It was Lewis who built the program over many years. New to KHS in 1977-78, she came to us having taught music and coached several sports in Wilcox, and under her leadership the program began to grow.
Del Whitman recalls that for the 1979-80 school year, the KHS Orchestra was comprised of 4 students, remarkably a true string quartet. Gretchen Brockmeier at 1st Violin, Michelle Cook at 2nd violin, Andrew Nippert at viola, and himself at cello. All of them were in the Nebraska All-State Orchestra and, since that meant 100 per cent of them, that was the highest percentage in the whole history of KHS Orchestra.
When the orchestra participated in the Beatrice Invitation Orchestra Clinic, the auditions placed the four as first chair of their respective sections, making them the front row of the orchestra and making Director Bettelee Lewis very proud indeed.
Small in number as they were, Bettelee drove them to Beatrice in her station wagon. On the way home, they hit a blizzard. Mrs. Lewis pressed on, possibly out of bravery, possibly out of sheer stubborn will, and orchestra and director arrived safely-and gratefully-back in Kearney.
In addition to touring around Kearney and playing Christmas carols at various venues, the orchestra, their director, and some members of the band were the Musicalia Pit Orchestra each year for the theatrical performances of Oklahoma-1980, Brigadoon-1981, and South Pacific-1982. This meant accompanying a two hour show and mastering a 50-page book of professionally written music.
In three years, the Orchestra had begun its progress to triple in size. Part of that growth came when Kathryn Falconer moved to Kearney. Kathryn’s daughter Karen joined, to be followed a year later by son John. About the same time, Ritchie Morrow and Jim York – these possibly accounting for the first doubling of the size of the orchestra.
By then, the momentum had begun and continued not only at KHS but in the lives of the members of the orchestra. Bettelee was followed by David Kline, who brought a new chapter to the Orchestra’s life. Kline was there when Kathryn Falconer’s grandchildren finished high school, they in turn following orchestral footsteps. Samuel, Megan now with a blood processing firm in Omaha still playing cello, Lauren with a Lincoln Foundation, still playing saxophone. Jim York still plays cello in Denver and daughter Hanna plays in Boston. The orchestra itself numbers some seventy players.
The current KHS Orchestra home page informs us – The KHS Orchestra is made up of 140 string musicians in grades 9-12. There are 3 different orchestras at Kearney High: The Symphonic Orchestra, which is our large ensemble, the Select Camerata Orchestra, which is the smaller auditioned orchestra, and we are proud to announce the addition of the Concert Orchestra.
Editorial Note
In 2020-21, Del Whitman was named Nebraska’s National Federation of State High School Association’s Outstanding Music Educator of the Year, an honor he shared with KHS Orchestra director David Kline.
Through personal interviews and email solicitation, Chuck Peek compiled these snapshots from the memories of Kathryn Falconer, retired UNK Faculty; Del Whitman, with the Orchestra from 1979 to 1982, now director of orchestras in Lincoln Public Schools; and Nancy Whitman, Retired UNK Faculty. Del Whitman is an orchestra director and music department chair at Lincoln East High School in Lincoln, Nebraska, also teaching orchestras at Lux Middle School and directing the Junior Youth Orchestra for grades 6–9. Whitman has been with Lincoln Public Schools since 1986 and is known for his servant leadership, humility, and professionalism. He has also mentored student teachers and practicum teachers from several colleges and universities.
Because these are memories, and memory can be faulty, all four of us invite any others who have memories of the KHS Orchestra to send us their recollections and photos.
posted by Chuck Peek