top of page
Artistic Staff
Meet the staff who guide and prepare us for the wonderful performances we do throughout the year.
Dr. Marjorie Simons-Bester
Dr. Marjorie Simons-Bester is currently serving as the director of BlueNotes vocal jazz ensemble at Midland University. Prior to joining the Arts Department at Midland, Dr. Simons-Bester taught in Bellevue Public Schools for 44 years where she served as Director of Choral Music Activities at Bellevue East High School for 31 years. Dr. Simons-Bester conducted the East High Singers, Mixed Chorus, Freshman Chorale, Take II Varsity Show Choir and E St. Jazz. She also served as the music director for the annual Bellevue East Spring Musical, and taught Music Theory and Music History. Under Dr. Simons-Bester’s direction, the Bellevue East High Singers were a featured ensemble with the Omaha Symphony Orchestra numerous times, and received consistent superior ratings at District Music Contest and the annual Worlds of Fun Festival of Choirs Competition where they consistently placed in the top three choirs and were named Grand Champion eight times. East High Singers was twice selected to perform on the Nebraska Music Educators Association Fall Conference, and traveled to New York City, Washington D.C. and Orlando, Florida. Under Dr. Simons-Bester’s direction, East High Singers returned to New York in March 2023 for their second appearance in concert at Carnegie Hall. Students under Dr. Simons-Bester’s direction were consistently selected for membership in honor choirs at the state, regional and national level. She is extremely proud to acknowledge several former students who have joined her in the field of music education, in addition to others who are leading successful careers in the performing arts.
Dr. Simons-Bester’s prior teaching experience includes five years at Fort Crook Elementary School and nine years at Mission Junior High/Middle School in Bellevue. Dr. Simons-Bester received her BA in Music Education from Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Nebraska, her MME from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado and her Ed.D in Curriculum, Administration, and Instruction from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.
Marjorie currently serves as a member of the School for Music Vocations Advisory Board. She has served as President of the Nebraska Choral Directors Association, and Repertoire and Standards Chair for Multicultural Music and Perspectives for the North Central division of the American Choral Directors Association. She is a member of the steering committee for the 2024 Midwestern American Choral Directors Convention; and is a frequent guest clinician for choral festivals and contests across the state of Nebraska. Marjorie has sung with The Mastersingers, the Omaha Symphonic Chorus, the Opera Omaha Chorus and with The Omaha Chamber Singers. On a personal note, she is married to Michael Bester. They are the proud parents of daughter, Michelle.
Marjorie maintains membership in the following professional organizations: NAFME; ACDA; National Association of Negro Musicians, Jazz Education Network, and NEA.
Dr. Simons-Bester’s prior teaching experience includes five years at Fort Crook Elementary School and nine years at Mission Junior High/Middle School in Bellevue. Dr. Simons-Bester received her BA in Music Education from Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Nebraska, her MME from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado and her Ed.D in Curriculum, Administration, and Instruction from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.
Marjorie currently serves as a member of the School for Music Vocations Advisory Board. She has served as President of the Nebraska Choral Directors Association, and Repertoire and Standards Chair for Multicultural Music and Perspectives for the North Central division of the American Choral Directors Association. She is a member of the steering committee for the 2024 Midwestern American Choral Directors Convention; and is a frequent guest clinician for choral festivals and contests across the state of Nebraska. Marjorie has sung with The Mastersingers, the Omaha Symphonic Chorus, the Opera Omaha Chorus and with The Omaha Chamber Singers. On a personal note, she is married to Michael Bester. They are the proud parents of daughter, Michelle.
Marjorie maintains membership in the following professional organizations: NAFME; ACDA; National Association of Negro Musicians, Jazz Education Network, and NEA.
bottom of page