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Artistic Staff
Meet the staff who guide and prepare us for the wonderful performances we do throughout the year.
Artistic Director
To Be Determined
David Gardner,
Composer in Residence
Dave Gardner’s music, ranging from a cappella to larger choral & orchestral works, has been performed internationally at various concerts, festivals, competitions, and recitals by a variety of community and professional organizations to include the Omaha Symphony, Boston Children’s Chorus, William Baker Festival Singers, Nebraska Wind Symphony, and numerous universities and community choruses. Recent years have brought exciting new venues, new premieres, new locations and performances around the world, and new experiences as a member of the Omaha Symphonic Chorus artistic staff. Perhaps one of the most unexpected highlights was the honor of having his arrangement of "Loch Lomond" performed by the National Youth Choir of Scotland for the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Scottish National Parliament, attended not only by members of parliament, but also Her Majesty The Queen and Prince, now His Majesty the King, Charles.
Dave is currently the Composer-in-Residence for the Omaha Symphonic Chorus of Omaha, Nebraska. His deeply introspective, beautifully melodic and moving compositional style appeals to a wide range of audiences and performers. He believes that the greatest innovation and challenge for the modern composer is not just the creation of something new, but of something unique, accessible, and enduring. Dave enjoys working with local poets and organizations to collaboratively create original works. Whenever possible, he rehearses and conducts performances of his music, providing compositional insight and interpretation from the composer’s point-of-view. His interests also include speaking with students and aspiring artists about self-publishing, music composition, and the confident pursuit of musical interests. Dave has also taught Music Composition and Theory as an Adjunct Professor at Grace University in Omaha, Nebraska.
Since 2015, Dave has directed Freedom Voices, an a cappella chamber choir dedicated to the service of military veterans and their families. In this capacity, he has performed in over 100 official ceremonies for over 27,000 people to include veterans, family members, DoD personnel, and numerous dignitaries from the highest echelons of the government and military.
Mr. Gardner earned his undergraduate degree in music composition and theory from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He studied composition with Dr. W. Kenton Bales and consulted with Dr. Z. Randall Stroope regarding composition whenever the opportunity arose. Performing extensively under the direction of Dr. Stroope, Dave was heavily influenced by Stroope’s deeply moving compositional style and use of rich choral textures, each driven by a profound understanding of textual meaning and significance, and conveyed through beautiful melodies that mirrored each subtle and overt poetic nuance. Mr. Gardner completed his Master of Science in Music Technology degree at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, a unique program that leverages expertise from both the Indiana University Department of Music and the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology.
Dave is currently the Composer-in-Residence for the Omaha Symphonic Chorus of Omaha, Nebraska. His deeply introspective, beautifully melodic and moving compositional style appeals to a wide range of audiences and performers. He believes that the greatest innovation and challenge for the modern composer is not just the creation of something new, but of something unique, accessible, and enduring. Dave enjoys working with local poets and organizations to collaboratively create original works. Whenever possible, he rehearses and conducts performances of his music, providing compositional insight and interpretation from the composer’s point-of-view. His interests also include speaking with students and aspiring artists about self-publishing, music composition, and the confident pursuit of musical interests. Dave has also taught Music Composition and Theory as an Adjunct Professor at Grace University in Omaha, Nebraska.
Since 2015, Dave has directed Freedom Voices, an a cappella chamber choir dedicated to the service of military veterans and their families. In this capacity, he has performed in over 100 official ceremonies for over 27,000 people to include veterans, family members, DoD personnel, and numerous dignitaries from the highest echelons of the government and military.
Mr. Gardner earned his undergraduate degree in music composition and theory from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He studied composition with Dr. W. Kenton Bales and consulted with Dr. Z. Randall Stroope regarding composition whenever the opportunity arose. Performing extensively under the direction of Dr. Stroope, Dave was heavily influenced by Stroope’s deeply moving compositional style and use of rich choral textures, each driven by a profound understanding of textual meaning and significance, and conveyed through beautiful melodies that mirrored each subtle and overt poetic nuance. Mr. Gardner completed his Master of Science in Music Technology degree at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, a unique program that leverages expertise from both the Indiana University Department of Music and the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology.
Stacie Haneline,
Pianist
A versatile pianist, Stacie Haneline maintains an active recital career in symphonic, chamber, opera, vocal and instrumental repertoire. Thomas Wilkins (Music Director of the Omaha Symphony and Principal Conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra) states, “…her musical excellence is overshadowed only by her generous spirit and kindness to her colleagues.” Stacie’s career highlights include performing with Boston Symphony’s Hawthorne Quartet in the world premiere of Clint Needham’s Voices for String Quartet and Orchestra; and the premiere of Leslie Adams’ Dunbar Songs with soprano Gail Robinson-Oturu. Haneline has served as a collaborative pianist for the Sydney Opera House, the University of Australia, New York City Opera, Kennedy Center, Hawaii Opera, Virginia Symphony, Virginia Opera, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brevard Music Center, Omaha Symphony and Opera Omaha.
An established collaborator with Nebraska-based soprano, Jamie Reimer, Haneline and Reimer performed at the African American Arts Song Alliance featuring Robert Owens’ 4 Sonnets to Duse, and most recently, the duo has developed cutting-edge research on collaborative partnerships between singers and pianists, presenting their findings in Stockholm, Sweden and at the International Symposium on Performance Science in Reykjavik, Iceland. Stacie also frequently joins flutist Christine Beard, with whom she has performed at the National Flute Association Convention, at flute festivals in Ecuador, Honduras and France, and on numerous faculty recitals at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Stacie’s avid accomplishments as a chamber artist garnered her recognition as a semi-finalist for the coveted American Prize in chamber music as a member of I, the Siren 2015.
A passionate proponent of chamber music, Ms. Haneline’s arts administration experience extends throughout multiple organizations, including a 10-year position as Executive Director of the Omaha Chamber Music Society. For her efforts, Wilkins has again hailed Stacie, stating that, “her tireless efforts to keep chamber music alive in the city is a gift not only to my musicians, but to our entire community as well.” In her current role as Artistic Director for Vesper Concerts, she enjoys collaborating and programming many different musical and artistic genres, and is particularly drawn towards socially relevant projects.
A graduate of the Manhattan School of Music and Converse College, Haneline studied with Dr. Mark Silverman, Arkady Aronov and Dr. Douglas Weeks, as well as Josef Raieff and Marilyn Neeley. Stacie joined the piano faculty at the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2010 where she serves as the collaborative pianist for visiting artists, faculty, and ensembles.
2023 Guest Conductors
Meet the guest conductors who with be joining us for this 2023-2024 concert season.
Dr. Heather Roberson
Dr. Heather Roberson’s experience as a choir director and voice instructor spans over two decades. Originally from Mt. Pleasant, IA, Dr. Roberson has held teaching positions in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, and Colorado. She currently teaches studio voice at Iowa Western Community College and at Valley View Music in Council Bluffs.
Prior to returning to the Midwest in 2022, Dr. Roberson was Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Voice at Western Colorado University in Gunnison, CO. She directed Western’s Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, taught studio voice, music education, conducting, music history, seminar in music research, and courses in the general education curriculum. She also organized the annual Western Slope Honor Choir festival, a high school honor choir that brought over 150 students from around the state of Colorado to Western’s campus each spring.
As a soprano soloist, Dr. Roberson performed in the Gunnison and Crested Butte (CO) communities, as well as with Western’s Chamber Orchestra. She has also been a guest soloist with the Dodge City Symphony (KS), and the Iowa Wesleyan University Concert Choir. Prior to her appointment at WCU, she was the Director of Choral Activities and Voice Instructor at Dodge City Community College, and served on the voice faculty at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.
Dr. Roberson received her DMA in Choral Conducting with honors from the University of Kansas, her MA in Choral Conducting from the University of Iowa, and her BM in Vocal Performance from Illinois Wesleyan University.
Heather is married to Dave and they have two children, Grant and Leah. She is thrilled and honored to serve as a guest conductor for the Omaha Symphonic Chorus this fall.
Prior to returning to the Midwest in 2022, Dr. Roberson was Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Voice at Western Colorado University in Gunnison, CO. She directed Western’s Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, taught studio voice, music education, conducting, music history, seminar in music research, and courses in the general education curriculum. She also organized the annual Western Slope Honor Choir festival, a high school honor choir that brought over 150 students from around the state of Colorado to Western’s campus each spring.
As a soprano soloist, Dr. Roberson performed in the Gunnison and Crested Butte (CO) communities, as well as with Western’s Chamber Orchestra. She has also been a guest soloist with the Dodge City Symphony (KS), and the Iowa Wesleyan University Concert Choir. Prior to her appointment at WCU, she was the Director of Choral Activities and Voice Instructor at Dodge City Community College, and served on the voice faculty at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.
Dr. Roberson received her DMA in Choral Conducting with honors from the University of Kansas, her MA in Choral Conducting from the University of Iowa, and her BM in Vocal Performance from Illinois Wesleyan University.
Heather is married to Dave and they have two children, Grant and Leah. She is thrilled and honored to serve as a guest conductor for the Omaha Symphonic Chorus this fall.
Dr. A. Barron Breland
With degrees in Music Theory and Choral Conducting from the University of Georgia and the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Dr. A. Barron Breland has a diverse background in many different fields of music, including the piano and saxophone. Currently, he is the Vice Provost for Faculty & Academic Affairs and Dean of the Graduate School at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, where he was formerly Professor of Music and Chair of the Department of Fine & Performing Arts, conducting their premiere ensemble, the Creighton University Chamber Choir, and teaching classes in music theory, history, and conducting.
Breland is in demand throughout the Midwest as a conductor, chorusmaster, clinician, and adjudicator, and he has prepared choruses for Grammy and Tony-winning artists such as Laura Benanti, John Mellencamp, Norm Lewis, Brian d’Arcy James, and conductors Dale Warland and Ted Sperling. Breland has also served as Chorusmaster and prepared numerous works for the Omaha Symphony, including Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Carmina Burana, Elijah, Messiah, and many others.
Breland’s first exposure to professional choral music was as a member of the Atlanta Boy Choir where he performed with Robert Shaw and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, as well as in tours and festivals throughout Europe. Today, he is also the Principal Guest Conductor of Résonance, a semi-professional chorus whose debut album Pilgrimage was released in July 2020 on the MSR Classics label.
Breland became the Artistic Director of the River City Mixed Chorus in January 2011, and in his 12-year tenure with the organization the ensemble has grown to over 160 active singing members, has headlined conferences and performed alongside Grammy-winning Conspirare, and has taken the stages of historic and iconic venues around the region. All of the ensembles under Breland’s leadership perform regularly with the Omaha Symphony, and all have performed at state and regional ACDA, and NMEA conferences.
Breland is in demand throughout the Midwest as a conductor, chorusmaster, clinician, and adjudicator, and he has prepared choruses for Grammy and Tony-winning artists such as Laura Benanti, John Mellencamp, Norm Lewis, Brian d’Arcy James, and conductors Dale Warland and Ted Sperling. Breland has also served as Chorusmaster and prepared numerous works for the Omaha Symphony, including Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Carmina Burana, Elijah, Messiah, and many others.
Breland’s first exposure to professional choral music was as a member of the Atlanta Boy Choir where he performed with Robert Shaw and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, as well as in tours and festivals throughout Europe. Today, he is also the Principal Guest Conductor of Résonance, a semi-professional chorus whose debut album Pilgrimage was released in July 2020 on the MSR Classics label.
Breland became the Artistic Director of the River City Mixed Chorus in January 2011, and in his 12-year tenure with the organization the ensemble has grown to over 160 active singing members, has headlined conferences and performed alongside Grammy-winning Conspirare, and has taken the stages of historic and iconic venues around the region. All of the ensembles under Breland’s leadership perform regularly with the Omaha Symphony, and all have performed at state and regional ACDA, and NMEA conferences.
Winter Concert
Spring Concert
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