Justin SandsJustin Sands is the Director of Choirs and Music Department Chair at Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where he joined the music faculty in 2011. He serves as the co-director of Prairie's Concert Choir, Concert Chorale, and Chamber Choir. He also directs The Ambassadors, the varsity show choir, assists with Focal Point, the prep show choir, and co-teaches other choirs and courses in the music department. Choirs and show choirs under his direction have competed successfully at the state, regional, and national levels. In 2016, the Prairie High School Concert Chorale was honored to be a featured choir at the Dorian Choral Invitational at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. In 2019, the Prairie Chamber Choir was named Grand Champion of the Concert Choir Division at Heart of America’s Nashville Competition. Additionally, Mr. Sands has also enjoyed being on the staff at the Southern Experience Show Choir Camp at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Mr. Sands received his bachelor's degree in vocal music from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa and a Master of Music Education degree from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois. He has also completed additional coursework through the University of Colorado. He previously taught at Kennedy High School, also in Cedar Rapids. In 2013, Sands was named Best New Director as part of FAME’s Aspire Awards, and in 2014 he was honored to direct the Missouri All-State Show Choir. In the summer of 2019, Sands enjoyed presenting at the Iowa Choral Directors Summer Convention. His wife, Meghan, and his children, August and Finlee, are the joys of his life.
Grace Huber
Grace Huber is a choir director at Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Ms. Huber co-directs Prairie’s Concert Choir, Concert Chorale, and Chamber Choir. She also directs Ad Lucem and Focal Point, and assists with The Ambassadors. Ms. Huber is a 2020 graduate of Luther College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance, Music Education, and Theatre. There, she was a member of many ensembles including the Nordic Choir, and acted as assistant conductor to Dr. Jennaya Robison in her senior year. Ms. Huber was also heavily involved in both the opera and theatre programs at Luther. She received the David Greedy Memorial Award in Vocal Performance, as well as the Helen Adams Bodensteiner Excellence in Theatre Award, and acted as the Artistic Director of the student theatre company, SPIN Theatre. In 2019, Ms. Huber traveled to Ghana in West Africa to study Ewe drumming, singing, and dance at the Dagbe Cultural Center. Prior to joining the Prairie faculty in 2022, Ms. Huber taught for 2 years at Maquoketa Valley Middle and High School in Delhi, IA. In her free time, Ms. Huber enjoys traveling, baking, and cooking for friends and family.
