Sarah Lowrance
Entertainment Editor

NIACC's Instrumental Music Department has talent in sophomore Janel Harms. Harms, originally from Nora Springs, plays a variety of instruments and plans to use her talents to major in music education.

Harms said she was in-fluenced by many people, most directly her mother, who is very active in most things musical.

"I've always had music in my life, I can't picture not having it in my life," Harms said.

Harms has been involved in music from a very young age, beginning piano lessons at the age of three and deciding to play saxophone for the band in fifth grade.

Harms has extended her musical repertoire to include the alto, baritone and tenor saxophones. Harms is involved in both piano and saxophone lessons at NIACC and also lends her talents to the Concert and Jazz Bands and Concert Chorus.

"Not only is Janel a fun person but she's someone I can look up to," Laura Dudding, fellow Jazz Band member and NIACC Singer, said.

Harms plans on pursuing a career as a band teacher so that she can share her musical knowledge with others.

Harms said that many people have inspired her along her the way to her musical pursuits. "Laura (Dudding) has really helped with my piano and my mom is always doing musical things," Harms said.

Harms may have a great deal of inspiration from others but she inspires a few people herself. "Because she's a hard worker, she makes me a harder worker," Dudding said.

Harms' talent and dedication inspires others to try their hardest and do their best.

"I think she's going to make a great teacher. She's got a lot of compassion," John Klemas, NIACC Instrumental Music Department head, said.

Sarah Lowrance
Entertainment Editor

For those looking to enjoy some good jazz, NIACC's Performing Arts Series has just the thing. Starting on January 22 and running through January 24, local high schools will travel to NIACC to participate in the Eighth Annual Jazz Festival, hosted by the NIACC Jazz Band.

Each year, NIACC brings in two clinicians to teach the high school jazz bands the ups and downs of jazz performance.

"Students learn a lot of pointers from professionals," John Klemas, NIACC Instrumental Music Department head, said.

This year's clinicians are Paul McKee, a trombone player and University of Northern Iowa alum, and Brent Sandy, a trumpet player and teacher at the University of Iowa.

McKee has served as a member of Woody Herman's Thundering Herd since 1984 and contributed to the jazz facilities at numerous universities.

Sandy is a jazz lead trumpet/flugelhorn performer and teacher. He has spent 15 years as the lead trumpet for the Latin jazz-dance band Orquesta Alto Maiz.

He now performs with The OddBar Trio, Equalateral and The OftEnsemble.

Sandy is also the Jazz Studies Director at Grinnell College.

Students from the high school programs benefit from the experiences presented by the Jazz Festival.

The program consists of two days of clinic time, where McKee and Sandy spend one-hour sessions with each high school's band.

The clinicians and a 6-piece jazz combo then perform for the community on the evening of January 24.

"They help you become better players and to improve your group performance skills," Janel Harms, a sophomore NIACC Jazz Band member, said.

NIACC students also benefit from the festival, from both the clinicians and the high school bands.

"It's interesting to see the different levels of performance styles from the different area high schools," Laura Dudding, a sophomore NIACC Jazz Band membe, said.

The Jazz Festival takes place at North Iowa Area Community College on January 22 through January 24, with a jazz performance in the North Iowa Community Auditorium on January 24 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale at the Business Office for $12 and will be sold for $15 at the door.

Sarah Lowrance
Entertainment Editor

Here we are, the end of the fall semester already. I've talked about a lot of things this semester. But now it's time for me to talk about something that really means a lot to me and thousands of others all over the world. I want to talk about The Lord of the Rings.

Okay, so it's not a really important issue but it's a love of mine and since the premiere of the final film of the trilogy, The Return of the King is due out on December 17, I just had to plug it. Call this a movie review if you like.

Now I may be an ubergeek when it comes to movies (and I assure you this one is no different in that respect) but the thing that is most appealing to me about this project is the story. Director Peter Jackson took a truly awesome story and compiled it into something amazing to see- not an easy task.

There was also the mind-boggling amount of effects needed, as there is with most fantasy films.

Making things like cave trolls and balrogs come to life is not an easy task but it was done in such a way that impressed even me (and I tend to be really picky about effects).

The main reason I think this film worked so well was because of the casting. The fact that this cast bonded on and off screen is what makes the story so appealing to me.

I find myself being pulled, sometimes unwillingly, into the characters' thoughts and emotions. It is a truly cathartic experience and a testament to the filmmaker and cast to be able to take an audience on that kind of journey.

So there's always a purpose to my columns, right? You're probably sitting here thinking, 'where's she going with this?'

Well, besides solidifying my place in the Geek Hall of Fame, I have one simple goal for this column. Go see The Return of the King on December 17. If you haven't seen the first two films of the trilogy, watch them first and then go see it. I promise you won't regret it.