2013 Honorees

This is the third time we are adding people to our Hall of Fame, honoring Nebraska Wind Symphony members who have made a significant contribution to the life of Omaha’s Community Concert Band. Past inductees are Darwyn “Tony” Snyder (our founder), Lowell Turner, Mark Foster, Jenny Holtz, and Larry MacTaggart.

New members of the Hall of Fame are Ann Goldenstein Jacobson and Gene Hazen, both charter members of the band.

Ann Jacobson – Hall of Fame (2013)

Ann Jacobson - 2013 Hall of FameAnn was a native of Pawnee City, Neb., a graduate of Sterling (Neb.) High School and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and was a resident of Plattsmouth, Neb. She was the Wind Symphony’s principal flutist and a member of the Papillion Area Community Band, and died in 2004. She learned to play the piano before taking up the flute, studying under Arthur Schreple, Rodney Schmidt and Donald Lentz. She always earned the highest ratings in her music contests. Ann played the Chaminade Concerto with the NWS in 1995. Always smiling and caring for others, Ann was a favorite of the Nebraska Wind Symphony. Her husband Don play saxophone with us. Ann and Don had two sons, Paul and Stephen.

Gene Hazen – Hall of Fame (2013)

Gene Hazen - 2013 Hall of FameGene grew up in Lincoln and earned a bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Nebraska. He taught music at Sprague-Martel Consolidated School District and then elementary schools and Lewis and Clark Junior High School in the Omaha Public Schools.

He was a member of the Omaha Musicians Union and played French horn in the Omaha Symphony, U.S. Army and Nebraska National Guard bands, the Palladium Brass and many other groups in the Omaha area. While serving in the US Army in Berlin, he played many “goodwill” events, promoting relations between Germany and the United States. He passed away in 1992.

While in Lincoln, Gene studied under Jack Snider. Jack later said that Gene was the last student he had who actually practiced! Gene met Anna Bea Alberty while both played in the Omaha Symphony, and after their marriage in 1961, they had two daughters, Jennifer and Elizabeth.

Gene enjoyed photography, nature, friends and family. He was a lover of fun, relishing playing for the circus when it came to town, even going to a gather of circus musicians at Wisconsin Dells. He loved teaching young people the joy of music. The instrumental music department of Omaha Public Schools uses a large rolling hamper named “The Gene Hazen Horn Hauler”, given to OPS by the Nebraska Wind Symphony in his memory.

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