Jordan Pallas

By TODD GOTTULA
Hub Staff Writer

KEARNEY - Voluntarism.

Many musicians feel no need to make it a part of their lives. Others, such as Kearney High School senior Jordan Pallas, embrace it while young.

"Part of being a performer, especially when you play the harp, is sharing the music with people who appreciate it," said the 17-year-old Pallas. "It gets a little hectic sometimes, but I understand the importance of being involved and giving back to the community."

The Hub's 2004 Freedom Award winner in the Arts and Entertainment Category, Pallas is known for sharing her musical talents with hospital patients, church congregations and nursing home residents. An accomplished harpist and piano player, she also performs at weddings, Christmas parties and other events.

Pallas regularly performs at St. Luke's Good Samaritan Village, where she plays for Sunday afternoon church services. She also makes frequent visits to Good Samaritan Hospital to play in the lobby and in hallways on patient floors.

"It's fun to see the enjoyment the patients and nursing home residents get out of hearing me play," said Pallas, who began playing the piano at age 4 and the harp seven years ago.

Pallas prefers playing at places such as nursing homes, churches and hospitals to the more formal setting of a concert.

"I love the interaction and intimacy of a setting like St. Luke's or the hospital," she said. "That's more enjoyable to me."

Pat Boyll of Kearney, who helps organize St. Luke's church services, said Pallas is mature beyond her years.

"Watching her interact with the home's residents is something special," Boyll said. "She is just a beautiful young lady. Her attitude, everything about her, is very pleasant. She always wants to help someone else.

"Jordan is one of those people you call one time, and you know she will come back again on her own," Boyll said. "She is always willing to give up her free time and share her beautiful music."

An honors student and standout distance runner at Kearney High School, Pallas plays in the Kearney and Hastings symphony orchestras, Tri-City Youth Symphony and KHS Orchestra. In January she joined 70 musicians picked to play in the Mid-America Productions National Honor Orchestra at Carnegie Hall in New York.

"Jordan is a model of the best of the best of Kearney High students. She represents not only her school, but the Kearney community, in all that she does," said Regina McCann, a KHS teacher and Pallas' cross country coach. "I often marvel at how she can budget all her extracurricular and community activities and still maintain a high academic status."

Jordan's parents, Randy and Mardi, own Pallas Music in downtown Kearney Centre and influenced her music career. But the teen's grandfather, Verle Straatmann of Kearney, has been an even stronger mentor.

"My grandfather is my great motivator," said Jordan. "I love performing with him, and I can sit down and listen to him play the piano for hours on end. He is just a tremendous, loving man."

Pallas will attend the University of Nebraska at Kearney and major in biology. She plans to continue her running and music careers in college.

e-mail to:
todd.gottula@kearneyhub.com