Decorah Middle School orchestra teacher receives statewide recognition

Decorah Middle School orchestra teacher Jennifer Larson has received the 2014 Bruce Eilers Classroom Teacher Award from the Iowa Chapter of the American String Teachers Association.

Larson has taught in Decorah for over 13 years. She is responsible for recruiting beginners, giving lessons and directing the grades 5-8 orchestras. She is also the orchestra director for Decorah's Nordic Dancers.

Larson is well known for her ability to engage students in their orchestra studies. For the past two years she has led her older students in presenting "Night of the Notables" – an evening of performances by students who have selected modern music performers, such as Queen, The Beatles and Madonna. The students research the artists' lives and music, then perform a sample of their work with their orchestra instruments.