Cello
For Intermediate & Advanced Students Ages 9-18
Our cello track offers a rich musical experience, encompassing participation in one of three student orchestras, engaging chamber ensembles, specialized repertoire and technique classes, and daily masterclasses under the mentorship of our renowned guest faculty. Develop your cello artistry and refine your musical abilities with the guidance of our expert mentors.
Camp Dates:
July 20-27, 2024 | 9am - 4pm
SoundWaves is an auditioned camp
A video audition is required to register for SoundWaves. Strings students will be placed in 1 of 3 levels, based on their audition. For this reason, it is important to submit an audition video that is as current as possible.
In April, students will be sent a request for your audition video. This is to ensure the video is recent and gives a clear indication of what the student is capable of. This request will provide specific instructions on how to submit the video, but below are the requirements and guidelines for your preparation.
Strings students will be placed in 1 of 3 levels, based on their audition. For this reason, it is important to submit an audition video that is as current as possible.
Camp Info
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Orchestra – SoundWaves boasts 3 student orchestras. Each rehearse for 75 minutes each day of camp, and perform in the final concert on the last day of camp.
Chamber Ensemble – Each string student will be assigned to a chamber ensemble. Ensembles rehearse two hours each day: one hour coached with Artist Faculty, and the other uncoached, allowing students to collaborate on their own.
Masterclass – A daily lesson where the student receives individual instruction by a teacher. This class is shared with one other student who is likely at a similar playing level.
Note: Students may register for extra daily masterclasses for $250. Students taking an extra masterclass will not have a practice hour. Extra masterclasses are subject to availability. You will not be charged for the extra masterclass if we cannot fit it in your student’s schedule.
Repertoire – students work on assigned music sent in advance and they perform as an ensemble.
Technique – students refine and master specific aspects of technique through music, games, and exercises.
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Two Contrasting Pieces
Choose one major & one minor scale that show the best of your ability.
Helpful Tips:
A recital or lesson is a great time to capture a performance piece, and you can even record your video on a good smartphone. If you are recording outside of a performance setting, place the recording setup about six feet from your instrument. Piano accompaniment, when appropriate, is recommended.
Landscape orientation is preferred.
Your audition may be submitted in up to three videos.
Please upload your videos to YouTube or Vimeo. Be sure anyone with the link to your video can watch it. Check that your video settings are “public” or “unlisted” but not “private.”
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At SoundWaves, we utilize a tiered date-based tuition structure. The tuition cost is determined by your registration date for the camp. Enroll early to take advantage of cost savings. Spots in the cello program are limited.
Jan. 15 - Feb. 15 $750
Feb. 16 - Mar. 16 $800
Mar. 17 - June 3 $900
June 4 and after* $1050
*Registration after June 3, 2024 is subject to administrative approval.
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We are pleased to offer housing to SoundWaves students on the Creighton University campus.
Students can check in Saturday, July 22 and must check out by Sunday morning, July 30, 2023. Students who take advantage of this lodging are automatically opted into the Lunch Plan at no extra cost. Breakfast and dinner will be provided in the dining hall on Creighton’s campus. This option covers all your housing, meals, and transportation needs during your time at SoundWaves.
Cost: $1,050
Please note that students are responsible for their own transportation between the airport and Creighton’s campus.
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Cost: $130
Starting Sunday July 21, lunch will be catered to the Conservatory daily from various nearby restaurants. Students can opt in to these lunches for the week for $130 a person. Students purchasing the Room & Board plan are automatically opted into the Lunch Plan at no extra cost.
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Cost: $250
Students taking an extra masterclass will not have a practice hour. These can be additional masterclasses for the student’s primary instrument, or in a different instrument the student plays. Extra masterclasses are subject to availability.
You will not be charged for the extra masterclass if we cannot fit it in your student’s schedule.
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At the time of registration, a non-refundable $75 deposit is required.
That money goes toward tuition, but will not be refunded should the student withdraw from SoundWaves. When a student withdraws, a refund will be issued in a prorated amount based on how far out the withdrawal occurs. See below for more:
Before June 3: Full refund
June 4 to June 7 - 80% of total invoice refunded
June 8 to June 15 - 60% of total invoice refunded
June 16 to June 23 - 40% of total invoice refunded
June 24 to June 30 - 20% of total invoice refunded
If a student withdraws after July 1, 2023, no refund will be issued, and all tuition must still be paid.
To withdraw from SoundWaves, please email camps@omahacm.org
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The Omaha Conservatory is proud to be able to provide financial assistance to its current families in the form of Ambassador Funds. These funds are given out on a first-come-first-served basis and cannot be guaranteed until registration is completed, and the $75 deposit is paid. A member of our admissions team will reach out in the next few business days with your final invoice, including your Ambassador award. If you are a current OCoM student hoping to know the amount of Ambassador Funds you are eligible for before you register, please reach out to financialaid@omahacm.org.
Students seeking financial aid who do not currently participate in programming at Omaha Conservatory of Music are encouraged to work with their private instructors, schools, families, and community organizations to find funding opportunities.
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Electives are a key component to the SoundWaves experience, as they allow students to make friends outside their program and explore other facets of their musical interests. During registration, students will order their elective choice from 1st to 3rd. While our team does its best, we can not guarantee all elective requests will be met.
Rock Lab - an all-major elective in which students learn how to jam and rock to classics in the rock genre. If you sing, play guitar, drums, or bass as a second instrument, this is a great place to use those skills! Students are also welcome to bring their traditionally “non-Rock” instruments (violin, cello, clarinet, etc) to this class! This class will perform during the Variety Show on the evening of July 25th, 2023.
Music Production - Omaha’s own Marcey Yates will teach students how to use music technology to compose, create, and record their own music.
Audition Mastery - Designed to empower aspiring career musicians, this dynamic class could be your key to unlocking audition success. Participants will delve into the art of preparation, stage presence, and self-confidence, gaining insights on how to shine in any audition scenario. This elective is for students who are preparing for a career in music and plan to audition for colleges, young artist programs, and professional opportunities in the near future.
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Veronica Nettles Kolegas
Cellist Veronica Nettles Kolegas is a versatile performer and pedagogue based out of Chicago, IL. Recently described as “..alluring..” in the Wall Street Journal, she focuses her performance on Chamber Music and innovative cross-genre collaborations and dedicates much of her time to teaching artistry.
Cross-genre focuses include Latin American music from Tango ensembles to Cuban Charanga groups and collaborations in Indo-Jazz and Klezmer music, incorporating improvised cello. In the classical realm, Kolegas is most passionate about chamber music and is a member of the Ursa Ensemble, a group dedicated to presenting music old and new, commissioning contemporary works and collaborating with artists of other disciplines. Kolegas leads the ensemble’s education program which provides outreach concerts for youth.
As a teaching artist, Kolegas draws from various methods of pedagogy and continuously seeks opportunities to further understand different angles of education. She is trained in the Suzuki Method, has been involved in Chicago El Sistema programs and also utilizes the structure of the Royal Conservatory of Music (Music Development Program), the system in which she studied as a student.
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Karen Becker
Cellist Karen Becker is an active soloist and chamber musician. Performances have taken her around the world to places such as the Czech Republic, England, Korea, Mexico, Norway, Switzerland, throughout the United States, and next year in Brazil.
National and international festival appearances include serving as artist faculty for the International Cello Institute, the Ameropa Music Festival in Prague, SoundWaves Music Festival, Red Lodge Music Festival, and more. She is an enthusiastic teacher, having given cello and chamber master classes around the world and in 2023 for the American String Teachers Association National Convention.
Becker tours regularly as a soloist and chamber player as part of the Becker-Bogard Duo and the Concordia String Trio. In October 2023 the Duo released their CD American Landscapes, which includes works by Samuel Barber, Libby Larsen, Warren Gooch, Laurence Sherr, and George Walker. Released on the Centaur label, it is available for streaming on Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify, and more. The Concordia String Trio recordings, Viennese String Trios, American Vistas, and From the Heart of Ra: New Chamber Music for Viola by Andrew List, are also available on the same streaming platforms.
Becker has recorded for several PBS documentaries and independent films, and has been featured numerous times on American Public Media’s Performance Today.
A Summer of Strings Mastery
From chamber music to technical excellence, this program has it all. Embrace your artistic potential – enroll now for a transformative summer of cello exploration!
