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Jeff Johannsen
’09 graduate
What music programs were you involved in while at HCHS?
I was involved with choir, chamber choir, concert band, marching band, the Jazz Experience, and a cast member of the musicals.
What path did you take after graduating high school?
I went to Drake University in Des Moines and received a Bachelor of Music Business and a Bachelor of Music Education. I am currently the 6-12 grade Director of Choral Music at Des Moines Christian School and am working on my Master of Music in Choral Conducting through Simpson College.
How did growing up in the Harlan Music Program affect your high school experience?
The music programs in the Harlan school system were central to my entire school experience. My school days began with early marching band and chamber choir rehearsals, choir in the middle of the day and then Jazz band until 5:00 every day of the school year. The work ethic that I learned in each of these ensembles was very counter-cultural. I learned to be diligent in my work and how to bring a critical eye to rehearsals so that I could be able to make music excellently and at high levels. These skills were easily transferable into the classroom where attention to detail and endurance in the midst of difficulty is valued.
How did your involvement with the HCHS music program prepare you for higher education and beyond?
The quality music education that I received at HCHS set me ahead of many peers across the country and I was able to enter a prestigious collegiate music program. The firm foundation I received opened up multiple opportunities in the field of music and has lead me to pursue three degrees in music and a musical career. So much of my life revolves around music! I am in my sixth year of teaching and am currently directing the 6th through 12th grade choirs at DMCS. Additionally, I have been able to serve my church as a musician, train up college musicians, and have become a knowledgeable consumer of fine arts in the Des Moines area, often attending operas, concerts, musicals, symphonies, and jazz clubs.
What other exciting opportunities has a life of music given you?
I have been able to travel across the world to eight different countries on performance tours. I’ve sung in 4 opera productions, performed with the Des Moines Symphony, and met nationally renowned composers and musicians.
’09 graduate
What music programs were you involved in while at HCHS?
I was involved with choir, chamber choir, concert band, marching band, the Jazz Experience, and a cast member of the musicals.
What path did you take after graduating high school?
I went to Drake University in Des Moines and received a Bachelor of Music Business and a Bachelor of Music Education. I am currently the 6-12 grade Director of Choral Music at Des Moines Christian School and am working on my Master of Music in Choral Conducting through Simpson College.
How did growing up in the Harlan Music Program affect your high school experience?
The music programs in the Harlan school system were central to my entire school experience. My school days began with early marching band and chamber choir rehearsals, choir in the middle of the day and then Jazz band until 5:00 every day of the school year. The work ethic that I learned in each of these ensembles was very counter-cultural. I learned to be diligent in my work and how to bring a critical eye to rehearsals so that I could be able to make music excellently and at high levels. These skills were easily transferable into the classroom where attention to detail and endurance in the midst of difficulty is valued.
How did your involvement with the HCHS music program prepare you for higher education and beyond?
The quality music education that I received at HCHS set me ahead of many peers across the country and I was able to enter a prestigious collegiate music program. The firm foundation I received opened up multiple opportunities in the field of music and has lead me to pursue three degrees in music and a musical career. So much of my life revolves around music! I am in my sixth year of teaching and am currently directing the 6th through 12th grade choirs at DMCS. Additionally, I have been able to serve my church as a musician, train up college musicians, and have become a knowledgeable consumer of fine arts in the Des Moines area, often attending operas, concerts, musicals, symphonies, and jazz clubs.
What other exciting opportunities has a life of music given you?
I have been able to travel across the world to eight different countries on performance tours. I’ve sung in 4 opera productions, performed with the Des Moines Symphony, and met nationally renowned composers and musicians.
