Musicians

Le Mars to serve as international hub for music (08/06/09)
Skip New York. Le Mars will be an international junction Aug. 31-Sept. 6 when musicians from as far as Greece, New Zealand and the country of Georgia will be taking the stage. This is Le Mars' second year hosting the National Old-Time Country and Bluegrass Festival at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds...

Musical notes create festive mood at Farmer's Market (07/20/09)
Bloodshed Assurance's musicians will take to the stage at the Olson Cultural Event Center during Wednesday's Farmer's Market. The band is one of several to provide entertainment during the market in a new effort by the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Le Mars promotions committee to draw more people to the Farmer's Market, said Mary Reynolds, Main Street director...

Juhls to host music fest benefiting prison ministry (07/09/09)
Get ready to tap your toes at The Second Annual Country & Gospel Musicfest this Saturday at the Mark and Cheryl Juhl farm grove stage at 11584 Polk Avenue, rural Remsen. The day-long event is a fundraiser for The Church of the Damascus Road, a prison congregation in Fort Dodge and Rockwell City...

Municipal Band presents Fourth of July concert (07/01/09)
Foster Park will be filled with patriotic music 8 p.m. Saturday as the Le Mars Municipal Band presents its traditional Fourth of July concert. The band, under the direction of Jerry Bertrand, will open the concert with "Manhattan Beach," a march by John Philip Sousa. ...

Ice Cream Days - what a flavor of home (06/12/09)
"It's all about Ice Cream!" is the theme for the 2009 Ice Cream Days celebration next week in Le Mars. The Ice Cream Capital of the World is ready to roll out the ice cream carts, cones, scoops and sandwiches. You name it. "Cone Sculptures" at the Arts Center and root beer floats at the Plymouth County Historical Museum start the day off Thursday, June 18, with both open from 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday...

Spring Concert Sunday at the Arts Center (06/05/09)
The Shining Stars Show Choir and the Le Mars Flute Choir will be in concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 7, at the Arts Center, 200 Central Ave. S.E. The Shining Stars Show Choir is a group of fourth, fifth and sixth graders who have prepared their music under the direction of Carol Hallberg. For this semester, the members also did all the choreography for their show...

Garage bands: Rockin' youth have dreams of big success (06/04/09)
Every band has something in common, they all start at the bottom. In garages, basements, and any space availible they practice with hopes to make it big. For Bloodshed Assurance and another newly formed band in Le Mars, their start is in a basement...

Interns add new perspective in print (05/28/09)
The Daily Sentinel will have two more writers on staff as college has concluded and interns have been hired. Newcomer Kelsie Anthony, of Le Mars, and second-year intern Luke Widbin, of Sioux Center, can be seen and read all summer as they hone their newswriting skills...

The Browns host MusicFest Midwest Friday in Sioux City (05/14/09)
The Brown Family of Merrill will take to the stage at the Sioux City Convention Center Friday evening, May 15 at the 2009 Spring MusicFest Midwest featuring Gospel music. "We are really excited to be back home and to present this concert," said Shelly Brown...

Seven LCS seniors recognized at Foundation Honors Banquet (04/22/09)
Seven Le Mars Community High School seniors, the top 5 percent of the graduating class of 2009, were recognized for academic excellence at the 14th Annual Foundation Honors Banquet April 17. Superintendent Dr. Todd Wendt made the presentation of the students, who he said are not only outstanding students, but also involved in so many activities that make Le Mars Community, in his opinion, one of the the top high schools in the area...

LCS music department earns three 'Outstanding in Center' at state contest (04/14/09)
The Le Mars Community High School Music Department participated in the State Solo & Ensemble Contest Saturday, March 28, at Spirit Lake High School. Three entries in the contest were named Outstanding in Center. In the band division, Jessica Kelly was named Outstanding in Center with her timpani solo...

Kurth gives Ice Cream Days logo bold look (04/07/09)
With only two pages to turn on the calendar, Le Mars' annual Ice Cream Days celebration will be geared up and ready to go. The dates, June 18-20, are packed with activities and plenty of opportunities for ice cream and fun. Gehlen Catholic High School junior Angie Kurth kicked off her Ice Cream Days early as the 2009 Ice Cream Days logo design winner...

Students auction services at LCS Music Booster supper (03/25/09)
A spaghetti dinner, silent auction and live student service auction will be featured at the Le Mars Community Music Boosters annual Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser this Friday, March 27, at the Le Mars Community High School cafeteria. The spaghetti dinner will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. and features spaghetti with choice of sauce, red with or without meat or alfredo, lettuce salad, garlic bread, ice cream and beverages...

Piano students tickle ivories for high ratings (03/12/09)
Fingers flew across the black and white keys on the piano keyboard during the 2009 State Piano Festival held last month at Hull Western Christian High School. Four Le Mars Community High School students, Megan Dunn, Nathan Young, Jessica Kelly and Kristen Ahlers, participated in the competition. which is under the direction of the Iowa High School Music Association...

Middle school choirs present March concert (03/11/09)
The Le Mars Community Middle School choirs want you to tune in to their March concert "RadioMemories" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, in the Middle School Auditorium. The concert revolves around radio and the influence it has had on the music people listen to...

Crimson & Black takes on the competition (03/10/09)
"Awesome" is how director Randy Ewing describes this year's Crimson & Black Show Choir at Le Mars Community High School. Since performing at the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce dinner in late January, the show choir has kept a busy schedule with the state contest and invitationals...

Middle school choirs present March concert (03/10/09)
The Le Mars Community Middle School choirs want you to tune in to their March concert "RadioMemories" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, in the Middle School Auditorium. The concert revolves around radio and the influence it has had on the music people listen to...

LCMS, Gehlen Catholic students selected for BVU Honor Band Festival (02/25/09)
Students from Le Mars Community Middle School and Gehlen Catholic Schools will take part in the 28th Annual Buena Vista University Honor Band Festival this Saturday, Feb. 28, in Storm Lake. The following students from Le Mars Community Middle School have been selected to perform in the festival: Ben Meis, oboe; Yashila Permeswaran, bassoon; Emily Ellefson, clarinet; Zach Kooistra, trumpet; Rodrigo Cobian, trumpet; Evan Richards, trombone; Karter Ewing, trombone; Tim Fett, baritone and Rebecca Luksan, percussion. ...

LCHS band to present winter concert (02/18/09)
The Le Mars Community High School Big Red Band will present its annual Winter Concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the middle school auditorium. The Jazz Ensemble will begin the concert with "Lady Bird" by Tadd Dameron which will feature the saxophone section, Megan Dunn, alto saxophone, Nathan Young, trombone, Kim Ohrlund, trumpet, Michael Sauer, vibes, Alec Johnson, guitar, Jacob Stonesifer, tenor saxophone, and David King on baritone saxophone...

LCMS presents winter band concert Feb. 12 (02/10/09)
The Le Mars Community Middle School Music Department will hold its winter band concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, in the middle school auditorium. The middle school Jazz Band participated in the NWIBA Jazz Festival last week and it will open the program with "Live A Little," "Back and Forth," "Every Sunrise is a Bonus," "Senorita Fajita" and "Carry On Wayward Son."...

LCS band director Ohrlund receives Karl King award (01/20/09)
Le Mars Community High School band director Curt Ohrlund has been honored with the Karl King Distinguished Service Award (Active) by the Northwest Iowa Band Masters Association. The honor was presented to Ohrlund at the Northwest Iowa Band Master's Honor Band Concert Saturday evening, Jan. 10, at Morningside College in Sioux City. NWIBA president Kurt Schwarck of Spencer presented the award...

Two Gehlen Catholic seniors selected for NW Iowa Honor Band and Honor Orchestra (01/09/09)
Gehlen Catholic seniors Emily Hutchins and Elias Niebuhr have been selected for the 2009 Northwest Iowa Band Master's Association's Honor Band and Orchestra. Honor Band will be held this weekend, Saturday, Jan. 10, at Eppley Auditorium at Morningside College in Sioux City...

Gehlen music students present Advent Concert (12/17/08)
Students in the Gehlen Catholic Schools 7-12 vocal and 5-12 music department will present their Advent Concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, in the school gymnasium. The 64-voice mixed junior high choir will sing four selections including "Give Me Wings," "Noel, Noel," "When Peace Shall Come" and "Down, Down The Chimney." The junior high girls will sing "Sleep, Little Baby, Sleep" and the junior high boys will sing "The Shepherd's Spiritual." The junior high is directed and accompanied by Beverly Evans.. ...

Let her sing, let her sing: Portz wins radio contest (12/17/08)
Danika Portz, a Remsen St. Mary's alum, won a radio contest's top prize for her holiday duet with a fellow Drake University student. By popular acclaim, she and Grant Cornish, of Cedar Rapids, were picked Des Moines' "Holiday Idols." Portz and Cornish, both members of the Drake University Choir, garnered the most votes from listeners for their rendition of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" in the contest sponsored by Lite 104.1 (KLTI-FM)...

LCHS musicians present Holiday Concert Dec. 15 (12/12/08)
Students at Le Mars Community High School will present their Holiday Concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15, in Carey Gymnasium. This concert features the concert choir, chamber choir, orchestra and concert band in a variety of holiday selections. The concert choir will open the evening program with "Do You Hear What I Hear?" They will continue with "Carols Around (And a Round)" and end their portion of the program with "Sleigh Ride."...

Three Gehlen students take part in Drake Honor Band Festival (12/05/08)
Three Gehlen Catholic High School students have been selected to take part in the 2008 Drake Honor Band Festival this weekend in Des Moines. Senior Elias Niebuhr will be performing for his fourth year in a row; senior Emily Hutchins will be performing for her third time at Drake and sophomore Matt Klein will be performing for his first time at Drake...

LCHS students selected for Northwest Iowa Honor Band Festival (12/03/08)
Thirty-two Le Mars Community High School band members will join with students from 44 area high schools to combine their talents for the 55th annual Northwest Iowa Honor Band Festival. The festival will be held Jan. 10, 2009, with a concert at 7 p.m. in Eppley Auditorium on the Morningside College campus in Sioux City. Approximately 225 high school musicians were chosen through auditions held Nov. 1 in Storm Lake from among 450 entries...

Students selected for All-State Music Festival (11/12/08)
Seventeen Le Mars Community High School students and one Gehlen Catholic High School student have been selected to participate in the 2008 All-State Music Festival at Ames. Emily Hutchins, a senior at Gehlen Catholic, earned a place on the percussion section of the All-State Band...

Nebraska brothers to rock out at free concert (09/26/08)
A piano-driven rock band with powerful vocals, intense stage presence with almost acrobatic moves, and harmonies that could make you weep. And they're from Nebraska. Meet Remedy Drive, the band of four brothers from Lincoln who will be rocking the stage at Le Mars Assembly of God Church at 6:30 p.m. Sunday for a free concert...

Telling stories on a 12-string: New Zealand man followed music a long way (08/26/08)
Some people are born with an ear for music. Dusty Spittle was born without one. On his right side, the New Zealand man doesn't have an eardrum, and his right "ear" is actually a skin graft from his shoulder. But that didn't stop him from writing and performing music, rising to be a New Zealand star in the old time country music scene...

Flood benefit showcases old-time country musicians (08/25/08)
Saturday night's Country Music fundraiser for flood victims in the Cedar Rapids area raised nearly $1,200. It also gave area residents and guests a taste of the music to be presented at the 33rd Annual National Old-Time Country & Bluegrass Festival and Contest at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds starting today (Monday) and running through Sunday, Aug. 31...

Old time music fest begins Monday (08/22/08)
Campers from across the nation are already filling up the Plymouth County Fairgrounds. Musicians are warming up their acoustic guitars and banjos. The National Old Time Country and Bluegrass Festival -- a gathering of more than 600 artists -- begins Monday, Aug. 25, and runs through Sunday, Aug. 31...

Saturday country music show will benefit flood victims (08/19/08)
A benefit for flood victims at Cedar Rapids with old-time country music will fill the Plymouth County Historical Museum this Saturday, Aug. 23, and give a preview of music to be enjoyed at the 33rd Annual National Old-Time Country & Bluegrass Festival set for Aug. 25-31 in Le Mars...

Old-Time Country Music fest brings hundreds of performers to Le Mars (08/11/08)
Le Mars and the Plymouth County Fairgrounds will be the place to be as the 33rd Annual National Old-Time Country & Bluegrass Festival and Contest comes to town Aug. 25-31. Organized by Bob and Sheila Everhart of Anita, the festival features old-time traditional country, bluegass, folk, ragtime, cowboy, mountain and all types of acoustical music...

Le Mars composer makes musical notes come alive (07/30/08)
David Moore began writing melodies as a teenager. "I started dabbling when I was in high school just kind of messing around," the Le Mars man said. "I actually did a couple of arrangements for my jazz band experimenting a little bit." Since then, a band instructor by day, Moore has composed full concert band and smaller solo, piano and ensemble pieces...

Le Mars Municipal Band presents final concert of summer season (07/14/08)
The final concert of the 2008 summer season will be presented by the Le Mars Municipal Band at 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 16, in Foster Park. Jerry Bertrand is in his 21st year of conduction the Le Mars Municipal Band. The Rev. Gary Landsness will announce the concert...

Trumpet soloist featured at Municipal Band concert (06/17/08)
A trumpet soloist, a Dixieland set, and a Karl L. King march will highlight the second concert of the season for the Le Mars Municipal Band at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Foster Park. There is no admission charge and concertgoers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets...

Strings teacher of the year award honors Hallberg's passion (05/19/08)
Not just anyone can put a violin into a fourth grader's hands and start teaching them to play. Or help an orchestra of middle school students see their own potential. But this is where Ted Hallberg thrives. The Le Mars Community Schools orchestra instructor was named the Classroom Teacher of the Year by the Iowa chapter of the American String Teachers Association (ASTA)...

Gehlen elementary present vocal concert (05/06/08)
Gehlen Catholic elementary vocal students will present their spring concert, "Kids on Broadway," at 7 p.m. tonight (Tuesday) in the Gehlen Catholic Gymnasium. Students in grades kindergarten through six will present selections from popular Broadway musicals including "The Sound of Music," "The Wizard of Oz," "Oliver," "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown," "Snoopy," and "Mamma Mia" with narration by the sixth grade class...

LCS hosts State Large Group Music Festival Friday (05/01/08)
Le Mars Community Schools will host the State Large Group Music Festival this Friday, May 2. The contest features both instrumental and vocal groups from Le Mars, Storm Lake, Bishop Heelan Catholic, Spencer and Sergeant Bluff-Luton. The instrumental center will be located in the Middle School Auditorium and vocal center will be in Carey Gymnasium...

Gehlen Catholic spring band concert is Thursday (04/29/08)
With an eclectic mix of traditional concert band music and Disney tunes, Gehlen Catholic Schools' band students will present their annual spring instrumental music concert this week. All the band students in grades 4-12 will present their concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 1, in the Gehlen Gymnasium. The concert will also be a time to say "farewell" to 13 graduating seniors...

Le Mars native captures musicians on canvas (04/25/08)
When Le Mars native Jonas Lynch delivered a giant portrait of hip-hop star Snoop Dogg to the musician himself, there was a message imbedded in the painting. Thousands of telephone numbers. Lynch, now living in Long Beach, Calif., plastered a canvas with the pages of a Long Beach phonebook, then painted a reverse image of Snoop Dogg's face in black paint. He left the highlights of the portrait unpainted, so the phonebook pages show through...

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