MASON CITY – North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) is pleased to introduce Jared Barnes as the new Director of the NIACC Performing Arts and Leadership Series. A lifelong resident of North Iowa, his early passion for the performing arts was fostered by the region’s dedicated arts educators and rich cultural opportunities—including the NIACC Performing Arts and Leadership Series.
Barnes (pictured at top) graduated from Newman Catholic High School in Mason City, and continued his educational journey studying music at NIACC (‘05), where he was very active in the concert band, jazz, band, concert choir, and NIACC Singers. He went on to earn his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Wartburg College in Waverly.
For the past 17 years, he taught instrumental music to students in grades five through twelve, leading ensembles that consistently earned Division I (Superior) ratings at state contests. Under his direction, both the Newman High School and Northwood-Kensett High School concert bands achieved the honor of being selected as the Class 1A Honor Band for the Iowa Bandmasters Association’s annual conference in 2011 and 2019, respectively.
Beyond the classroom, Barnes has also been active as a performer, conductor, and music director. He has performed as a pianist, percussionist, and vocalist with a variety of ensembles, in addition to serving as clinician and guest conductor for several concert bands. He has also served as Music Director for nearly 20 musical theater productions with Cedar Summerstock Theatre in Osage.
Barnes is also a published composer, with works performed nationally and internationally at honor bands, festivals, and the prestigious Midwest Clinic in Chicago. His music has been recognized on Stanton’s Five Star Feature, J.W. Pepper Editors’ Choice, and Bandworld’s Top 100 lists, and is featured in the respected Teaching Music through Performance in Band series.
An enthusiastic advocate for the arts, Barnes is committed to ensuring that the exceptional performing arts experiences offered by the NIACC Performing Arts and Leadership Series continue to inspire, entertain, and educate audiences of all ages.