Classical Kids
KVNO has been honoring students in the metro area who excel at playing, singing or composing for over 20 years.
Meet the Judging Panel
Rose Rydberg
Rose Rydberg earned her Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music in Violin Performance degrees from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. During her time at UNO, she studied violin under Judy Divis and Ruth Meints, and clarinet with Cynthia Nichols.
Since 2008, Rose has been dedicated to teaching in public schools, focusing on band, orchestra, and music technology. Currently, she divides her time between Omaha North High School, where she teaches orchestra and music technology, and McMillan Middle School, where she instructs orchestra.
In addition to her school roles, Rose is actively engaged in community education. She serves as a private violin and viola instructor, sectional coach, and is a frequent adjudicator at music contests. Her collaborations span various institutions, including Omaha Public Schools, Council Bluffs Public Schools, the Nebraska Music Educator’s All-State Orchestra, Omaha Area Youth Orchestras, and the Omaha Music Teachers Association.
As a violinist, Rose has contributed to several ensembles, including The Metropolitan String Quartet, Orchestra Omaha, Heartland Philharmonic Orchestra, UNO Chamber Orchestra, PART, and The Rose Theater.
Matthem J. Brooks, D.M.A.
Matthew Brooks is Associate Professor and Director of Orchestral Activities in Music & Medicine at University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) where he leads the University Orchestra, the Omaha Area Youth Orchestra Youth Symphony, and teaches graduate conducting. As part of a collaboration between the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and the UNO School of Music, Dr. Brooks was critical in creating the Nebraska Medical Orchestra in 2018, for which he is the founding music director and conductor. He serves on the UNO Medical Humanities faculty and is a courtesy faculty member in UNMC’s College of Medicine, where he coordinates Music & Medicine activities in partnership with UNMC Campus Wellness. His work at UNMC was recognized by the University awarding him the Valor in Educational Service Award – one of eight Impact in Education Awards.
As an academic conductor, Dr. Brooks previously served on the music faculties of Shasta College and University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Highlights from his academic conducting include leading annual youth concerts as part of Carnegie Hall’s Link Up program and collaborations with Broadway legend Patti Lupone, New York Philharmonic Concertmaster Frank Huang, American bassist Edgar Meyer, celebrated opera singer Samuel Ramey, and the late composer Peter Schickele—also known as P.D.Q. Bach.
Dr. Brooks maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator. He regularly guest conducts the Omaha Symphony Music Mentors program, and middle school and high school honor orchestras. He frequently presents at national and international conferences and his peer-reviewed research has been published in the American Medical Association (AMA) Journal of Ethics and the Journal of Wellness. Dr. Brooks co-founded the National Association of Medical Orchestras in 2021, is the President-Elect of the College Orchestra Directors Association (CODA) North Central Region, the Assistant Editor for the CODA Journal, and serves on the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) National College Committee.
He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education, a Master of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting, Pedagogy, and Literature. Dr. Brooks is currently completing the requirements for a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, as he remains interested in pursuing greater intersectionality between music and wellness as well as encouraging positive mental health within the academic and professional music communities.
Serena Reuten
Serena Reuten is a German-Canadian conductor currently serving as the Assistant Conductor of the Omaha Symphony. Between 2024-2026 she will also join the third cohort of the Orchestre Métropolitain’s Orchestral Conducting Academy mentorship program under the guidance of Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Recent activities include participating in the 2024 Järvi Conducting Academy in Pärnu, Estonia under the mentorship of Paavo Järvi, Neeme Järvi, and Leonid Grin. She has served as guest assistant conductor for the Toronto Symphony and National Arts Centre Orchestra, as well as guest conductor with the Winnipeg Symphony during their annual Winnipeg New Music Festival. In 2023, she was the inaugural recipient of the Bernhard Gueller Conducting Fellowship with Symphony Nova Scotia as well as one of CBC’s 30 under 30 Classical Musicians. Over the past few summers she has also attended several international conducting masterclasses, studying under such conductors as Alexander Shelley and Cristian Măcelaru.
Serena recently completed her graduate studies in orchestral conducting at the Eastman School of Music with Neil Varon. She holds degrees in flute performance from the University of Ottawa and University of Montreal, and in her spare time enjoys learning languages and dancing.
Nominate a Classical Kid
Nomination Guidelines:
- To be eligible, the student must be between the ages of 8-13 and studying an instrument, taking voice lessons or singing in a choir, playing in a band or an orchestra, composing or conducting.
- A parent, relative, friend, or a music teacher may nominate the student.
- The student must live within the signal range of Classical 90.7 KVNO.
- No student may win the award more than once, but music teachers may nominate more than one student and nominate a student more than one time.
- Students who do not win the award may apply again after six months, provided they still meet the qualifications.
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Blind judging takes place quarterly following the schedule below:
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March 10 – 22
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June 9 – 20
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September 8 – 19
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December 8 – 19
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