Students 'Celebrate Creativity'

Clarinet to her lips, Ashley Bigge blew the “B-Flat Blues (Shuffle Time)” -- her introduction to the world of jazz improvisation.

“I’m liking it,” she said after her solo. “I’ve never done jazz before. I’m in the wind ensemble and marching band, and I just wanted to try something different.”

The Bellevue West senior, who’s been playing clarinet for eight years, was one of 360 high school students Wednesday who were attending the second day of Omaha Symphony and Joslyn Art Museum’s “Celebrate Creativity” program.

The four-day program at the Joslyn, with a different set of students each day, consists of workshops in activities such as vocal techniques, acting, photography and even Tae Kwon Do, as well as a tour of the museum and an afternoon concert by the Omaha Symphony.

“It’s really a spectacular way for the kids to experience this variety of the arts,” said Jennifer Boomgaarden, vice president of education and community partnerships for the symphony.

Joining Bigge in the improv group was Ian Spratt, who’s been playing guitar for six years.

“It’s new to me, but I like jazz,” the Diller-Odell High School senior said. “I play a lot of blues and rock.”

Instructor Darren Pettit said it was important that the students had their instruments with them.

“If it’s not interactive, it’s not practical,” he said. “But if they have their horn in their hand, and they’re active participants, it’s more likely to become a practical usage kind of thing.

“I think it’s pretty awesome that the kids get an opportunity to mix with some professionals and get a chance to explore some more creative outlets they might not be exposed to in their own school,” he added.

Jennifer Purdham, a senior at Bellevue East, was signed up for dance. She echoed the feelings of many of the students when she said she enjoyed “Celebrate Creativity.”

“I like how there’s different events you can attend that have to do with your extra-curriculars at school.”

The students aren’t the only ones who enjoy the day. Local artist Natalie Linstrom was leading a class on papel picado, a Mexican folk art, and she was pleased to be working with such motivated teens.

“These kids are hand-selected by their teachers,” she said. “They’re students that are highly interested in art, that have excelled at it, that really enjoy it.”