‘All-State Norm’ to retire from Newton High School

In the last one-room schoolhouse in the entire state of Iowa, in Mahaska County, Norm Grimm learned his love of music. One teacher taught all subjects to every grade at the small country school, and in the mornings the students sat around the piano as she played and sang hymns. It was the favorite part of young Grimm’s school day.

“Just a few miles away, at Vennard College, which is no longer there actually, I started to take piano lessons in the third grade,” Grimm said. “I thought I was pretty special.”

Grimm, who has taught choir at Newton High School for seven years, plans to retire this week. Grimm is a graduate of Williamsburg High School and Central College with graduate studies in music education at Morningside College, University of Northern Iowa and the University of South Dakota. For 35 years, Grimm has taught at various schools including Ackley-Geneva, Williamsburg, Sioux Center and Northwestern College. For 20 years, Grimm sang with the gospel trio, “His Light” with whom he recorded seven albums and gave nearly 400 concerts in churches and convention centers throughout the Midwest.

Grimm taught at Sioux Center for 20 years, and after all four of his children graduated and moved away, he and his wife decided they had no reason to stay.

“We decided to move closer to family in southeast Iowa, and closer to my home town of Williamsburg,” Grimm said. “We really liked this area of the state. I had fond memories of hanging out with friends here in Newton while I was in college.”

Bill Peters, Principal of Newton High School, shared a humorous memory of first meeting Grimm.

“He was sitting in my office during his interview for the position here, and I asked him what he knew about high school musicals, and he just laughed and said, ‘I wrote the book on high school musicals,’” Peters said. “And I laughed and thought he was kidding and he said, ‘No, seriously I helped write a book for the Iowa High School Choir Association on how to produce musicals at the high school level.”

During his 35 years as a choir director, Grimm’s choir students have distinguished themselves with more than 200 members in OPUS, All-State, NCACDA and ACDA honor choirs; more than 100 Large Group, Show Choir and Chamber Choir superior ratings and more than 40 Outstanding Performance Awards. So many NHS students in the choir department have been to All-State competitions that Peters coined him the name “All-State Norm.”

“Grimm has brought an expectation of excellence to the choir program. The choir was always expected to be good, but with him the choirs have been great,” Peters said. “Grimm breaks down the music, and has an attention to detail. He teaches the students to enunciate and pronounce the music — he really cleans their technique up.”

Peters’ daughter, Dani Peters, 2013 NHS graduate, was in choir with Grimm, and is currently working on her major in vocal performance. She has traveled to sing for programs in countries such as London, Finland and Latvia. Peters shared that Dani is heading to China to perform.

“Dani enjoyed music before going to high school choir, but Grimm taught her a deeper love for music,” Peters said.

Several other students were affected by Grimm in his seven years at NHS.

Elizabeth Pearson, 2015 graduate, was involved in choir throughout her four years in high school. She participated in jazz choir, varsity chorale, chamber choir and several musicals. She attended state solo and ensemble competition and received a superior rating as a state soloist. Pearson said Grimm had a “big paternal air” that made him seem like a grandfather figure.

“We always call him Grimmy Bear or Gramps because he wouldn’t let us call him Grim Reaper,” Pearson said, with a laugh. “He taught me to control my breathing and vowels. Grimm taught me a lot of technique and without that I wouldn’t be where I am today ... he taught me to be patient, too.”

Pearson plans to study music at Central College and use her talents for musical therapy.

“He had a big impact on my decision, which opened opportunities and increased my horizons,” Pearson said. “I am definitely going to miss him, he’s like part of the family.”

Grimm said one of his favorite memories was directing “Phantom of the Opera” his first year at NHS.

“I’ve been blessed with getting to work with remarkable singers,” Grimm said. “Varsity chorale is probably my favorite to work with because they’re the most capable and able to sing challenging music, and a great variety of music, too.”

Grimm said he had 10 reasons to retire this spring — his five grandsons and five granddaughters who “are growing up way too fast.”

“It’s nearly impossible to find a time that you don’t want to see the next group of students get through high school,” Grimm said. “But then you just end up staying too long ... I think that Newton was a great place for me to spend my final teaching years. I was glad to be able to bring my knowledge and expertise here and the chance to get to know students and faculty.”

Grimm’s wife, Marlys, was by Grimm’s side throughout many years as his accompanist in numerous choir concerts and conference, district and regional choral festivals. Marlys is currently the accompanist for the Grinnell Oratorio Society and Central College. She also plans to retire this spring.

“My wife and I love to cycle, and we do biking trips with our friends,” Grimm said. “It still feels quite strange to be leaving this classroom. I keep thinking I need to start preparing music for next fall, then I remember that I don’t. I hope that my students have learned an appreciation for music that they carry through life, because music really helps people.”

The new high school choir teacher for the 2015-2016 school year will be David Baxter, a 2014 graduate of Luther College.

“I’ve tried to teach responsibility and cooperation to the students, as well as the value of every member contributing to the group,” Grimm said. “I’ve also tried to demonstrate the impact that music can have on people, the words and the sounds are truly remarkable.”