By Dalton Johnson, Staff Writer
Around noon every Monday, Wednesday and Friday a blaring sound of instruments can be heard throughout the campus of Iowa Lakes Community College. That blaring of sound can then be heard turning into a mixture of swing rhythms and jazzy licks. That sound is the Iowa Lakes jazz band practicing their latest tunes. The director of the jazz band is Carol Ayres, who is currently in her 33rd year of teaching instrumental music at Iowa Lakes. Although she is well known in the community now, she had very humble beginnings.
“I grew up on a farm between Gillette Grove, IA, and Ayrshire, IA, close to Iowa Lakes,” said Ayres.
Ayres’s family had quite the farming operation.
“We had a 300 head cow-calf operation, plus raised soybeans, corn, and alfalfa,” she said.
As one might expect, Ayres worked hard while growing up on a farm.
“I walked beans and worked with cattle every summer,” said Ayres.
Despite the hard work, Ayres remembers fondly of her time growing up on a farm.
“Being raised on a farm is a wonderful way to grow up; I was truly blessed,” She said.
Ayres got involved in music at a very early age.
“I started singing with my brothers and sisters in a group accompanied by my mother when I was 4 years old,” said Ayres.
The group sang at all kinds of events. Churches, nursing homes, even bridal and baby showers. Ayres started taking piano lessons in 4th grade and joined the school band playing clarinet in 5th grade. By the time she was in 8th grade, Ayres was accompanying her school’s choirs.
After graduating from a class of 24 at South Clay high school, Ayres attended Buena Vista University where she tripled majored in math, music and education. Ayres unfortunately had to drop the math major due to the music major being very demanding.
After graduation, Ayres taught at Wall Lake Community Schools where she taught 5-12 grade band and directed musicals. She began teaching at Iowa Lakes in 1988 as an adjunct professor teaching a couple of music classes.
Things changed however, when the Dean of Iowa Lakes approached her about directing the jazz band that same year. She started teaching full-time in 1993 and worked to get her master’s degree.
“After I started teaching at IA Lakes, I needed to get my master’s degree, so I taught 3 days a week and drove to USD in Vermillion, South Dakota two days a week,” said Ayres.
Ayres worked hard and received her master’s degree in little under two years. Ayres said that completing her masters degree in such a short time took a lot of work; especially her last term.
“In my last term, I took twice as many credits allowed for a term, so I could get finished,” she said.
“I had class from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM and then basically studied with peer groups from 5 till midnight and wrote papers from midnight until 4 in the morning; then I slept from 4-7 and went to class,” said Ayres.
Ayres said her last term was very demanding, but it did not phase her.
“I love a good challenge,” laughed Ayres.
Ayres said that one of the things she enjoys most about her job is sharing her love of music, but she loves one aspect of her job more than the others.
“I do love every aspect of my job, but I especially love rehearsals,” said Ayres.
What Ayres’ does best is helping students and staff at Iowa Lakes. Brett Fuelberth, choir director at Iowa Lakes, has been working with Ayres since he took the choir director position 22 years ago. Fuelberth said that Ayres helped during his transition into college directing.
“Carol was a huge help in getting acquainted with everyone at Iowa Lakes and helping me understand how everything worked at the college,” said Fuelberth.
Fuelberth complemented Ayres’ strong work ethic.
“Carol is the hardest working person at the college that I know,” he said.
“She works tirelessly to do her very best – day, evening, weekends – anytime to accomplish all she can at the college,” said Fuelberth.
Fuelberth mentioned that her work ethic is an inspiration to many at Iowa Lakes.
“Her work ethic is an inspiration to many at the college – faculty and students alike,” he said.
Although Ayres has been working at the college since 1988, she shows no sign of slowing down. A true testament to her strong work ethic and the fact she never backs away from a challenge. The Iowa Lakes music department and Iowa Lakes in general would be very different without Ayres’ hard work.
Photo Credit: Northwest Iowa Review
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