To the editor:
National Music Week is May 3-10 and is being celebrated by the National Federation of Music Clubs, with the theme, “Music … is our constant companion.” This phrase is one that has shaped not only my career, but my life.
I grew up in Huron, immersed in music at Huron High School, where choir and band classrooms became a second home. That love led me to pursue a Bachelor of Music Education degree at South Dakota State University, and later a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. At UNL, I taught collegiate voice as a graduate assistant – an experience that deepened my belief in music’s power to connect us.
Through every stage of my life – moving away from home, continuing my education, and stepping into my first classroom – music has remained my true companion, a steady presence through change, offering grounding and growth when everything else felt uncertain.
Now, as I guide my own students, I am honored to help them discover music as a companion – just as I once did. For many, music is more than notes on a page; it is a place of belonging, expression, and understanding.
Living more than five hours from my family, I have come to rely on music in new ways. It brings me peace and comfort, especially in moments of loss. After losing my Grandma Barb in November, singing and performing make me feel close to her. In those moments, music becomes more than sound – it becomes home.
Throughout this week we celebrate not just the art of music, but its enduring presence in our lives. Music walks with us through joy, grief, growth, and change. It is, truly, our constant companion.
Sylvia Kattner-O’Neill
Waverly MS/HS Vocal Music
Lincoln, Neb.
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