A Marathon of Music, A Mission of Access: Omaha Students Turn Performance Into Opportunity

March 25th, 2026

Imagine a Saturday morning in Omaha filled with music, strings swelling, winds weaving, percussion tapping out rhythms, even the playful hum of a kazoo. Now imagine that stage shared by children and adults, beginners and seasoned performers, all playing side by side.

This weekend, that vision becomes reality, and every note carries a purpose.

The Music Marathon for Music Education returns for its third year this Saturday, March 28th, at the Omaha Conservatory of Music. More than just a performance event, it’s a community-driven fundraiser designed to expand access to music education for children across Omaha.

“All of us at Music Marathon for Music Education are musicians ourselves,” says co-founder Winston Schneider. “And we all recognize firsthand the transformative impact that music education can have on people’s lives.”

Schneider, an eighteen-year-old composer from Omaha, launched the event alongside his younger sister, inspired by the structure of a dance marathon. But instead of dancing, participants perform, in continuous, back-to-back musical sets, raising funds through their participation.

The proceeds support String Sprouts, a program at the Omaha Conservatory of Music that provides instruments and instruction to children at little or no cost to their families. For many of these students, it’s a first opportunity to engage with music in a meaningful way.

And the impact goes beyond performance.

Studies and program outcomes show that students involved in music education often develop stronger language skills, improved hand-eye coordination, and enhanced problem-solving abilities. For Schneider, those benefits are deeply personal.

“Music education doesn’t just have the power to change kids’ lives,” he says. “It has the power to change the future. That’s why we believe all kids deserve the opportunity to learn and play an instrument.”

Schneider’s own journey reflects that belief. He began piano lessons just weeks after turning five. Within months, he was composing his own music, starting with a piece titled Snowman, Snowman, Don’t You Melt.

“I would experiment with the pieces I was playing,” he recalls. “One hand in one key, a different hand in another key. And then one day it occurred to me, why don’t I start coming up with my own ideas?”

That curiosity grew into a remarkable path. By age eight, Schneider was featured as a Classical Kid on KVNO. As a teenager, he composed an anniversary overture that premiered with the Omaha Symphony during its 2022 Masterworks season, a piece celebrating KVNO’s 50th anniversary.

Now a high school senior preparing to study music composition in college, Schneider is also building something lasting at home.

In just two years, the Music Marathon for Music Education has grown by 44 percent and raised nearly $10,000 to support access to music instruction. Just as important as the funds raised is the sense of openness the event fosters.

“We’ve had a xylophonist, ukulele players, and even a guzheng player, a traditional Chinese instrument,” Schneider says. “All instruments, all ages, all levels are welcome, from solos to groups, from virtuosos to kazoo players.”

That inclusivity is central to the event’s spirit. It’s not about perfection, it’s about participation, connection, and the belief that music belongs to everyone.

This Saturday, the Omaha Conservatory of Music will open its Smith Recital Hall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the marathon. Attendees can come and go throughout the day, enjoying a wide variety of performances. Those who wish to perform can still sign up by raising a minimum of $15.

Whether you take the stage or sit in the audience, Schneider says, you’re part of something bigger.

“Whether you’d like to perform yourself or just stop by and enjoy a wide variety of great performances,” he says, “we’d love to see you there.”

Because in this marathon, every note matters, and every note helps open the door for the next young musician.