The AHS Music Hall of Fame Committee has announced this year’s inductees into the AHS Music Hall of Fame. Those selected are Nancy Arneson, class of 1966, and Jim Knutson, class of 1977.

A banquet will be held for these new members and their guests at the Hormel Historic Home. They will be introduced to the public at the Spring Band Blast to be held in Knowlton Auditorium at 7 p.m. on May 5, following the banquet.

Recipients will be presented by Kenneth Jensen, founder of the AHS Music Hall of Fame. A plaque will be given to each inductee by Sue Radloff and a certificate for outstanding achievement in the field of music will be given by Principal Katie Baskin, representing Austin High School.

Jim Knutson

Jim graduated from Austin High School in 1977. He then went on to Luther College, graduating with the class of 1981 with his degree in Music Education. He is a 1986 University of Iowa graduate with a Master of Fine Arts in instrumental music.

He recently retired as director of bands at Onalaska, Wis., High School, where his wind ensemble was grand champion at the Chicago Music Festival in 2002. His marching band, Division One, was the winning band at the state marching championships. His jazz band took first place at the University of Wisconsin Jazz fest in 2008.

He has been soloist with the LaCrosse Symphony, tympanist/coinician with the professional concert band, Windiana, on their China Tour in the summer of 2006. He is director of the Coulee Region High School Jazz All Stars from 2006 to the present. He is the founder/player of the OHS Pan Project, the Steel Drum Band.

He is a member of the American School Band Director’s Association and is on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Band Association, and the LaCrosse Area Jazz Society.

Nancy Arneson

Nancy Arneson, a 1966 graduate of Austin High School, began her career in music while still in high school. She was the accompanist for the choir and Austinaires.

She was part of the first Summerset Core for the Summerset Theater at Austin State Junior College. She received her Associate Arts Degree in 1968 from Austin State Junior College. She then attended Indiana University and got her degree in piano performance in 1970. She attended the University of Minnesota from 1970 to 1971 and then received her degree in Vocal Music Education.

She taught private piano in Austin 1972-79. From 1972 to 1984 she was organist/pianist, youth choir director, and worship music coordinator at Grace Baptist Church in Austin. She devoted fort years of accompanying and directing musicals at the Frank Bridges Theater at Riverland.

She played with the Austin Symphony Orchestra for several concerts. Most notably were “The Carnival of the Animals,” and for Henry Mancini when he was a featured guest. She also accompanied the Miss Minnesota Pageant for more than 10 years.