OMAHA FINALE
Orchestral Extravaganza
Sat. August 2 // 7:00-9:00pm // Christiansen Hall, Strauss Performing Arts Center, UNO
Come and see the newly-minted Crossroads Festival Orchestra finish out the festival with a flair with a program, curated by Kinan Azmeh, that promises to go deep.
We’ve put together an orchestra with familiar and new faces, local and visiting artists – a true expression of the festival’s ability to connect across geography and culture. Including Omaha Symphony Concertmaster Susanna Perry Gilmore, Russian virtuoso violinist Olga Smola, and Lincoln-native bassist Sam Beck-Johnson just to name a few, it will be a tribute to Nebraska’s own musical environment, it’s musical institutions and it’s artistic export to the world.
Featuring soloists Layale Chaker, Jake Charkey, Dinuk Wijeratne and Kinan Azmeh, the program features works of those artists and more, conducted (in part) by pianist/composer Dinuk Wijeratne and led by a rotating cast of concertmasters.
We’re delighted to finish out the festival at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s iconic Christiansen Hall at Strauss Performing Arts Center, in a first-time partnership between the UNO School of Music and the College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media.
Program Highlights
• Kareem Roustom: Dabkeh (watch below)
• Layale Chaker: Hints on Memory, for solo violin and string orchestra
• Dinuk Wijeratne: Gajaga Vannama, for solo piano and orchestra (watch below)
• Stan Charkey: J/J, Jake Charkey, solo cello
• Kinan Azmeh: Suite for Improvisor and Orchestra – Love on 139th Street / November 22nd / Wedding (watch below)
RSVP HERE!
Co-presented by:
Featuring:
Tyler Sieh
Violist Tyler Sieh makes his Crossroads debut in 2025. A member of the Omaha Symphony and faculty at the University of Nebraska Omaha, Sieh brings
Valeri Tolstov
Valeri Tolstov returns as a guest composer to for the 2026 Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival with works featured in multiple festival performances.
Véronique Mathieu
Returning for her fourth appearance at Crossroads, violinist Véronique Mathieu brings dazzling technique and deep musicality to the 2026 Festival. A passionate advocate for contemporary
