06.03.14 @

12 Nebraska Artists Chosen Out of Over 40 Submissions

Nebraska’s Home for the Arts, the Lied Center for Performing Arts is proud to announce the full line-up of world class Nebraska artists performing in Celebrate Nebraska, an all-new event celebrating the Lied Center’s 25th anniversary season. The two night performance series will take place Sept. 4-5. Both shows will be free and open to the public. Tickets for this event are now available for reservation as part of a Lied Center season ticket package. Call the Lied Center Ticket Office at 402.472.4747 for more information.

In February 2014, the Lied Center held a statewide open call for performance artists in all genres to apply to be a part of the Celebrate Nebraska event. Over 40 artists applied and 12 were selected based on work samples provided by the artists which were then reviewed by a panel of judges.

“We were thrilled to receive so many excellent submissions for this unique event and had a very difficult time narrowing the selection down to 12 performances,” said Bill Stephan, Executive Director of the Lied Center. “The Lied Center’s 25th anniversary season will be remembered not only for its performances by marquee artists like Yo-Yo Ma and Wynton Marsalis, it will also showcase the very best Nebraska talent including numerous local artists who have also earned considerable national and international recognition.”

The two day performance series schedule is as follows:

Thursday, September 4, 2014

  • Jarana – Energetic dance music meets South American, African, Mediterranean, Flamenco, Rumba and Salsa styles with complex rhythms and infections melodies. Jarana performs a variety of Andean and South American folk ballads sung with conviction and accompanied by authentic, traditional instruments.
  • Will Hutchinson – Hutchinson’s songwriting can be characterized as vulnerable and resonant and earned him ranking as a finalist in the International John Lennon Songwriting Competition with over 25,000 entrants.
  • SWING 105 – SWING 105 specializes in instrumental and vocal music of the 1930s and 1940s with swinging French jazz vocals, highlighted by mandolin and saxophone.
  • Bassoons Across Nebraska – This talented bassoon quartet will showcase the best bassoon playing in the region. Members hail from the Omaha Symphony, Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra, the Omaha Symphony Chamber Orchestra, UNL's Moran Quintet, the New Music Agency and the Lincoln Municipal Band.
  • Bathtub Dogs – An all-male a cappella group that has been entertaining students at UNL since 2002. The brainchild of Scott Wilson and Aaron Hurlbut, the Bathtub Dogs were modeled after college a cappella groups on the East coast where fun and humor is just as important as the music itself.
  • Sandy Creek Bluegrass – Bluegrass and acoustic music featuring twin fiddles, mandolin, banjo, bass, acoustic guitar, and vocals. Two members are National flatpick guitar championship winners, John Shaw one time and Jason Shaw three times.

Friday, September 5, 2014

  • Pathfinder Chorus – The 80+ member male a cappella chorus will captivate audiences with original arrangements and choreography that have won them acclaim on the international contest stage.
  • D-Wayne Beatbox – D-Wayne Beatbox started beatboxing in 2009 as something to fill the time. Today he performs across Nebraska and the U.S. to show that beatboxing is not a gimmick, but a form of art.
  • The Cabaret Company – Comprised of UNL’s advanced students studying musical theater performance and recent alums, UNL’s Cabaret Company will perform Broadway’s contemporary and classic hits. Known for performances on stages across the nation and in Europe, their recent performances of Leonard Bernstein's “Candide” won the National Opera Association's 2013 national production competition.
  • Kokyo Taiko – Over the years members of Kokyo have shared their Japanese culture with dozens of regional audiences through dynamic, thunderous and powerful choreographed drumming.
  • QuinteCentral – Five a cappella vocalists, also musicians and educators from the greater Omaha and Lincoln areas, perform original arrangements of jazz and pop tunes, as well as arrangements from the vocal jazz repertoire.
  • Tap This – Canadian step dance, tap and jazz dance have influenced how clogging has changed over time. These four-time National Award winning Clogging Champions continue to evolve this incredible art form with influences of street dance and hip-hop.