Local students took a deep dive into the musical ocean this fall during an interactive concert in downtown Lincoln.

Lincoln Public Schools fourth graders swayed to the beat of live music at the 2026 Young People’s Concert. Students from across the city sang, danced and played their recorder instruments alongside members of Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra (LSO). They packed the Lied Center for Performing Arts for morning and afternoon sessions of the educational event.

Carly and Grae smiled as they sat next to each other in the Adams Elementary School section of seats. They said afterwards that they had learned a lot at the 45-minute concert. The “Link Up: The Orchestra Moves” program let them experience the joy of music with hundreds of their elementary classmates.

“I like being here because I like playing my recorder and hanging out with my friends,” Grae said.

“I like music because it makes you move,” Carly said. “It’s fun.”

Emanuel enjoyed the concert with his Belmont Elementary School friends. He especially liked singing the songs “Come to Play,” “Mhande” and “Oye” throughout the morning. He felt vocal music would help him in his future.

“I like singing because you get to kind of train your voice for important stuff,” Emanuel said. “When you need to use your voice, you’re prepared because you’ve been singing.”

Adams fourth grade teacher Madi Hartwig said it was rewarding to watch her students become immersed in a sea of notes at the Lied Center. They spent several weeks practicing songs like “The Blue Danube” and “Ode to Joy” in their music classes before the big day. They used curriculum materials that supported LPS music education goals and met state and national standards.

“I just love seeing the kids singing the songs that they’ve practiced in music class,” Hartwig said. “I really like seeing them get to participate, because they get excited about being able to do this.”

LSO professionals also expressed sunny feelings about the day. LSO Executive Director Barbara Zach Lee said it is satisfying to know that the partnership between LPS and the Lied Center has encouraged children for many generations. The LSO archives include photos of the Young People’s Concert dating back to the 1960s.

“There is no substitute for being inspired by another person’s art,” Lee said. “Several of our LSO musicians decided to become professional musicians after attending a concert very similar to this when they were ten years old. It is an incredibly formative age. A passion that you discover at this age can live and grow with you for your whole life.”

Donna Carnes and Deb Bouffard have both provided those musical memories for many LPS students. Carnes is the LSO’s principal second violin and Bouffard plays trumpet in the ensemble. Both orchestra members also have deep educational roots. Bouffard spent 31 years teaching elementary music at LPS before retiring in 2023, and Carnes is an adjunct instructor of music at Nebraska Wesleyan University.

“I just think it’s fabulous that these kids get the chance to come to the Lied Center,” Carnes said. “A lot of them may not have been here before, so it’s great that they get to come here and experience live music like this. It’s fun music that they can all relate to.”

“They’re just so enthusiastic,” Bouffard said. “It’s wonderful to see their excitement each time.”

The Young People’s Concert was the capstone activity of an in-depth musical series for fourth graders. Arnold Elementary School music teacher Kaylin Gardner and Riley Elementary School music teacher Sarah Elker wrote lesson plans for classrooms at all 40 LPS elementary buildings. They incorporated Carnegie Hall’s Link Up music curriculum into their own instructional materials.

LPS students explored the concepts of meter, tempo, choreography and dynamics in their classes, and they learned about the different instruments in each musical family. Members of each LSO section stood up together at the beginning of the concert to reinforce that knowledge.

Elementary children also studied the lives of people who composed the concert’s lineup of songs. They discovered how Ludwig van Beethoven, Thomas Cabaniss, Tanyaradzwa Tawengwa, George Bizet, Arturo Marquez and Jim Papoulis created and arranged their tunes. This helped them understand the historical and cultural contexts that each composer wrote their music under.

One highlight for students like Grae was learning how to play their first notes on the recorder, which is an instrument similar in size and shape to a clarinet. They took their recorders out of plastic cases at the Lied Center and formed a tidal wave of melodies with the LSO.

Grae said playing her recorder in class has been a good experience. She and Carly shared excited glances when LSO leaders asked everyone to take out their instruments and join in the songs.

“I’ve learned to be confident,” Grae said.

Hartwig said she looks forward to the Young People’s Concert every year. She said it is meaningful for students to see so many of their classmates enjoying music together.

“It’s amazing,” Hartwig said. “There are so many people here. It’s great to see everyone come together for a fun event like this.”

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