COLLABORATIVE PIANO
In MEMORY OF THELMA STENLUND

Collaborative Piano is a fairly recent term. It’s former name was called Piano Accompanying, a term which has traditionally implied inferiority, working “for” rather than “with” a recital partner. Collaborative Piano, on the other hand, is a term that implies equality, association, and teamwork.

THELMA STENLUND

Thelma Stenlund was a long time leader, developer, believer, fan, and campaigner of Nebraska Summer Music Olympics. She took hold of the program in its third year and lead it for over twenty-five years. To be sure, she was the force behind its success. Thelma passed into heaven in 2017 shortly after her 102nd birthday. Nebraska Summer Music Olympics exists today due to Thelma’s remarkable work. We are forever grateful to all she accomplished during her tenure with NSMO.

During Thelma’s life, she was always involved with music. She was an extremely talented teacher, musician, and collaborative pianist extraordinaire. She not only accompanied but was equal to and worked with the following groups over her lifetime: Benson High School, Central High School, Ryan High School, Duchesne College of the Sacred Heart, and Omaha Symphonic Chorus. For 44 years, she served as organist and choir director in Omaha at Clifton Hill Presbyterian Church, Westminster Presbyterian Church, First Christian Church, Immanuel Baptist Church, and Central United Presbyterian Church.

In a World Herald Article about the Voices of Omaha presenting Handel’s “Messiah” dated Friday, November 16, 2018, Beth Freeman states: “Taber, a long-time member of the Voices of Omaha, was in her early 20’s and serving as an organist at two area churches when her music teacher, widely known Omaha pianist Thelma Stenlund, invited her to a Voices of Omaha Rehearsal.” Note: The Omaha Symphonic Chorus, under the direction of Leota Sneed Strong began the presentations for the “Messiah” fifty years ago. After Leota departed then the group became the Voices of Omaha.