steve lawson

JEI HALL OF FAME

Steve Lawson

2009

Steve Lawson was born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska. He attended Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln receiving his Bachelors degree in Music Education in 1967 and finished his Masters degree at the University of Iowa in 1971.

Steve taught 5 –12 band in Carson, Iowa for two years then spent the next 33 years in Harlan, Iowa as the Middle School band director and also did the High School Jazz program. His marching bands were consistent winners in the Clarinda band jamborees. His concert bands got only division I’s for 33 years. The jazz bands were also consistent winners. The H.S. jazz band finished in the trophy class at the Iowa Jazz Championships every year since its conception in 1976. They have finished in the top three since 1989 winning 1st place in 99 and 01.

Mr. Lawson held many offices in the state IBA organization. He is past president and winner of the Karl King active award. He was interim president reactivating the Iowa chapter of IAJE.

Since his retirement at the end of the 02 school year he has kept busy doing clinics, guest directing, judging, playing gigs on piano – bass- drums- trombone with many mid west dance bands as well as his own band Together. Steve is on the adjunct faculty at Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs and teaches lessons part time at Shelby County Catholic School. He also has a studio and teaches private lessons. Steve finds his main passion in the Contemporary Christian group he has directed for 34 years called Faith Sound. This group is made up of 20 high school kids that do concerts in Churches all over the mid west on Sundays January through May.The group has released 30 recordings.

Steve’s wife Dianne is the piano accompanist for the Harlan vocal program and teaches piano lessons. They have two children Ronda her husband Dan and sons Joey and James of Baltimore MA and son Ryan and grandson Christian of Omaha NE.