Sing Omaha Choirs Faculty

Leadership

Dr. Matt Hill

Executive / Artistic Director

Conductor :

Girls Choir, Women’s Choir, Master Chorale

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.

Heidi Bush

Sing Omaha
Operations Manager

Middle/High School Choir Conductors

Matt Hill

Dr. Matt Hill

 Girls Choir, Women’s Choir, 

Master Chorale

Emily Jackson

Emily Jackson

Girls Choir
Assistant Conductor

Papillion K-6 Conductors

Rebecca

Rebecca Andersen

Children’s Choir (K-2nd)

Heidi Bush headshot

Heidi Bush

Youth Choir (3-6th)

Millard K-6 Conductors

Emily H

Emily Heisterkamp

Children’s Choir (K-2nd)

Madeline H

Madeline Henecke

Youth Choir (3-6th)

Gretna K-6 Conductors

Abby2024

Abby Beach

Children’s Choir (K-2nd)

Lauren Boyer

Lauren Byers

Youth Choir (3-6th)

Pianists

Barb-Jones

Barb Jones

Girls Choir

laurelmack-800px

Laurel Mack

Women’s Choir & Master Chorale

Sing Omaha Choirs

Dr. Matt Hill

Adult Choir Conductor, Leadership, Middle-High School Choir Conductor

Dr. Matt Hill founded Sing Omaha Inc. in January, 2007. This 501c3 nonprofit organization serves as Nebraska’s Premier K-12/adult choral arts organization, and is comprised of eight choirs, which serve more than 300 singers in Douglas and Sarpy County each year. He currently serves the organization as Artistic Director; conducting three choirs, planning the eight-concert season, and managing artistic faculty. As Executive Director, Matt coordinates with the Board of Directors on long-range projects, and manages the long-term planning needs of the organization.

At Sing Omaha Studios, Matt teaches private voice lessons, co-directs Sing Omaha’s Summer Show Choir Camps, and serve as the curriculum director for the studio’s faculty. Matt works in partnership with the studio’s Operations 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, Dr. Hill serves as Director of Choral Activities at Creighton University where he conducts the Chamber Choir and University Chorus, and teaches music coursework. Matt has also 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. He was also recognized as the “Teaching Excellence” award winner (faculty member of the year) at Peru State in 2019.

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.

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.

Heidi Bush

Sing Omaha Operations Manager

Heidi Bush earned a bachelor’s degree in music education at Montana State University-Bozeman (MSU) in 2008, and a Master’s degree in music education from Boston University in 2011. While at MSU Heidi served as President for the Collegiate National Association for Music Education. Heidi taught K-12 music in Montana for four years, and now serves Sing Omaha Studios as the Operations Manager where she manages lesson scheduling, oversees curriculum delivery, and serves as the primary point of contact for studio students and their families. She also serves as a teaching faculty member, maintaining an active studio of piano and voice students of her own at Sing Omaha Studios.
 
Heidi is also heavily involved with the Sing Omaha Choirs program, conducting our Papillion Youth Choir and assisting with many of the administrative duties associated with the organization’s eight choirs. Heidi is grateful to be a stay-at-home mom to two busy children, Kyler and Kaia, and she enjoys singing with the Sing Omaha Women’s Choir each week.

Emily Jackson

Girls Choir Assistant Conductor

Emily Jackson earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from UNO in 2022. She currently serves as the Vocal Music teacher at Blair Middle School where she conducts the choirs and teaches Music Technology classes. Emily teaches voice and piano lessons at Sing Omaha Studios, and serves as the Assistant Conductor of the Sing Omaha Girls Choir. She also sings soprano in Sing Omaha’s adult choirs. Her mission as an educator is to meet students at their current level, and to bring joy and confidence to their music making.

Rebecca Andersen

Children’s Conductor (Papillion)

Rebecca Andersen earned a bachelors degree in music education at Augustana College, and a masters degree in music education at University of Nebraska at Omaha. She has taught elementary music since 2016, and is currently the music teacher at Trumble Park Elementary in Papillion. 

In addition to directing the children’s choir, Rebecca is a member of the Sing Omaha Women’s Choir. When she is not making music, she loves to read, be outside, and spend time with her partner Daniel and cat Greta. 

Heidi Bush

Youth Choir Conductor (Papillion)

Heidi Bush earned a bachelor’s degree in music education at Montana State University-Bozeman (MSU) in 2008, and a Master’s degree in music education from Boston University in 2011. While at MSU Heidi served as President for the Collegiate National Association for Music Education. Heidi taught K-12 music in Montana for four years, and now serves Sing Omaha Studios as the Business Manager where she manages teaching faculty, oversees curriculum delivery, and serves as the primary point of contact for studio students and their families. She also serves as a teaching faculty member, maintaining an active studio of piano and voice students of her own at Sing Omaha Studios.
 
Heidi is also heavily involved with the Sing Omaha Choirs program, conducting the Papillion Youth Choir and assisting with many of the administrative duties associated with the organization’s ten choirs. Heidi is grateful to be a stay-at-home mom to two busy children, Kyler and Kaia, and she enjoys singing with the Sing Omaha Women’s Choir each week.

Emily Heisterkamp

Children’s Choir Conductor (Millard)

Emily Heisterkamp is the KG-6th General Music Specialist at Hillside Elementary School in Omaha, NE. This is her 5th year with Westside District 66 and her 16th year of teaching overall. She has experience with students from KG-12th and with band, choir, and general music. Emily did her undergraduate degree at Northwest Missouri State University and her graduate degree at The Florida State University. She has completed Levels I, II, and III in Kodály and Orff-Schulewerk.

Emily is a proud member of OAKE, MKMEA, AOSA, GPOC, and serves as secretary for PSKOR.  She recently completed the Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms program during the 2023-2024 school year which culminated in an international experience in India.  In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, yoga, and spending time with family and friends. 

Madeline Henecke

Youth Choir Conductor (Millard)

Madeline is a K-6 grade general music teacher in Westside Community Schools. She earned her Bachelors of Music Education degree from UNL in 2015, as well as a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Creighton University in 2018. Madeline is an active member of the Sing Omaha Women’s Choir, and is excited to serve the Sing Omaha Choirs faculty as the director of the Millard Youth Choir.

Abby Beach

Children’s Choir (K-2nd)

Abby Beach teaches K-5th grade music in the Gretna Public School District. She earned a Bachelors of Music Education degree from The University of South Dakota in 2020, and is  currently pursuing a masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Doane University. Abby is an active member of Sing Omaha’s Women’s choir, teaches individual and group piano lessons and directs the Gretna Children’s Choir. She also leads Sing Omaha’s “Music Explorer” camp each summer.

Lauren Byers

Youth Choir (3-6th)

Lauren Byers is the vocal music specialist for Ashland-Greenwood Public Schools. She earned her Bachelors degree in Vocal and Instrumental Music Education from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 2020, and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. During her time at Wesleyan she was able to travel across the United States with her collegiate ensembles. Lauren loves to watch her students’ skills develop and their love and enjoyment of music grow. She is also an active member of the Sing Omaha Master Chorale.!

Barb Jones

Girls Choir Pianist

Barb earned a Bachelor of Music degree in PK-12 Vocal Music Education from Hastings College in 1998. Her teaching career has taken her to Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, and eventually back home to Nebraska, where she was born and raised. She has had the pleasure of teaching in both rural and urban school settings, as well as both private and public schools.

Barb has been an avid pianist over the years, playing for schools, churches, and choirs, as well as having taught private lessons. She also enjoys performing as an Alto in the Sing Omaha Women’s Choir, and looks forward to building relationships with singers in the Girls Choir.

Laurel Mack

Women’s Choir & Master Chorale Pianist

Laurel Andersen Mack is a professional accompanist in the Omaha metropolitan area. 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 two 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.