Fine Arts
Almost one-half of the student body is involved in the school’s fine arts program. Linn-Mar fine arts programs have achieved high honors at all levels. For state contests, Linn-Mar participates in the large-school class. Linn-Mar students have access to one of the finest high school performing arts facilities in the state.
MUSIC
Band
Directors:
Mr. Nuss - acnuss@linnmar.k12.ia.us
Mr. Terrell - dterrell@linnmar.k12.ia.us
Mrs. Tiede - jtiede@linnmar.k12.ia.us
The “Marching Lions” perform at football games, two parades and various contests during the fall. Any 10-12 band members may elect to be in the “Marching Lions”, as well as a few selected freshmen. Auditions are held for those wishing to be drum majors. Color Guard squad requires an audition as well.
Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band and Freshmen Band perform three concerts during the year and participate in State Large Group Contest. Each band member auditions for band and chair placement. Participation in state Solo/Ensemble contest is optional. Auditions for All-State Band and various honor bands are optional.
Colton Center Jazz, Jazz I, Jazz II and Fresh. Jazz Bands are also offered outside of the school day. Auditions are held and many concert, contest and event performances are held.
A Wind section is also an opportunity for band students to perform with the Linn-Mar Philharmonic.
Orchestra
Conductors:
Mr. Reznicow - jreznicow@linnmar.k12.ia.us
Mr. Sentman - tsentman@linnmar.k12.ia.us
The Linn-Mar High School Orchestra department is comprised of four different curricular performing ensembles with students in the 9th - 12th grades. All ensembles meet daily for forty-five minutes and program around six to eight performances a year. All ensembles have continued to perform well at State Contest receiving multiple superior (1) ratings over the past two decades. Participating in area festivals and contests has also been a mainstay within the curriculum, including performances at the Iowa String Teacher Association’s (ISTA) annual conference as well as the top performing ensemble Symphony Strings, placing “Best in Class-4A” at the Jefferson Orchestra Invitational multiple times.
Individually, students have flourished by earning multiple accolades throughout their careers by being selected to the Iowa All-State Orchestra, Division 1’s and Best -of-Center awards at State Solo and Ensemble Contest, as well as earning scholarships to post-secondary institutions around the country. All ensembles within the program produce challenging and unique literature each year, including repertoire from composers such as Beethoven, Mozart, Shostakovich, Piazzolla, Marquez, Bloch, Tchaikovsky, Bernstein, Dvorak, John Williams, Bela Bartok, and Copland to name a few.
Additionally, the orchestra department has collaborated and performed with various local and national artists including bassist-Vokan Orhan, Red Cedar Chamber Music, and most notably Time for Three (TF3).
Vocal Music
Directors:
Mr. Buglewicz - tbuglewicz@linnmar.k12.ia.us
Mrs. Anderson - sarah.anderson@linnmar.k12.ia.us
Mr. Jorgensen - jack.jorgensen@linnmar.k12.ia.us
The Vocal Music Department has two non-auditioned curricular choirs (Lux and Fortis) that are available for 9-12th grade students and five auditioned curricular choirs (Bella Voce, Cantemus, Chamber Singers, Concert Chorale, and Linn-Mar Singers) that are available for 10-12th grade students. All seven ensembles perform four concerts a year and participate in Large Group State Contest. Optional opportunities for singers include performing at Solo & Ensemble Contest, auditioning for Opus Honor Choir (9th grade only), and auditioning for the Iowa All-State Choir.
Show Choir
Directors
Mr. Buglewicz - tbuglewicz@linnmar.k12.ia.us
Mrs. Anderson - sarah.anderson@linnmar.k12.ia.us
Mr. Jorgensen - jack.jorgensen@linnmar.k12.ia.us
Hi-Style
Hi-Style is the treble-voice prep show choir at Linn-Mar High School. This ensemble is comprised of students in grades 9 through 12. Each year, Hi-Style strives to establish vocal technique, etiquette, and performance skills for the future while providing audiences an emotional and captivating experience. The performance season includes multiple concerts and four competitions. Hi-Style is directed by Jack Jorgensen.
In Step
In Step is the mixed-voice prep show choir at Linn-Mar High School. This ensemble is comprised of students in grades 9 through 12. Each year, In Step strives to establish vocal technique, etiquette, and performance skills for the future while providing audiences an emotional and captivating experience. The performance season includes multiple concerts and four competitions. In Step is directed by Sarah Anderson.
10th Street Edition
10th Street Edition is the mixed-voice varsity show choir at Linn-Mar High School. This group is comprised of students in grades 10 through 12. Each year, 10th Street Edition strives to exemplify the performance values built in the Linn-Mar High School Choral Program while providing audiences an emotional and captivating experience. The performance season includes multiple concerts and four competitions. 10th Street Edition is directed by Trent Buglewicz.
DRAMA/THEATER
Contest Speech
Advisors:
Mary Kilburg - mary.kilburg@linnmar.k12.ia.us
Contest Speech helps enhance speaking and team-building skills that you will use well beyond high school. All LMHS students are welcome to join our team! Participants compete with schools from across the state in live and pre-recorded group and individual events.
These events include:
Large Group- One Act play, Reader’s Theatre, Choral Reading, Radio broadcasting, TV News, Musical Theatre, Group Improv, Ensemble Acting, Short Film, and Group and Solo Mime
Individuals- Acting, Solo Musical Theatre, Prose, Poetry, Literary Program, Improvisation, Public Address, Radio, Original Oratory, Expository Address, Spontaneous Speaking, After Dinner Speaking, Reviewing, and Storytelling
Linn-Mar supports both a varsity (10th-12th grade) and a freshman (9th grade only) team. The season runs from October through March.
Participation in Contest Speech is free for all Linn-Mar High School students, thanks to the generosity of the Linn-Mar Booster Club.
Drama
Advisors:
Mrs. Smith - msmith@linnmar.k12.ia.us
Mrs. Patterson - dpatterson@linnmar.k12.ia.us
Mrs. Kilburg - mary.kilburg@linnmar.k12.ia.us
Linn-Mar Drama performs five major school productions each year. The shows include the Thespian murder mystery play, a 9th grade play, a comedy, a drama, and the spring musical (in combination with the Orchestra and Vocal Departments).. Information about each show will be announced by the director of the show and information on auditions/tryouts will be announced on LMTV News. Opportunities are available to get involved in both acting and technical theater and no prior experience is needed.
Drama Technicians
Advisor: Mr. Bugenhagen - mbugenhagen@linnmar.k12.ia.us
Drama “Tech” is devoted to training students in production for the major drama productions. Areas involved are set construction, makeup, costumes, lighting, sound, rigging, publicity and props. This group is open to all students. Students may be involved in all shows or individual shows.
Thespians
Advisor: Mrs. Smith - msmith@linnmar.k12.ia.us
Thespians is an honor club for drama students. It is part of the International Thespians Society. Students who have donated 100 hours of their time to drama have the opportunity to join Thespian Troupe 680. Thespians have the opportunity to attend several professionally produced plays each year, as well as other activities arranged specifically for Thespians. The Thespians have also presented a Dinner Theatre the last several years.