“Without craftsmanship, inspiration is a mere reed shaken in the wind.”
Members of the Omaha Bryan Middle School orchestra - the first group of instruments that were repaired by the OCMS Good Vibrations program.
Good Vibrations
Hello to OCMS Education and Good Vibrations patrons!
Your unprecedented support of our programs this year has yielded exceptional results. From a few instruments repaired and given to students in 2018, we’ve surpassed 400! Our goal of expanding Good Vibrations from repairing only stringed instruments to including all instruments was achieved, thanks to a new community partnership with KVNO. In August 2021 we held a used instrument drive and were overjoyed at the more than 80 instrument donations! We were able to restore and repair a total of 75 instruments this year (including guitars, saxophones, trumpets, violins, violas, cellos—even a banjo!) and place them in the hands of delighted students.
Tiny violins and kids got together at Completely Kids for a collaboration with our community partner, the Omaha Symphony Orchestra. In May, we made instruments available for an instrument petting zoo for children with autism and their families—part of the Common Senses Festival at an Omaha Symphony Family Concert.
Thanks to the generosity of a group of exceptional anonymous donors, Good Vibrations is now sharing a space in the historic Flatiron Building in downtown Omaha as part of the Flatiron Luthier Cooperative. The donated instruments now have a wonderful home (and it isn’t my basement!).
Our education team performed the spectacular Strum, a work by critically acclaimed African-American composer Jessie Montgomery, complete with a video greeting from her for students at Omaha North High and Bryan Middle schools. We also offered numerous coaching sessions for Omaha Public School students this year, building meaningful and fulfilling musical relationships across the metro.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued support and encouragement. Together, we are changing lives!
Judy Divis
President
Good Vibrations Program Director
OCMS - Good Vibrations Summer Drum Camp 2023!
Thank you Michael Honeyman and Family!
Good Vibrations would like to offer our sincere thanks to Michael Honeyman and his family for their donation in memory of Mike’s good friend Dave Park and in honor of the Tedeschi Trucks Band.
Here is Michael’s tribute: “Dave and I met in 1988 and became instant friends. Over the next 34 years, we had countless adventures and live music was always a big part of them. The last two shows we saw were the Tedeschi Trucks Band. The first in January of 2020 right before everything shut down due to the pandemic, and the second in January of 2022. Shortly after our last show together, Dave was diagnosed with cancer, and I was with him when he passed away on July 9th, 2022. Dave did not have much, but he wanted to do some good with what he did have. He spent his career as a Kindergarten and Early Childhood Teacher. Dave wanted to leave something for an organization which combined his passions for music and educating children. It is with great pleasure that I make this donation in Dave's memory and in honor of the Tedeschi Trucks Band.”
This generous donation will help so many young musicians! Thank you for helping us make a difference in so many lives.
Before and After. Yes - this is the same violin - Sarah is a magician!
Sarah Gray, our luthier! Visit her website: sarahgrayrestoration.com