LCS band director Ohrlund receives Karl King award

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. [Click to enlarge]

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.

The award is voted on by members of the NWIBA and honors Ohrlund's work as a band director and his work with the organization.

As the NWIBA honoree, he is eligible for the Iowa Band Master's Association Karl King award. That decision will be made later this spring.

Ohrlund is in his 20th year as band director at Le Mars Community Schools.

"It really doesn't feel like 20 years," he said. "Then I look back and my oldest child was in kindergarten when I came here."

He still has two children in high school.

Ohrlund earned both his bachelor and master's degree from the University of South Dakota, and has done additional work at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D., Morningside College in Sioux City and Drake University in Des Moines.

His first teaching position was in Jefferson, S.D., where he remained for three years before moving to West Lyon of Inwood where he taught for five years.

"I love the variety this job has, with marching band, solo and ensemble contests, jazz band, just so many different things," Ohrlund said.

"On a personal level, I can't say enough positive things of the kind of community and students we have, and the tremendous work they do," Ohrlund continued. "They work very hard and they want to be successful."

Ohrlund is passionate about his job.

"I love it," he said. "Northwest Iowa is a good place for music."

The Karl King Distinguished Service Award is named for the late Karl King, who is known as America's March King for the more than 200 marches he published.

King came to Fort Dodge in 1920 when he accepted the position of conductor of the Fort Dodge Municipal Band, a position he held for more than 50 years. King had served as president of the Iowa Bandmasters Association and also as president of the American Bandmasters Association during his career and was instrumental in founding both organizations.

Gehlen Catholic Instrumental Music Director Paul Niebuhr congratulated Ohrlund in a news release.

"Throughout Curt's teaching career here in Northwest Iowa, he has volunteered as a district officer, worked with the honor band, and served as a district representative for state committees," Niebuhr said. "In addition, Curt has conducted various clinics and judged contests for Gehlen Catholic and other schools. His positive comments help students improve their skills and technique. Curt is a fantastic leader for our district, a great director for an outstanding program here in Le Mars, and a wonderful friend. The Karl King Award couldn't go to a better person."

Members of the Northwest Iowa Bandmasters Association come from the following counties: Buena Vista, Carroll, Cherokee, clay, Crawford, Dickinson, Ida, Lyon, Monona, O'Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, Sac, Sioux and Woodbury.

Ohrlund currently serves as treasurer for the organization.