North Omaha Music and Arts Revives Historic Jazz District Through Education

A unique venue at 24th and Lake in North Omaha combines music education, live jazz performances and community building to revive the area’s historic musical heritage.

North Omaha Music and Arts, or NOMA, opened in 2021 with a mission extending beyond traditional music instruction. The organization works to reconnect the community with the jazz legacy that once flourished along 24th Street.

“Our mission is to bring arts and creativity to the community. We do that through music education and through music opportunities,” said Deb Murray, operations manager at NOMA. “We also strive to tie what we are teaching to the history of that area. So to bring to the kids and the community a sense of pride of the music that once filled 24th and Lake.”

The venue was founded by Dana Murray, a world-touring musician who grew up in Omaha’s South Side projects before studying at Berkeley and performing internationally. When he returned to raise his son, he sought to create opportunities unavailable during his youth.

“Dana, his vision is to have the opportunities to be able to provide the opportunities that as a young musician he did not have here in Omaha,” Deb Murray said. “He then went to Berkeley and went to New York, traveled the world, came back to raise his son. And that was his dream was to provide an opportunity that he did not have when he was here initially.”

NOMA offers what may be Nebraska’s only electronic drum lab, along with electronic bass and keyboard labs, plus dance instruction. Students ages 6 to 15 learn all four disciplines in twice-weekly classes.

The programs are designed for accessibility. Classes cost $55 per month for all four disciplines, with financial aid available for families who need assistance.

“We set it up in a way that we hoped to make it very accessible and do have where appropriate financial aid available for students as well,” Murray said.

The venue extends beyond education to serve as a community gathering space. NOMA hosts free Monday night jazz sessions where local musicians improvise and learn from each other. The organization also brings in national jazz artists for ticketed performances, often accompanied by free master classes.

Earlier this year, NOMA completed renovations to its 150-seat performance venue and the intimate NOMA Cafe, which hosts smaller shows. The venue operates as an all-ages space, allowing young people to experience live jazz in a supervised environment.

“We are an all ages venue. So while we have the bar and serve some really great drinks there, we also are an all ages venue,” Murray said. “Young folks under 21 with signed permission or with their parents can come enjoy and take part. We set it up in a way that younger folks get that exposure in a safe environment.”

That inclusive approach has enabled unexpected collaborations, including a 13-year-old blues guitarist who performs alongside seasoned professionals during Monday night sessions.

NOMA serves multiple functions in North Omaha — raising musical standards, providing economic development and creating jobs in the area. The venue is located near the Union for Contemporary Arts, contributing to an emerging arts corridor along 24th Street.

Future plans include opening a broadcast lab where students will learn podcasting and interview visiting artists. Longer-term goals involve developing a 450-seat venue and recording studio where students can learn music production.

The organization’s focus on connecting contemporary music education with North Omaha’s jazz heritage reflects the area’s significant contribution to American music history. The 24th Street corridor was once a thriving entertainment district that hosted prominent jazz musicians.

By grounding current programming in that history, NOMA seeks to build pride among young musicians while ensuring the community’s cultural legacy continues influencing future generations.

Monday night jazz sessions run from 7 to 10 p.m. and are free to the public. Musicians are welcome to bring instruments and participate. NOMA also hosts monthly poetry slams and various other community events throughout the week.

Music education classes meet Monday and Wednesday evenings, with younger students attending hour-long sessions and older students participating in 90-minute classes.

More information about classes, performances and free Monday night jazz sessions is available on NOMA’s website. The venue is located at 24th and Lake streets in North Omaha.