2026 All-State Orff EnsemblePAGE QUICK LINKS
2026 ALL-STATE ORFF ENSEMBLE CLINICIANSKristine Wolfe has been teaching PreK-6 Music & Band in the Papillion - La Vista Community Schools for over 25 years. She earned a BM from Iowa State University and a MM from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. In addition to her Kodaly training, Kristine is an Orff Schulwerk Teacher Educator and is an active clinician sharing her love of music and movement. Before being elected as Region I Representative for the National Board of Trustees for the American Orff Schulwerk Association this past year, Kristine served as Program Chair, President and Membership for the Chair Great Plains Orff Chapter. In her free time, Kristine enjoys singing and playing Oboe in the Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha, as well as Recorder with The Jewel Tones. Annie Kleppinger is the music specialist at Cavett Elementary in Lincoln Public Schools (LPS), where she teaches K-5 music and conducts the Cavett chorus and Cavett Orff ensemble. She previously taught at Lakeview Elementary (LPS) and in the states of Iowa and Indiana. Annie earned a bachelor of music education from Drake University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Indiana University-Bloomington. She has completed Orff Schulwerk Teacher Education Levels I-III and World Music Drumming Levels I-II. Annie currently serves as the LPS District Specialist Mentor for general music. She is a member-at-large of the board of the Great Plains Orff Chapter and a member of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association, Nebraska Music Education Association, and the National Association for Music Education. Annie has performed as the piano accompanist for the NMEA All-State Children’s Choir and choral reading workshops at the NMEA annual conference. Karen K. Benson serves as the Professional Development Director for the American Orff-Schulwerk Association (AOSA), where she is also a Past President and former National Conference Chair. Karen taught grades PreK-5 for 33 years, including 29 years in the Millard Public School District in Omaha, Nebraska, where she also directed the school’s choir and the district’s Orff Schulwerk Honors Ensemble. Karen continues to teach AOSA Teacher Education Level Courses at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Alvin Independent School District. Additionally, she serves as an instructor for supplemental Orff Schulwerk seminars and AOSA chapter workshops, a guest lecturer for collegiate music education classes, and adjunct faculty for the University of Nebraska-Omaha and Ashland University. Karen received the 2026 Alumni Achievement Award in Music from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. As a performing musician, Karen plays saxophone, performs on recorder with the Renaissance Thyme Recorder Consort and violin with The Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha, and sings in the Sing Omaha Master Chorale. Janet Howles is starting her 10th year of teaching and is currently at Morley Elementary school in LPS. She holds a BA and MM in clarinet performance from Florida State University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln respectively, a teaching certification through the University of Nebraska-Kearney, and has completed Orff levels I-III. In addition to teaching K-5 general music at Morley, she conducts the school choir and leads Morley’s Orff Ensemble. Prior to joining the team at LPS, she taught in Milford, Columbus-Lakeview, and as adjunct professor of clarinet at Doane University. Janet will begin serving this year as a District Specialist Mentor with LPS and is a Member-at-Large of the Great Plains Orff Chapter. She is also a member of the American Orff Schulwerk Association and Nebraska Music Education Association. When she’s not teaching at school, Janet enjoys playing clarinet in the Waverly Area Community Band and spends as much time as possible with her husband and 2 boys. INFORMATION ABOUT THE ALL-STATE ORFF ENSEMBLEWhat is the Orff Ensemble? Students in fourth and fifth grades (whose teachers are NMEA members) are offered a chance to work with acclaimed conductors during even years of the Nebraska Music Education Association Conference/Clinic. This is a one-day event with the final performance at the Kimball Recital Hall on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The 2026 All-State Orff Ensemble will take place on Wednesday, November 18. Who can attend?
How are students selected? Students in this group will sing, speak, move, and play instruments. Teachers are encouraged to nominate students who experience joy in making music, are comfortable in group settings, and have the ability to collaborate with others. Prior experience playing on Orff instruments is not required! Nomination submission and selection will be handled similarly to the All-State Children's Choir. How do I register my student(s)?
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