Liberty Middle School (LMS) is part of Papillion La Vista Community Schools (PLCS) located in Papillion, Nebraska. PLCS serves over 12,000 students at 2 high schools, 3 middle schools, 16 elementary schools and multiple academy locations. PLCS takes great pride in their music programs and continuously strives for excellence in and out of the music classroom.
PLCS starts students in band in 6th grade at their elementary schools taught by excellent elementary band directors. The LMS band program serves over 210 students, offering a variety of performing ensembles including 3 sections of 7th grade band, 3 sections of 8th grade band and 2 Jazz bands.
This year's Liberty Middle School 8th Grade Band has been a truly exceptional group, holding the school record of most selected NSBA 8th Grade All State Band participants. LMS hosts the PLCS Middle School Solo/Ensemble contest having earned straight superior ratings in the past. LMS has students attending various honor bands throughout the area, including hosting its own PLCS 8th Grade Honor Band. This ensemble of students is incredibly hard working and has become quite a band family.
At Liberty Middle School, each student is welcome to participate in band whether they started band in elementary school or not. Each day's rehearsal is focused around the students and their learning of concepts, fundamentals, and music skills, to truly progress into skilled musicians and kind, well rounded, young adults.
LIBERTY MIDDLE SCHOOL EAGLES! WHERE MUSIC SOARS!
Click on each Image/Title/Composer for Program Notes and Composer Bio
*NSBA 8th Gr. All State Band
+ LMS Jazz Band 1
^ PLCS 8th Gr. Honor Band
# Blair Honor Band
Flute:
Brianna Rampendahl
Raelyn Kaimikaua
Bailey Hazzard
Olivia Carroll
Jackie Brickman
Charlotte Kelly
Annabelle Kennedy
Naomi Woolworth ^
Zoe Killian *^
Mailee Valles
Will Saw
Ciara Brown
Laura Campbell^
Audrey Evans
Bella Williams *+^
Oboe:
Carter Nash *+^#
Alexis Allemang +^
Zoe Shannon
Bassoon:
Owen Ciavarella *+^#
Clarinet:
Lyla Castilon ^
Fiona Morrison *+^
Kaelyn Nguyen +
Jersey Pitschka
Lizzie Barton
Elianna Calderon *+^
Lia Halgerson
Grace Holmes
Kylee Rose
Kieran Crenshaw
Zoey Krzycki
Katie Mayfield *+^#
Danielle Stuck
Lydia Kimbril - bass ^
Megan Herd - bass ^
Alto Saxophone:
Julianna Braun
Quentin Lott
Ruby Ryan
Alex Spates- McDonald
Marcus Carlson
Luke Dolphens
Brianna Heumann
Killian Logan
Weston Theis
Isaac Bond
Hudson Dice
Carter Good
Bristol Gourley
Dawson Harmon +
Tommy McCann +
Tenney Stewart
Ismael Vaca
Brett Pruitt
Tenor Saxophone:
Valentina Lopez
Joey Paladino +^#
Juliette Murnan
Leah Lodes
Baritone Saxophone:
Allie Lahne
Eryn Gigstead *^
Trumpet:
Elizabeth Bynum
Jackson Kooima
Draiven Lilly
Anna Ransdell
Emily Valenta +^
Sam Felix
Landen Kimmel
Carson Smith +^
Earl Spencer +^#
Austin Gutierrez
Caiden Hansen +^
Ethan Hicks
Dylan Mulroy
Caylee Wohlers
French Horn:
Mags Ames ^
Trombone:
Sam Anson +*^
Ranon Schade ^
Story Woodworth +^
Reese Neu
Anna Krska
Owen Busselman +^
Jaxson Layman
Rico Rosas
Baritone:
Azariah Hall
Abigail McCaleb
Nathan Waggoner
Tuba:
Thomas Camp ^
Aiden Kleinberg
Percussion:
Owen Leahy
Audrey Miller
James Strange jr.
Laine Allen +^
Paxton Carey
Sean Spates-McDonald
Maci Tippery^
Jaynie White
Storm Brooke
Kelsie McDowell ^
Austin Thomas +
Abe Watkins
Fritz Woods
Hiltje Peitz is the Director of Bands at Liberty Middle School. Mrs. Peitz is in her 8th year at Liberty Middle School, and her 10th year teaching overall. She earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree from South Dakota State University in 2014, where she studied saxophone with Dr. Nathan Jorgensen and conducting with Dr. Eric Peterson. She also earned her Master of Music Education degree from Northern State University in 2020. She is a member of the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association.
Mrs. Peitz currently teaches all 6 band classes and 1 section of music enrichment at Liberty Middle School and also directs 2 jazz bands throughout the year. In past years, she taught 5th-8th grade band at Holy Cross School in Sioux City, IA. In addition to her teaching at Liberty Middle School, she also performs in the Omaha Symphonic Winds.
Hiltje grew up in a small town in the Netherlands and later moved to South Dakota. In Brookings, South Dakota she attended middle school and high school where she grew to love band from her band directors Deb Hartz and Brian LeMaster. She now lives in Omaha with her husband Matt who she met at South Dakota State University. When time allows, they like to garden, travel, hike, camp, cook, and workout together.
Awards and Recognitions:
NSBA Performance at 2024 Convention, LMS 8th Grade Band.
PLCS Superintendent Gratitude Award - March 2024
Fase Family Fund for Teacher Excellence Award with State Senator Recognition 2023
NSBA Jack Snider Young Band Director Award 2020
PLCS Foundation Grants 2018, 2019, 2022
Hawley Orthodontics Outstanding Teacher Award 2019
LMS Teacher of the Week 2018
Ken Janak is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is recently retired from public school teaching, having spent 33 years teaching instrumental music in the Papillion LaVista Community Schools. As the band director at Papillion Middle School, Ken’s groups performed at a high level and consistently earned superior ratings over the years. He is in demand as a clinician and adjudicator in the region and also maintains an active private woodwind studio in the Omaha area. Ken’s students have frequently earned positions in all-state and honor bands with many continuing their musical pursuits in college and beyond. His professional affiliations include NSBA, NAfME, NMEA, and the Omaha Musician’s Association.
As a saxophonist with the Omaha Symphony, Ken has performed with Frank Sinatra Jr., Bernadette Peters, Manhattan Transfer, Michael Feinstein, and many other well-known artists. As a woodwind performer, he has frequently played in the orchestras for touring Broadway shows. Ken currently plays lead alto sax with the Omaha Big Band and is active in the Czech ethnic music scene as a clarinetist, saxophonist, and leader of the Kenny Janak Orchestra. Other performance credits include the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra, Gooch and His Las Vegas Big Band, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, The Temptations, Michael Bublé, and numerous other regional and local groups playing a wide variety of styles including jazz, classical, polka, and rock.
Matt Woodworth
Band/Spanish Paraprofessional
Liberty Middle School
Lauren Ballou
Vocal Music
Liberty Middle School
Mark Kanitz
Accompanist
Liberty Middle School
Kristin Deicke
Instrumental Music
Bell, Golden Hills,
Prairie Queen , Trumble Park
Carissa Dreier
Instrumental Music
Carriage Hill, Patriot, Portal, Walnut Creek
Mark Witt,
Instrumental Music
Anderson Grove, Ashbury, Hickory Hill, Parkview Heights
Thank You to Ken Janak for spending time with our groups, working extensively with them and being our guest conductor today! Thank you for taking this opportunity to enrich our experience!
Thank you to Rex Barker for coming out and working with our students leading up to today's concert. Your feedback, comments and valuable time was so appreciated!
Thank you to following PLCS Band staff that volunteered their time to come work with this 8th Grade Band! Your help was so appreciated by all!
Nikki Csipkes, Kristin Deicke, Carissa Dreier, Zac Konrad, Mark Witt, Joe Homan, Colin Frye and Hannah Fisher
Thank You to our paraprofessional and band-dad, Matt Woodworth. Your organizational skills are off the charts and your ability to connect with the students is like non-other. Your work in the band room has been extremely impactful! THANK YOU.
Thank you to Heather at Life Inspired Photography for the amazing student section pictures!
THE STUDENTS - They are truly the best!! Without their dedication, love for music, and hard work we would not be here today.
AMAZING LMS Families supporting our students every day and especially all the extra rehearsals! We could not do this today without you! Thank you for EVERYTHING.
Matt Woodworth - LMS paraprofessional
Heidi Palomo - LMS paraprofessional
PLCS Board of Education
Skip Bailey
Marcus Madler
SuAnn Witt
Brian Lodes
Valerie Fisher
Lisa Wood
PLCS Superintendent
Dr. Andrew Rikli
LMS administration/leadership
Dr. Troy Juracek
Mr. Spencer Choquette
Mr. Luke Olson
LMS Counselors, Staff and Custodians
PLCS Instrumental Music Staff
Zac Konrad, PMS
Hannah Fisher, LVMS
Tim Keller, PLHS
Lindsay Ussery, PLHS
Joe Homan, PLSHS
Colin Frye, PLSHS
Carissa Dreier, Elementary
Mark Witt, Elementary
Kristing Deicke, Elementary
Nikki Csipkes, Elementary
Kristine Wolfe, Elementary
Brandy Nelson, Elementary
Personal Support Team
Husband - Matt Peitz, Social Studies Teacher at PLCS Health Academy. I love you and thank you for supporting me through this!
Friend - Zac Konrad, PMS Band Director. You're the best colleague anyone could ask for. Thank you for everything.
LMS Team Music - Lauren Ballou and Mark Kanitz. We're LMS TEAM MUSIC! You are some of my best friends, you're amazing and we love you! <3
THANK YOU!
