Established in 1990 by Holly Gullen Stout, the Nova String Quartet is dedicated to providing the Omaha metro Area with the best variety and quality in string quartet music. From classical masters such as Bach, Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven to light jazz, show tunes, tangos and pop, the Nova String Quartet will enhance any special occasion. In addition to managing duties, Holly also arranges music for the quartet.
All members of the NSQ are fully qualified professional musicians, with undergraduate or graduate degrees in music performance. In addition to performing with the Omaha Symphony, each member is a sought-after teacher of his/her instrument.Omaha String Quartet Omaha Wedding String Quartet Omaha String Quartet Omaha Wedding String Quartet
All members of the NSQ are fully qualified professional musicians, with undergraduate or graduate degrees in music performance. In addition to performing with the Omaha Symphony, each member is a sought-after teacher of his/her instrument.Omaha String Quartet Omaha Wedding String Quartet Omaha String Quartet Omaha Wedding String Quartet
Holly Gullen Stout
Cellist and founding member of the Nova String Quartet, Holly Gullen Stout has been active as a performer with the Nova String Quartet, Omaha Symphony, and occasionally the Omaha Symphony Chamber Orchestra since 1979. As a music teacher, composer and arranger in the Omaha area, her original compositions for children's orchestras have been performed by the Omaha Area Youth Orchestras, Omaha Public Schools and Millard Public Schools. Her arrangements have been performed by the Omaha Symphony as well as many professional string quartets from all parts of the US, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Germany. A versatile musician, Mrs. Stout has taught orchestra classes in Millard and in the Omaha Public Schools. As a resident of Kansas City, Missouri, Mrs. Stout earned her Bachelor of Music Education and later, a Master of Music in cello performance at the Kansas City Conservatory of Music.
Phyllis Duncan
Phyllis Duncan has been a full time violinist with the Omaha Symphony since 1984. A native of Iowa, she earned her Bachelor's degree in violin performance and education from the University of Iowa in Iowa City where she studied with Dr. Don Haines. During her first year of pursuing a graduate degree, she won her first orchestra position with the Shreveport Symphony. While in Shreveport, she regularly drove to Dallas to study with Motoi Takeda, Associate Concertmaster with the Dallas Symphony. Two years later, in 1984, she won the position in Omaha. Other playing endeavors include the Bedford Springs and Bear Valley Summer Music Festivals, the Cedar Rapids Symphony, the Quad-City Symphony (Davenport, Iowa), the Des Moines Metro Opera, the Lincoln Symphony, and taught violin at the University of Nebraska-Omaha School for Strings. In May 2012, she returned to her hometown to appear in a concert celebrating the Ottumwa Symphony's 25th Anniversary as one of four soloists playing the Vivaldi Concerto for 4 Violins, in B minor.
Thomas Kluge
In addition to playing with the Nova Strings, Thomas Kluge is the principal viola of the Omaha Symphony, an active chamber musician, recitalist, and soloist. Prior to moving to Omaha, Thomas was a freelance musician in New York City. He performed with the New York Philharmonic, orchestras in Connecticut, and a number of chamber orchestras.
Thomas was educated in New York at the Manhattan School of Music, where his teacher was New York Philharmonic Principal Violist Leonard Davis. Before earning his master of music degree in viola performance, he studied in Stuttgart, Germany, with Hermann Voss of the Melos Quartet and in Bern, Switzerland, where he earned a diploma in violin pedagogy and viola performance and pedagogy from the Bern Conservatory of Music and Theater.
Thomas teaches viola and is the orchestra director at Creighton University. He has been on the faculties of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Brevard Music Center in Brevard, North Carolina, and Omaha Conservatory of Music. Thomas also maintains a private violin and viola studio and was a founding member of the Omaha Chamber Music Society, where he served as artistic director for several years.
He plays a viola made for him by the eminent American luthiers Carl F. Becker and daughter Jennifer.
In addition to playing with the Nova Strings, Thomas Kluge is the principal viola of the Omaha Symphony, an active chamber musician, recitalist, and soloist. Prior to moving to Omaha, Thomas was a freelance musician in New York City. He performed with the New York Philharmonic, orchestras in Connecticut, and a number of chamber orchestras.
Thomas was educated in New York at the Manhattan School of Music, where his teacher was New York Philharmonic Principal Violist Leonard Davis. Before earning his master of music degree in viola performance, he studied in Stuttgart, Germany, with Hermann Voss of the Melos Quartet and in Bern, Switzerland, where he earned a diploma in violin pedagogy and viola performance and pedagogy from the Bern Conservatory of Music and Theater.
Thomas teaches viola and is the orchestra director at Creighton University. He has been on the faculties of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Brevard Music Center in Brevard, North Carolina, and Omaha Conservatory of Music. Thomas also maintains a private violin and viola studio and was a founding member of the Omaha Chamber Music Society, where he served as artistic director for several years.
He plays a viola made for him by the eminent American luthiers Carl F. Becker and daughter Jennifer.
Judy Divis
Judy Divis graduated cum laude from the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Music in violin performance. Since 1986, Judy has been a member of the viola section of the Omaha Symphony. Judy played in Lincoln’s Symphony, the Nebraska Chamber Orchestra, and Des Moines Opera. She has recorded with several artists including Mannheim Steamroller, First Aid Kit and Bright Eyes. Judy is also a founding member of the Nova String Quartet, established in 1990, and plays with the Omaha Chamber Music Society.
A dedicated teacher who has served on the faculty at UNO, the Omaha Conservatory of Music, Brownell-Talbot School, and Midland Lutheran College, Judy served as a String Specialist for Omaha Public Schools for many years, and as a consultant for the Education Department of the Omaha Symphony’s Community Partnerships program. In addition to a small private studio, she coaches string students for Omaha Public Schools, Millard Public Schools, and the Omaha Area Youth Orchestra.
As Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Omaha Chamber Music Society, Judy is the Founder and Director of Good Vibrations, a program dedicated to repairing student-owned stringed instruments in Title I OPS schools. It’s the only program of its kind in the country.
A dedicated teacher who has served on the faculty at UNO, the Omaha Conservatory of Music, Brownell-Talbot School, and Midland Lutheran College, Judy served as a String Specialist for Omaha Public Schools for many years, and as a consultant for the Education Department of the Omaha Symphony’s Community Partnerships program. In addition to a small private studio, she coaches string students for Omaha Public Schools, Millard Public Schools, and the Omaha Area Youth Orchestra.
As Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Omaha Chamber Music Society, Judy is the Founder and Director of Good Vibrations, a program dedicated to repairing student-owned stringed instruments in Title I OPS schools. It’s the only program of its kind in the country.
David C. Neely
David C. Neely is associate professor of violin at the UNL School of Music, where he joined the faculty in 1993. Professor Neely also serves as artist/teacher of violin at the Rocky Ridge Summer Music Festival in Estes Park, Colorado. He performed and taught at the 2006 summer Schlern Music Festival in Schlern, Italy.
Mr. Neely received his Master of Fine Arts degree from the California Institute of the Arts and his Bachelor of Music degree from Iowa State University. He has also studied at Indiana University and had post-graduate studies with Peter Marsh. Mr. Neely's teachers include, Peter Marsh, Josef Gingold, and Mahlon Darlington. Prior to his appointment at UNL, Mr. Neely was associate professor of violin/viola at the University of South Dakota and a founding member of the Rawlins Piano Trio. Mr. Neely served as first violinist of the Omega String Quartet at the Lutheran Summer Music Festival from 1989 to 1998.
Professor Neely has performed and given master classes throughout the United States, and has recorded on the Albany Records label. He continues to review violin, viola, and chamber music literature for the American String Teachers Magazine. Mr. Neely has performed as guest concertmaster of the Lincoln Orchestra and as co-concertmaster of the Sioux City Symphony. He has been a member of several orchestras including the South Dakota Symphony, the Baroque Music Festival in Corona del Mar, CA., and currently plays with the Omaha Symphony.
During the summer of 1997, Professor Neely performed and taught throughout Switzerland and Germany. He taught at the Leysin American School, Aiglon College and the University of Maintz. In addition to recital performances at these schools, he also gave recitals at Winterther, St. Gallen, Schaffhausen, and Zurich. Professor Neely also taught and performed at the Sebelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland through the teacher exchange program in 2000.
Mr. Neely received his Master of Fine Arts degree from the California Institute of the Arts and his Bachelor of Music degree from Iowa State University. He has also studied at Indiana University and had post-graduate studies with Peter Marsh. Mr. Neely's teachers include, Peter Marsh, Josef Gingold, and Mahlon Darlington. Prior to his appointment at UNL, Mr. Neely was associate professor of violin/viola at the University of South Dakota and a founding member of the Rawlins Piano Trio. Mr. Neely served as first violinist of the Omega String Quartet at the Lutheran Summer Music Festival from 1989 to 1998.
Professor Neely has performed and given master classes throughout the United States, and has recorded on the Albany Records label. He continues to review violin, viola, and chamber music literature for the American String Teachers Magazine. Mr. Neely has performed as guest concertmaster of the Lincoln Orchestra and as co-concertmaster of the Sioux City Symphony. He has been a member of several orchestras including the South Dakota Symphony, the Baroque Music Festival in Corona del Mar, CA., and currently plays with the Omaha Symphony.
During the summer of 1997, Professor Neely performed and taught throughout Switzerland and Germany. He taught at the Leysin American School, Aiglon College and the University of Maintz. In addition to recital performances at these schools, he also gave recitals at Winterther, St. Gallen, Schaffhausen, and Zurich. Professor Neely also taught and performed at the Sebelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland through the teacher exchange program in 2000.
Mary Amador
Another Midwesterner, violinist Mary Amador grew up in a musical family in Moline, Illinois. With both parents teaching music, it was mandatory for Mrs. Amador to learn to play a musical instrument. She chose the violin. After graduating from the University of Iowa in Iowa City (where she met and became friends with Phyllis while playing together in a string quartet) she continued her graduate studies in violin performance at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Mrs. Amador’s teachers were Allen Ohmes at UI and Camilla Wicks at UM. A professional musician since 1981, Mrs. Amador has performed with many orchestras including the Quad-Cities Symphony, San Francisco Opera and Ballet Orchestras, the California, Modesto, Fresno and Santa Rosa Symphonies. After relocating to Nebraska in 1991, she performed for several years with the Omaha Symphony and Chamber Orchestra. Currently Mrs. Amador is, in addition to playing for the Nova String Quartet, following in her parents' footsteps by teaching elementary strings for the Omaha Public schools as well as teaching private violin lessons at the Omaha School of Music and Dance.
Sean Dineen is an accomplished wedding musician with over 35 years' experience on both piano and organ. He has accompanied singers and musicians of all skill levels at churches all over the country. Originally from St. Louis, Sean formerly directed the 70 member strong Saint Louis University Mass Choir at the College Church for more than 20 years. As an ensemble player, he is able to quickly adapt to dynamic liturgical situations and exudes great joy through his musical accompaniment. He greatly enjoys beautifying wedding celebrations as part of a group, such as a string trio or quartet plus piano.
Nova String Quartet | [email protected] | 402.334.5737
