir Assistant Conductor
Boys Choir Conductor
Mark Harman has served as Director of Vocal Music at Fremont High School since 2001. Prior to his tenure at Fremont, he spent two years in the Raymond Central Public Schools teaching K-12 Vocal Music. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1999 from Hastings College and his Masters of Music degree in 2007 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Mr. Harman knows the value of excellent music education, and has experienced Sing Omaha’s high standards firsthand. Mr. Harman is excited to be joining the Sing Omaha faculty, and is ready to welcome the Boys’ Choir to the organization!
Mr. Harman’s conducting credits include various festival/honor choirs and master classes with Paul Salamunovich, Rodney Eichenberger, René Clausen, Steve Zegree, Edith Copley, Aimee Beckmann-Collier, and Rick Bjella. His choirs have received consistent superior ratings at District Music Contest. Under his direction, FHS Vocal Music has developed and fostered performing opportunities for area schools including the Froshmore Festival for 9th and 10th grade students.
The Fremont High School Choir has performed on the Omaha Symphony’s Annual Choral Collaborative Concert seven times and sang on the Omaha Symphony’s Celebrate Creativity Concert at the Joslyn Art Museum in the fall of 2003. In 2013, the choir combined forces with area high school choirs, Sing Omaha, and Orchestra Omaha to perform Carmina Burana at the Holland Center. Fremont High School joined Sing Omaha again in 2014 on a concert of music by Norwegian composer/pianist Ola Gjeilo. The FHS Choir has twice (2007 and 2010) been a featured performing ensemble at the Nebraska Music Educators Association Convention. In 2017-18, Mr. Harman is entering his sixth tour with the Nebraska Ambassadors of Music (fifth as choir director), which will tour Europe during the summer of 2019.
Mr. Harman’s professional affiliations include NMEA, ACDA, NCDA, MENC, NSEA, and FEA. In November 2012, he was elected to serve a three-year term on the board of NMEA as Chair of Choral Affairs. He currently serves as a President-Elect for the Nebraska Choral Directors Association, for which he previously served as public relations chair, district representative, and as Short Notes editor. Mr. Harman has twice been honored for excellence by NCDA. In 2005 he was named Outstanding Young Choral Director, and in 2013 he was named Outstanding Choral Director of the year.
Boys Choir Assistant Conductor
YouthChoir Assistant East (Papillion)
Youth Choir Assistant West (Millard)
Dr. Lynda Laird is currently in her 14th year of teaching music and currently serves as the music specialist at Holling Heights Elementary School in the Millard Public School District. She previously taught elementary and middle school music for Bellevue Public Schools. She directs the Holling Heights Elementary Choir and also leads an after school world drumming ensemble. She holds two levels of Orff-Schulwerk certification and delights in seeing children grow in musicianship through creativity and play.
Lynda received a Hixson-Lied Doctoral Fellowship and in 2016 earned her doctorate in Music Education at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. While in residency at UNL, she taught undergraduate courses in elementary music education, choral music education, music and special education, and supervised field experiences for music education students.
She currently serves on the music team at Westwood Community Church in Omaha, NE. Lynda enjoys spending time with her husband, Todd and their three children who also love to sing and make music together! She is excited to join the Sing Omaha faculty, and looks forward to continuing to work with our students in Millard!
Children’s Choir Conductor East (Papillion)
Children’s Choir Conductor West (Millard)
Jackie Havranek is the K-5 music specialist at Morton Elementary School in Millard Public Schools. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in K-12 Vocal Music Education from Wayne State College and is currently pursuing her Master of Music Education degree from the University of Nebraska- Lincoln. Jackie has completed levels I-III of Orff Schulwerk certification and also holds level I certification of Kodaly. She is also active in the Great Plains Orff Chapter as the secretary on the executive board.
In addition to assisting with Sing Omaha’s Children and Youth choirs in Millard, Jackie has also taught voice and piano lessons, and Little Voices classes at Sing Omaha Studios. Jackie and her husband Stewart live in Omaha with their daughter, Nola, and English Bulldog, Beanz.
Girls Choir Pianist
Boys Choir Pianist
Women’s Choir & Master Chorale Pianist
Laurel Andersen Mack is a professional accompanist in the Omaha metropolitan area. She serves Omaha North High School as their choir accompanist, and is active in the area arts community. She has regular gigs with organizations like Opera Omaha, the Omaha Community Playhouse (and other local community theaters), and is in high demand as an audition pianist, due to her sight-reading prowess and professionalism.
Laurel has been a member of the Sing Omaha family since 2010, and currently accompanies three of Sing Omaha’s choirs in weekly rehearsals and seasonal performances. Her talent at the keyboard is matched only by her loyalty to Sing Omaha’s mission. Her vocal coaching experience serves the choirs and conductors well, as does her discerning ear, which allows her to serve as a wonderful collaborator in rehearsals.
