Christopher Storm

Touching lives with music

Skutt Catholic, a west Omaha parochial school, used excellence in athletics to gain the eye of the Nebraska public as the new school germinated 25 years ago.

Today, its impressive athletic program continues, but its growing vocal music program has gained the ear of the public as well as its own student body, which numbers 780. The man behind that music program, 2000 SDSU music grad Christopher Storm, was named the Nebraska Choral Directors Association’s Outstanding Director for 2017 at its Nov. 19 gathering.

Storm arrived at Skutt in August 2009 after teaching seven years at Bishop Heelan Catholic High School in Sioux City, Iowa, and a year at Parkston. “There was a strong focus on athletics when I came to Skutt mostly because that would bring in students … There’s nothing in Nebraska that says you’re a state championship concert or show choir,” he said.

He inherited a 20-student concert choir. Today, there are two show choirs, two concert choirs, a music ministry choir and two acapella ensembles in addition to musical theater.

Storm estimates about one-fourth of the student body are involved in at least one of the groups.

Students recruit their friends

The program’s best recruiters are its own members, according to Beth (Dempsey) Wagner, a 1991 SDSU music graduate who as a part-time accompanist, is the vocal music program’s only other faculty member.

“Chris gives ownership of the vocal music program to the students,” Wagner said. “He asks them to invite those students they know need to be in our room, not just for the incredible music we can make together but because they need to be there. It could be the place that saves them; their safe place.

“These kids know Chris cares as much about their emotional development and personal well-being as he does about their musical ability and growth. That combination allows them to open up and make some truly amazing music together and grow as human beings.”

Teaches life lessons

One of those kids is Matthew Pohlman, a 2016 Skutt graduate who spearheaded the nomination effort for Storm’s award.

“When I was at Skutt Catholic, music was not only fun, but it also became very important to a lot of students. I remember a particular rehearsal in which we stopped singing and listened to Mr. Storm teach us life lessons. He shared with us that he felt so privileged to have a job that is not only an avenue to teach music but presents the opportunity to teach his students to be good human beings,” Pohlman said.

Storm said, “I hope that my students come out of my choirs having learned more than just songs. I hope that they have developed skills necessary to be productive members of society.

“They have to learn to work as a team while also striving to be the best version of themselves that they can. I am very demanding that they use their talents to the fullest extent on a daily basis. They follow a path to self-discovery while also building strong relationships with peers and adults, all while making music.”

As for Skutt’s performances, Storm said, “Seeing the kids impacted by the music they’re performing is the greatest joy I have. We work on music that has a story or an emotional connection.

“I have never been a part of a group that sang such an emotionally draining piece. It spoke to those kids every single day. It spoke to me every single day. And every audience that was privileged to hear them sing was touched beyond their imagining.

– Dave Graves