Welcome!The mission of the OSW is to provide opportunities for community musicians to come together in an enjoyable and cooperative atmosphere to practice and perform appealing, inspiring and educational concerts and cultural enhancement for the greater benefit of the community.We typically perform Fall, Winter and Spring concerts in Papillion’s Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church, and other concert halls. The public is encouraged to check out our performance schedule, attend and enjoy all of our performances.
Next Performances
The 26-27 season for the Omaha Symphonic Winds will include performances on November 15, 2026; March 7, 2027 and May 2, 2027.
(c) 2022 Omaha Symphonic Winds, a 501(c)3 non-profit community organization.
About the Conductor
Rex Barker began his career as the band director at Northwest High School in Grand Island, after which he moved to Omaha and became the band director at Millard South High School for the next 27 years. During his tenure as the Instrumental Music Department Head for the Millard Public Schools the district was named to the Top 100 Places for Music Education four times.After retiring from Millard South in May 2015, Rex became the Director of Instrumental Music for Midland University in Fremont and a Sales Representative for Fruhauf Uniforms. He was named Director of Performing Arts for Midland University in 2016. He is a Past-President of the Nebraska Music Educators Association and the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association. His honors include the Gary Thomas Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Nebraska-Kearney, the UNO Bands Hall of Fame, the
Excellence in Secondary Education Award from the Millard Public Schools, the NFHS Outstanding Music Educator Award for Nebraska in 2014, and he was recently awarded the 2016 Donald A. Lentz Outstanding Bandmaster Award from NSBA. He was inducted into the Nebraska Music Educators Hall of Fame in 2022. Rex and his wife Mary have been married for 44 years. They have two children and 5 grandchildren.
About the Ensemble
The Omaha Symphonic Winds is a select group of talented adult musicians from the Omaha
metropolitan area who perform concerts of outstanding original band compositions and
orchestral transcriptions. The ensemble was founded in August 2009, holds 501(c) 3 non-profit
status, and is registered as a public benefit corporation in the State of Nebraska.The mission of Omaha Symphonic Winds is to enrich the community with the heritage of great
band compositions and to promote the future of band literature. We will accomplish this by
providing an opportunity for the community to hear outstanding musical compositions in a live
setting, furnish an outlet for talented adult musicians to perform quality music, motivate music
students through joint concert performances, commission and premiere new works, and serve the
community with outreach events.Omaha Symphonic Winds was founded by Dr. William Hall, former trombonist in The United States Army Band (Pershing’s Own) Washington DC, The United States Army Field Band, and former Director of Bands at Dana College. Other previous conductors have included Mr. Ron Hardin and Mr. Byron Braasch. The current Conductor is Rex Barker, retired Director of Instrumental Music at Midland University and an educator with more than 40 years of experience with music education. The 65 member-musicians of OSW rehearsals at Millard South High School and are drawn from area band directors, music teachers, retired military musicians, area professionals and retired people.
Auditions
Membership in Omaha Symphonic Winds is by audition. Auditions consist of a prepared solo or etudes that demonstrate the musician’s technical and expressive abilities, and sight-reading.Talented instrumentalists who have graduated from high school are encouraged to contact us at Omaha Symphonic Winds for more information.
(c) 2022 Omaha Symphonic Winds, a 501(c)3 non-profit community organization.
The 2026-27 Omaha Symphonic Winds
Rex Barker, Musical Director
PICCOLO
Kitty BoeseFLUTE
April White
Melissa Wilson
Alexis Tolliver
Melissa Watzke
Kathleen Tims
Angie Hansen
Caitlyn Bjork
Leslie HillOBOE
Nikki CsipkesBASSOON
Amy WemhoffB♭ CLARINET
Theresa Vacanti
Breanna Olson
Emily Singer
Jestin Cam
Dawn Brinks
Laura Kirkland
Frank Dowd
Claire Smith
Tammy Rix
Barb HymanB♭ BASS CLARINET
Allie Mastny
Andrew OttoEE♭ CONTRALTO CLARINET
Miriam MoranBB♭ CONTRABASS CLARINET
Don MoranE♭ ALTO SAXOPHONE
Don Jacobson
Lisa Shelton
Dakota Wolfe
B♭ TENOR SAXOPHONE
Preston CaseyE♭ BARITONE SAXOPHONE
Kevin HendrixB♭ TRUMPET
Roger Dill
Timothy Houston
Delaney Lynam
Kevin Roark
Jon Gathje
Amy Gammel
Carol Miller
Adam Schmidt
Andy McCullough
Izzy Fonfara DrewelF HORN
Christi Bierman
Doug Breiter
David Clark
Trace Moody
Gavin Nielson
Jerry JohnsonTROMBONE
Andrew Brown
CJ Svagera
Amanda Brandon
Jaden Greenleaf
Gary Addison
Scott Johnson
Pat PetersEUPHONIUM
Jeremy Krug
Brad MillardBB♭ TUBA
Noah Hickman
Kaylee MoePERCUSSION
Connor Frank
David Kinkennon
Kyler Peetz
Lauren Calkin
Sandy Murphy-Robb
Audrey Zielstra
Gabe Albertus
(c) 2022 Omaha Symphonic Winds, a 501(c)3 non-profit community organization.
Upcoming Performances
The 26-27 season for the Omaha Symphonic Winds will include performances on November 15, 2026; March 7, 2027 and May 2, 2027.
(c) 2022 Omaha Symphonic Winds, a 501(c)3 non-profit community organization.
Make a Donation
As a non-profit organization, the Omaha Symphonic Winds depends on contributions from
businesses and individuals to help offset its expenses of rehearsal and performance space, concerts, music, instruments and supplies. To find out how you can support the OSW and help us continue to bring fine concerts to our local area contact (402) 981-5831, or e-mail us at [email protected]. Contributions to OSW are tax-deductible under IRS rule 501(c)(3). If you are interested in becoming a donor, in placing an advertisement in our programs, or in under-writing a specific concert or other community event requiring music, please click Contact Us at the bottom of this page.
Our Donors
PLATINUM ($1,000+)
The Nebraska Arts Council – Nebraska Cultural Endowment
Frank & Patricia Dowd
Klinton & Stephanie KellerGOLD ($500–$999)
Rex & Mary Barker
Theresa Vacanti in memory of her parentsSILVER ($250–$499)BRONZE ($100-$249)
Gary & Doty Addison
Patricia Burkey
Carol Hendrix
Scott Johnson
Carol Miller
Mary K. Milek
Jodi Peetz
April & Drew WhiteFRIEND ($25-$99)
Amber Bock
Linda Breiter
Cynthia Csipkes-Curran
Connor Frank Family
Jacob Furtwangler
Kevin Hendrix
Allie Mastny
Susan Wilkinson
(c) 2022 Omaha Symphonic Winds, a 501(c)3 non-profit community organization.