Music is a part of Kia Mills' life

Becky Kia Mills was born in Chicago, and grew up in the suburb of Lombard, Ill., along with two brothers, one older (John) and one younger (David). She started taking piano lessons at age five, and violin lessons at age 8.

“It was a strong area for music education in the schools,” she recalled. “Students had an option to choose an instrument for either band or orchestra in fourth grade. I chose violin.”

Her teachers soon realized that she had both talent and interest, and arranged for her to have private lessons, as well as class lessons in school. Her interest continued in High School, and was further encouraged by a bit of competition with her older brother, who played the viola.

After high school, Becky attended Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill.

“It was difficult choosing a major at that time,” she said, “I was equally drawn to a career in music – piano or violin, or math. I eventually chose music and graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. The person who finally steered me into choosing violin, ‘lit the fire for me’, was James Dixon, Director of the Quad City Symphony. He had studied with the same teacher as Leonard Bernstein. Dixon welcomed me to play in the Quad City Symphony while still a student.”

After Augustana, Becky went to the University of Iowa to earn her Master of Arts Degree in Violin Performance. While there she was mentored by Allen Ohmes, who was the university’s violin instructor, and who asked her to be his teaching assistant.

Next, at age 23, the goal was to get a job as a musician in a symphony orchestra.

“I did four auditions,” she recalled, “the fourth being Omaha. And there I got hired! I was thrilled, especially because I had relatives in the area! Growing up, I spent a lot of time in Stanton, where my grandparents lived. In fact, my grandpa was still living, in a nursing home in Red Oak. Living and working in Omaha meant I could spend time with him, and with others in my family.”

Ever since then Becky has been a full-time violinist with the Omaha Symphony.

“People are often surprised to learn how many different things we do,” she said. “We rehearse several times a week and play concerts every week, classical, pops, rock, and play live sound tracks with movies. We collaborate with Opera Omaha. In about half of our services we work with kids in the community. We do 30 “Mission Imagination” shows each year for kindergarten – first grade age kids. The goal is to educate youth and foster an appreciation for live music, and show them what an orchestra is and does.

“Another fascinating part of playing with the Symphony is being able to meet and play with so many famous artists,” she said, “I had a hard time drawing up this list, and it’s pretty long, but by no means all- inclusive. Here we go: Doc Severinson, Ray Charles, Kristen Chenoweth, Itzhak Perlman, Bobby McFerrin, Kenny Rogers, Hal Linden, Charlie Daniels, Debbie Reynolds, Amy Grant, Josh Groban, Tony Bennett, Bernadette Peters, Marvin Hamlisch, Kathy Mattea, Roger Williams and Victor Borge.”

From the beginning, when she was first hired by the Symphony, Becky also began playing in the local back-up orchestra with Mannheim Steamroller’s Christmas show in Omaha. Then in 2003, when Mannheim’s solo violinist Arnie Roth had a conflict with his schedule, Chip Davis asked Becky to fill in for him. The rest, as they say, is history. Omaha Symphony grants her a 7-week leave of absence every year from mid-November through December so she can tour with Mannheim.

Best known for their Christmas albums, Becky has performed with Mannheim Steamroller in 48 states, at the Crystal Cathedral, Live with Regis and Kelly on TV, and she is featured on their latest DVD, “Mannheim Steamroller Live”.

Then, about 20 years ago, Becky decided she ought to put her teaching degree to a bit more use, and started a program for teaching strings – violin, viola, cello and bass – to people in the community. She has developed an inter-generational group she calls “Strings Unlimited” which currently has about 25 members, from beginners through more advanced players, ages 9 years through 80 plus. They meet weekly in Red Oak, put on a concert in May, and, in her absence over Christmas, do a few Christmas performances as well.

“It’s so rewarding!” she said. “I just love my students, and we have so much fun together.”

In addition to that, she enjoys spending time with her husband Matt, her three grown daughters, Heidi, Jody and April, and her many pets.

Becky has lived in Atlantic, for the past seven years, and says that when she retires from playing violin, she thinks it would be fun to start a “Senior Softball League”!