About

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Jon Edwards is a self-taught drummer of 45 years who has played and toured with various rock, blues, and jazz groups primarily in Chicago and throughout the Midwest. In Grinnell, he has played with Magic Bison, The Funk Upstairs, Pink Neighbor, and has sat in for numerous student projects over the years. He enjoys recording and producing local musicians in his home studio, including many Grinnell College student projects. His role as the college’s Director of International Admissions takes him around the world and often provides the opportunity to play with local musicians and appreciate the connective power of music across cultures.

Jon and Karen’s two sons, Barrett and Dane, grew up with music at home and both studied formally under Grinnell’s excellent music educators, who have inspired them to continue to pursue music in their lives. The Grinnell School of Music will provide similar inspiration to future students who will discover the many rewards music can provide. One of Jon’s favorite quotes, attributed to Ronnie Lane’s (bassist of The Faces) father upon learning his son wanted to become a musician, said, ‘If you’re a musician, you’ll always have friends!’ No truer words! 

Roger taught vocal music for 38 years with 30 years in the Grinnell Community Schools and retired in 2021. Roger also co-directed the GHS biennial musical theater productions. Roger’s students and groups received many honors including all state recognitions, superior ratings at festivals, and invitations to perform for state and local events.

Roger served in numerous leadership positions at the local, state, and national level including Trainer for the National Board for Teachers, President of the Iowa Choral Directors Association, Advisory Board Member of the Iowa High School Music Association, President of the Grinnell Area Arts Council, and Member of the GHS Building Improvement Team. He has presented at state, regional, and national conferences of the American Choral Directors Association, the National Association for Music Education, and the Iowa School Board Association. He was a founding member of Iowa Comprehensive Musicianship Project and led demonstration rehearsals and classes for the Drake Summer Music Institute. Roger received a Yale Distinguished Music Educator Award for outstanding service to music education in public schools, and was awarded the Weston Noble Award from his alma mater, Luther College, for excellence in choral music education. He is currently working part time in the education department at Grinnell College as a Lecturer, Field Placement and Licensure Officer. 

Roger looks forward to the Grinnell School of Music coming to fruition to serve our community by expanding the arts education opportunities found in our area. 

Luke has been involved in music since he was a kid in New Hampton, Iowa.  Singing was always something he enjoyed doing and he had many great experiences from that, including in high school where he participated in all-state choirs, played Danny Zuko in Grease, and sang at numerous other events.  He carried that on when going to Wartburg College where he was able to sing in the Wartburg Choir and go to places like Germany, singing in castles and beautiful churches.  Luke was also active in sports throughout both high school and college and truly is appreciative of being able to do both.  Since college, Luke has continued to use his voice to sing at numerous weddings, with the Phoenix Symphony Choir, and various church groups.  After getting his degree from Wartburg in Business Management, Luke started his 21-year, and counting, career in the construction industry.  His focus early on was in operations and management but started to shift to technology about 11 years ago.  After leaving the state of Iowa for 20 years with stints in Phoenix, AZ, Vancouver, WA and Kansas City, KS…Luke returned to Iowa to take on the role of CIO at Manatts Inc.  Luke and his wife Jen live in Grinnell and have 2 dogs, Dublin and Guinness.  He is extremely excited to be a part of the Grinnell School of Music because he believes in the impact that music can have in a community and strongly supports the opportunity for kids and adults to get the instruction and encouragement that he was so lucky to get when he needed it!  

 Stephanie Latimer is thrilled to be a part of the GSoM, recognizing the importance of music being accessible to all ages and skill  levels.

Latimer's musical career started in 4th grade when her elementary music teacher began an orchestra program at her school. Latimer dove into this new venture head first, using her 100-year-old violin, a gift from her grandfather, to snag Division I awards at state solo and ensemble contests throughout her school years. She participated in the Dorian Music Festival at Luther College, played in the Iowa All-State orchestra all 4 of her high school years, and was a featured soloist with the London Philharmonic when her high school orchestra played with them at a performance in St Louis. She returned to her elementary school throughout her middle and high school years to mentor new players, and assisted younger students participating in the Summer Orchestra Program until her graduation from high school.  

Despite her lifelong love of music, it wasn't until someone entered her in a singing contest without her knowledge at the age of 26, that she began her vocal performances. She won the contest that evening, and many others she has participated in throughout the years, all over the state of Iowa as well as in Florida and Las Vegas. Her talents were used in sample tracks for many karaoke discs in the early 2000s, and for demo recordings submitted to record companies by aspiring songwriters. After moving to Grinnell, she dusted off her violin to join in on the local production of Seussical, an experience she says was amazing and enjoyable, despite being a difficult feat for someone who hadn't played in years.  These days, Latimer can often be heard singing the National Anthem at area events, her personal favorite song to perform. She and her husband Ben host karaoke shows throughout the year in the Grinnell area, as well as serving as wedding and event DJs and performing with their band Whiplash, in addition to other musical side projects.

When Latimer isn't performing musically, her artistic skills are being put to use as the owner and designer of Bates Flowers by Design. Latimer holds a Master Florist distinction and is Iowa's sole Certified Professional Florist. She has also served on the Board of Directors for the Iowa Florists Association and is the President of the National Alliance of Floral Associations Board, which she joined in 2016. 

Skip is an American drummer, percussionist., composer, and recording artist who has performed and toured with numerous bands and artists for 44 years and has received multiple awards for his 25 recordings, including top10 album of 1993 for his work with No Pain, two Grammy mentions for his work with Billy Lee Janey in 2003 and 2004, and scored a top 40 musical hit in 2005 with the Just William Band for the song Rosalie, reaching number 6 in the FMQB charts. Skip is a registered composer through BMI and ASCAP and is currently under contract with Rock-a-Drome Records and GrassRoots Recording companies.

Skip studied music under Dr. Tom Davis and John Wooten at the University of Iowa and is currently teaching drums and percussion to Grinnell area students.  

Skip is looking forward to preserving the delicate arts culture in our country and community by pouring his knowledge, passion, and resources into the Grinnell School of Music, as he believes that music is the ultimate equalizer of social and economic boundaries as well as being an essential tool for building a person’s mind.  

P.J. grew up in Montezuma and was active in speech and drama, musical theater, plays, and musicals at Montezuma Community Schools. P.J. returned as a speech and drama coach for three years after graduating law school. He studied at Grinnell College where he was a member of the male a cappella group G-Tones. 

P.J. is a partner at Mahaffey Law Office with offices in Montezuma and Grinnell.

P.J. knows the Grinnell School of Music will provide high quality music education, collaboration, and instruction for all ages. It is vital to reinvest time and resources locally. The Grinnell School of Music will fill a need for local music instruction in Poweshiek County and compliment the existing music programs, performance spaces, and school activities.

Taylor Marsho is a Grinnell native who has grown up participating in various music and dance activities throughout the community. After attending The University of Northern Iowa majoring in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, she moved back to Grinnell to begin her career as a kindergarten teacher. She has since obtained a masters in Elementary Education from the University of Northern Iowa. 

Taylor, her husband Peter, and their son Rory have been attending Music Together classes at Studio E for over a year and a half. Recently the Marshos welcomed Archie to the family, and he attended his first class at only 11 days old. She has found how beneficial this program is to young musicians and is excited to support the Grinnell School of Music. She believes that the Grinnell School of Music will bring necessary experiences and opportunities to students of all ages. 

John Rommereim is Blanche Johnson Professor of Music at Grinnell College, where he conducts the Grinnell Singers and the Grinnell Oratorio Society and teaches composition. He has pursued a varied career as composer, conductor, vocalist, and keyboardist.  His music has been performed across the United States and internationally, and is published by Walton Music, Oxford University Press, earthsongs, Alry Publications, and Roger Dean Publishing.  The New York Times praised the “richly expressive” character of his extended song for voice and piano, Into the Still Hollow.  His works written in collaboration with flutist Claudia Anderson have been performed at National Flute Association conventions, and internationally by the ZAWA flute duet. 

In the early part of his career, he pursued an interest in Russian music, and he completed a translation of Pavel Chesnokov’s seminal treatise, The Choir and How to Direct It, published by Musica Russica. He also was active as a harpsichordist, and founded the Baroque Orchestra of Iowa, an early music ensemble that brought some of the country’s finest early music specialists to the state.  In recent years, he has conducted the Lyra Baroque Orchestra in biennial choral-orchestral concerts with the Grinnell Singers. 

He is pleased to be able to participate in this vital project that is sure to improve the quality of life in all the corners of our community, for young and for old. 

 Maura Strassberg is a life-long French horn player who recently finished a thirty-year career as a Professor of Contracts, Sales and Legal Ethics at Drake University Law School. Prior to teaching aspiring lawyers, she received a graduate degree in philosophy, clerked for a federal appellate judge, and practiced law in Boston, Massachusetts. She has served on and chaired for numerous Iowa non-profit organizations, including Domestic Violence Alternatives, the Galaxy, Iowa Pride Network and One Iowa. Although not a professional musician, music has always been a very important part of her life. One of her earliest musical memories is of getting to play many different instruments in a musical exploration class for young children. Since then, she has played the bugle, piano, trumpet, fife, French horn and valve-trombone. Whenever it has been possible, she has enjoyed the incomparable experience of making music with others in a band or orchestra, including the Boston Lawyer’s Orchestra, the Grinnell College Symphonic Band and the Grinnell Community Band. More recently, she has joined the Grinnell Oratorio Society and is enjoying the very different challenges and pleasures of singing in a choir. Her children played piano and were singers and instrumental players in the Grinnell choir and band programs. She strongly supports the mission of the Grinnell School of Music to provide music exploration, education and community for both children and adults. A community with music at its heart cannot fail to thrive!  

Lesley directed the Grinnell College Museum of Art for 23 years, until her retirement in 2022. Under her leadership, she established the Museum as a vibrant source for regional, national and international art, and as an effective partner in art education for the campus and community, She brings her expertise as a museum administrator and community partner to the Grinnell School of Music. Lesley has served on boards from the Chamber of Commerce to the Grinnell Area Arts Council and now leads the Iowa Cultural Coalition, advocating for public funding for the arts. Music and music education have always been part of her life and the life of her two children, raised in Grinnell. From her varied experience, Lesley knows that investing in the arts is central to Grinnell’s vitality: from its economic impact keeping local dollars in our community and creating jobs for artists and arts professionals, to the many benefits of arts education for children and adults alike. She is excited to build a School of Music that will expand the experience and joy of music for everyone.