SHAPING TOMORROW’S TALENTS STARTS
VISION
Become a destination venue for master classes, music and art education that attracts worldrenowned talent.
MISSION
Enrich and empower the community through music and art.
NORTH OMAHA MUSIC & ARTS
A creative academy for the youth of our community and master class destination for top artistic talents
VALUES
Opportunity can change lives. We’re passionate about providing young people with equitable opportunities that they can use to succeed.
Learning never stops. We believe education is something that’s never mastered, and always practiced. Offering effective education means being a lifelong student.
Earn it. We believe in the power of hard work and discipline to unlock a person’s potential.
Act with integrity. We believe in doing what’s right and conducting ourselves with honesty and responsibility, always.
Respect for all. We promote a culture of safety, respect and inclusion for every student, staff member and individual who walks through our doors.
The arts enrich lives. We believe music and art have the power to enrich and improve the quality of life for all people.
I love seeing the NOMA vision take shape and speaking to the music students who are eager to explore their craft.
—Tom Jorgensen, drummer, session musician, composer and mixing engineer
OUR MOMENTUM BUILDS
Dear friends of North Omaha Music & Arts,
2023 saw so many great things take place at NOMA that continue to bring our vision to life. Our music education offerings continued to grow with the launch of our Drum Master Classes and Junior Drum Club. And our weekly Sessions continue to rise in popularity, allowing the artists of tomorrow a dynamic space to collaborate with other musicians. We were also able to host several Master Classes and give this community’s youth an opportunity to hear the stories and learn from the experiences of the music industry’s top talents.
I’m also excited about the long-term outlook for NOMA, thanks to the work done by our staff and board, and the support of our generous donors. We’ve completed a strategic plan that outlines several strategic goals that will ensure the success and viability of our organization. A capital campaign is also being planned that will allow us to create the kind of facility and infrastructure for NOMA’s future success and lasting legacy.
None of this would have been possible without the community’s continued support. As my team and I visit area schools and meet with music instructors, it reassures us that what we are building will have a tremendous impact on the artists of tomorrow and that we’ve laid the foundation for something that will transform the area of North 24 Street.
As always, we have big plans in store for the coming year and look to build on our successes. Look for more great things to come from NOMA in 2024 and beyond.
With gratitude,
Dana Murray Executive Director
JanuaryDecember
COMMUNITY IMPACT
2023 BY THE NUMBERS
Weekly Drum Club Students 45
104
Weekly Sessions
Weekly meetups for musicians, MCs and vocalists to collaborate and hone their skills
624
Hours of Instruction
3
Visiting Artist Master Classes
NOMA has quickly become a vital element in helping to rejuvenate the North 24th Street corridor.
—Carmen Tapio, North End Teleservices
Through music clubs, drum master classes and junior drum clubs
11
Area Schools Visited
Spreading the NOMA mission and offerings to music educators and their students
YEAR IN REVIEW
MUSIC EDUCATION
NOMA continues to build up the educational offerings for our music students. 2023 saw the launches of our Drum Master Class and Junior Drum Club, giving music students of all ages and levels the opportunity to advance their skillsets. Our weekly Jazz Sessions and NOMA Underground events have built up a considerable following and offer music students a valuable collaborative space. Our team also continues its outreach to area schools and colleges to raise awareness of the NOMA mission and its opportunities for musical development.
2023 Music Education Outreach:
• Westside School District Music Dept.
• UNO Jazz Camp
• Marian High School Educators
• Beveridge Magnet Middle School
• Norris Middle School
• Central High School
• North High School
• Omaha Westview High School
• Blackburn Alternative Program
• Sacred Heart School
2023 Guest Artist Master Classes
Master Classes are conducted by local and nationally known musicians, reaching students of all ages and backgrounds. These events expose developing musicians to a wide range of musical styles, instruments and vocal expressions. Special thanks to the artists who offered their time to be part of our Master Class series in 2023.
John Fedchock
Dan Wilson
Tiffany Haas
EDUCATION OUTREACH
Dana and the NOMA team do so much to give our community’s music students opportunities to learn from the very best. Our students are very lucky to have this.
—Nicholas Spath, Beveridge Magnet Middle School Band Instructor
YEAR IN REVIEW
ENTERTAINMENT
A critical part of music education is having the opportunity to experience world-class musicians live and in person. NOMA was able to host a variety of talents in 2023 and is planning a concert series for 2024 and beyond that will continue to expose and enrich our students to the very best in the music industry.
March 25: Curly Martin Tribute Concert
June 3: Rhythm Collective
October 9: John Fedchock
October 28: Dan Wilson
Rhythm Collective
John Fedchock
Terrace Martin
Dan Wilson Concert
SPOTLIGHT
NOMAFEST 2023
NOMAFEST is our annual live music festival that offers a gateway to diverse cultures, traditions and musical genres. 2023’s NOMAFEST took place over four days and featured an exciting variety of top musical talents, culminating in an outdoor concert in conjunction with North Omaha’s annual Native Omaha Days celebration.
4 DAYS | 40 PERFORMERS | 800 ATTENDEES | 13 SPONSORS | $31,000 RAISED
Aya Ito
Richie Love
Ron E Beck
NOMA Big Band
Chester C. McSwain
Jus B
Jeannie Holliday
DJ ReRe
COMMUNITY COLLABORATION
An essential part of music education involves participation in events that give our youth the experience of performing in front of an audience. By collaborating with key organizations, we’re able to introduce students to the world of live performance, while also giving back to our community. Thanks to these groups who gave us the opportunity to spread our mission and of giving students the thrill of showing off their talents.
Native Omaha Club
Heart Ministry Center
Empowerment Network
Great Plains Black History Museum
24th Street Business Improvement District
Malcolm X Memorial Foundation
Omaha Conservatory of Music
It’s not just about developing music students, but also demonstrating how they give back to our community. – Liz Kendall Weisser, Omaha Symphony
Dana Wins The Rotary Golden Wheel Award
NOMA Ensemble with the Omaha Symphony
UNO Jazz Combos Concert
Partnership with North Omaha’s Culxr House
A snapshot of how NOMA is making its presence known in the community
A VISION FOR THE FUTURE
TOMORROW’S FACILITY
The NOMA facility is at the beginning of its transformational journey. We have a vision for a leading-edge space to accommodate the needs of quality music and arts education for the youth of our community. NOMA’s growth and building renovation are an integral part of an overall plan to reinvigorate the North 24th Street corridor. It will bring new opportunities to North Omaha and provide a place to foster creativity, selfexpression and musical development among young people.
Renderings courtesy of TACK Architects
RAISING THE BAR ON ARTS EDUCATION
We’re changing the narrative about what’s possible for our students. By channeling their energy into something positive, we’re showing them the potential they have for whatever they choose in life.
—Dana Murray NOMA, Executive Director
IMPACTING THE NEXT GENERATION
Experiences like NOMA gave me the tools I needed to pursue my lifelong musical ambitions.
—Demitri
Shaposhnikov, Berklee College of Music student
I can’t credit enough what I’ve received from Dana and the NOMA team, for starting me down my musical career.
—David Hawkins, rising NYC drummer, musician and composer
Music education helped my son develop key life skills such as setting goals, determination and positive competition. Being a part of a like-minded group assisted in developing friendships.
—Serenna
Russell, parent of NOMA student
Thank you to everyone who donated to NOMA in 2023 and helped us further our mission. THANK YOU
Thank You To Our Community Partners:
A special thanks to these companies that supported us through the donation of instruments for our students and programs.
Image credit: Mapex Drums
—Branford Marsalis, NOMA strategic advisor
Dana
Dana
Chris
Serenna
Terri