Jim Iverson’s teaching career spanned 35 years – 28 in Fergus Falls, MN – and included directing concert, jazz, marching, and pep bands. Jim currently serves schools in West Central Minnesota as a Schmitt Music Educational Representative, based out of Schmitt Music Fargo.
The MMEA is the premier professional association for music educators in Minnesota. They serve approximately 1750 educators through programs, clinics, advocacy, and leadership. Each year, the MMEA sponsors awards to recognize outstanding music educators. Learn more on their website: www.mmea.org.
Jim Iverson is a 1973 graduate of Mahnomen High School (Mahnomen, MN). He earned his Bachelor of Arts in music education in 1977 from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN and later earned a master’s degree from Southwest State University in Mankato, MN. His teaching career spanned 35 years – 7 in Lake Park, MN and 28 in Fergus Falls, MN – and included directing concert, jazz, marching, and pep bands.
Throughout his career his groups received numerous awards and honors. For 25 consecutive years, one or more Fergus Falls students were selected to the Minnesota All-State Band. The Fergus Falls High School Marching Band appeared in the historic 2009 Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington D.C. Under his leadership, the Fergus Falls High School Wind Ensemble performed at the Minnesota Music Educators Midwinter Clinic in Minneapolis in 1991 and again in 2003. They also won the Grand Champion Award in the New York City Music Festival in 2001. The Fergus Falls music program was named a Grammy Signature School in 1999, and in 2004 Fergus Falls was named by the American Music Conference as one of the Best 100 Communities for Music Education.
Iverson has served on state and regional boards for MBDA and for MMEA. He helped organize the northwest region MBDA and served as its first president. He is a member of the Phi Beta Mu Fraternity of Minnesota Band Directors and remains an active adjudicator and clinician. In 2014 he was inducted into the Fergus Falls High School Hall of Fame.
Upon his retirement in 2012, Iverson was hired by Schmitt Music as an Educational Representative and continues to make a contribution to music education by servicing schools in West Central Minnesota. This has provided him the flexibility to do guest conducting in many schools as well as allowing him to serve as a mentor in the Minnesota Band Directors Association mentorship program. He is also an active performer as a member of the Fergus Falls Area Chamber Choral and is the director and a player in the Lakes Area All-Star Jazz Band.
Iverson has been married to his wife, Bonnie, for 38 years. Together they have children Kelly, Mandy and Anthony, as well as son-in-law Mark Egge, and grandsons Cooper and Keegan.
