Summer began violin at the age of six by means of the Suzuki method. She has been fortunate to have Nancy Jackson, a highly acclaimed Suzuki teacher, and Mathais Tacke of the world renowned Vermeer Quartet as two of her many great instructors.Summer holds degrees in music and sociology from Augsburg College and a Masters in violin performance from Northern Illinois University. She furthered her graduate studies while at NIU to obtain a Performers Certificate in violin.

While in the Chicago area Summer worked as a freelance musician and was a member of the Rockford Symphony Orchestra. From 2005-2007 she lived in Wisconsin performing with the Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra and leading the preparatory arts Suzuki violin program at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire.In 2006,

Summer was a guest soloist with the Bismarck Mandan Symphony Orchestra. Summer joined Lincoln’s Symphony in 2007 and also performs with the Omaha Symphony, the Nebraska Chamber Orchestra, Nebraska Chamber Players, Abendmusik and Indigo Strings.

As a sociologist, performer, music teacher and mentor to youth, Summer brings a unique background into teaching from a child development perspective of how music can strengthen students in all areas of their lives.

A Nebraska native,  Jeff performed one year with the UNL Marching drumline before transferring schools to finish his percussion Jazz Studies / Performance degree from Northern Illinois University.

Jeff played extensively as a free lance performer while living in the Chicago area with various jazz and rock groups.  His past music instruction includes piano instruction at Stu’s Studio, contract work with Naperville North and Waubonsie HIgh Schools in the western Chicago suburbs, as well judging the percussion festivals in Geneva.

His theater work includes the DeKalb and Lincoln’s Children Theater and well as performances with the Pioneer’s Park Musicals.  The Jeff Brackhan jazz trio was established in 1998 and began performing in Chicago at the same time he was working as a sideman with several funk and rock groups.

Jeff performs in Lincoln & Omaha with several music groups spanning the styles from electro-pop to experimental jazz..  He has had the opportunity to perform with James Valentine (Maroon5), Dan Nimmer (pianist with Wynton Marsalis) and Leslie Hunt (American Idol Semi-finalist).

Samuel Stanley completed a Bachelor of Music Degree in Cello Performance at the UNL Glenn Korff School of Music. He studied cello under Dr. Karen Becker and composition under Dr. Greg Simon and has also studied composition under Dr. Tyler White, piano/composition under Willa Foster Jones, and cello under Leslie Tien.

He has a passion for chamber music and is regularly involved in ensembles selected for UNL’s Honors Chamberfest. Sam’s chamber groups have studied under Greg Beaver, Rebecca Fischer, and Jonah Sirota of the former Chiara String Quartet. 

Sam is a two time prize winner of the Vesper Youth Composes competition with  his piece “Adagio for String Quartet” taking first place in 2015 and “Introduction and Waltz” taking second place in 2016. His compositions are regularly performed on UNL’s Flyover New Music Series. In the spring of 2019, Sam received a fellowship to study composition at the European American Music Alliance Institute in Paris, France. Sam is great at working with children of all ages, and co-directed the Mozart Orchestra for Lincoln’s UNL/LPS String Project.