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Our Namesake and History Garland O. Lockrem was a music teacher at Henry Sibley High School for 25 years, from 1956
to 1981. He championed strong music programs as part of the regular school curriculum, at a time when music was not highly
regarded as an academic discipline. Today, we know much more about the important benefits that music education has on the
physical development of the brain, and on the intellectual and emotional development of children. We also know that learning and performing music can be therapeutic in other ways and is excellent exercise for older
brains. Under Gar’s guidance, the music program at Henry Sibley grew into a nationally recognized program. His concert choirs toured Europe and performed several times here at home with the Minnesota Orchestra. Gar’s annual Christmas concerts at Sibley were patterned on those of legendary music schools like St. Olaf and Gar’s alma mater, Concordia College, in Moorhead, Minnesota. The artistic splendor and musicianship of those concerts were eagerly awaited holiday treats for the eyes and ears of those who attended and performed in them. Gar was a man of deep faith and deep thought, a fact evidenced by readings from his personal journals at his funeral on May 26, 2006, at Easter Lutheran Church in Eagan, Minnesota. At the conclusion of the service, former students were invited to step onto risers and sing some of his favorite hymns. The risers were quickly filled. Elizabeth Bertz-Westlund, a former student, established the Gar Lockrem Community Choir the same year. Gar’s daughter, Terolle Turnham, herself a renowned music teacher and Minnesota Teacher of the Year, conducted their first concert, in December 2006. Terolle continues to sing with the choir today. Another former high school teacher, William E. White, took over as music director in the spring of 2007. Under Mr. White’s direction, the choir quickly grew in number and quality into one of the finest community choirs in Minnesota. In the fall of 2010, Mr. White passed the baton on to the current director, Aaron Kapaun, who holds Gar’s former seat at Henry Sibley. GLCC continues to attract gifted singers from around the Twin Cities. In just five short years, GLCC has grown into a spirited group of over 50 active singers (plus nine more on temporary leave of absence), ranging in age from teens to eighties. Many of the current singers never knew Gar; but teachers who, like him, instilled in their students an understanding of the art and science of music, a sense of ethics, and a life-long passion to learn and to sing inspired most. Our Mission In addition to performing about seven concerts a year, GLCC honors Gar’s legacy by promoting greater awareness of the importance of music education through community outreach efforts, and by providing grants to local schools to help support music programs. The choir, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, hopes to add scholarships to its list of charitable
activities in the near future. In addition to its regular winter and spring concerts,
GLCC looks for opportunities to collaborate with other groups whenever possible. GLCC was selected as a solo choir at St.
Olaf’s annual choral festival in November 2009 and most recently performed Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the
Dakota County Symphony Orchestra in February 2011. |
