John Luebke -- Founder/Director
Born in 1949, John Luebke was raised in North East, Pa., a small town outside of Erie. His parents
hoped that he would be “normal,” but he was destined to be a musician. His music career began when he began piano
lessons at age 5. His father was a trombonist and director of the local community band while his mother, a former music
teacher, taught piano. When asked if he studied with his mother, he claims, “She was too tough.”
In addition to honors such as All-State Band and Orchestra, he performed with a local rock band “that
did great Turtle covers.” While still in high school, John also formed his own 18-piece dance band that
played Saturday nights at the American Legion hall.
After high school, John enrolled at Fredonia State College in upstate New York where he majored in
Music Education and played in the Jazz Ensemble. During the next several years after college, John served as band director
at a Seminary, studied orchestration in New York City, worked at Macy’s, led a band in an exotic dancing establishment,
and toured the country with the Stan Kenton Band as their business manager. He also performed in at least two bands that
broke up because of “too much ego and too little talent.”
On New Year’s Eve in 1977, John decided to put "the craziness" behind him and enrolled in graduate
school at the University of Miami. While at Miami, John earned a Masters Degree in Music Education, a Doctorate in Music
Theory and Composition, and got a really great tan. He also taught Music Appreciation at the state and federal penitentiaries
located in Dade County, Florida.
After completing graduate school. John landed at a small college in Monmouth, Illinois where he served
as Music Department Chair. He escaped a few years later to become the Executive Director of the Sioux City Symphony where
he spent ten years socializing with the “upper crust” and nursing a hiatal hernia.
For the past seven years, Dr. Luebke has been teaching in the Sioux City Public Schools, teaching
everything from Elementary Adaptive Music to Jazz Improvisation. In his “spare” time, John remains active as a
published composer and a prolific arranger, writing in every musical style imaginable. Be on the lookout for a website
featuring many of his own titles coming sometime in the near future.
John currently lives in Sioux City with his wife, Shirley, who serves as the Head Music Teacher for
the Sioux City Community Schools, Director of the Siouxland Youth Chorus, and clarinetist for Rockestra. Their son, Michael,
is a sophomore Jazz Vocal Performance Major at the University of Miami. Michael sings and plays cello for Rockestra when
schedules permit.
Directing the Sioux City Rockestra is a “great fit for me. It’s a great challenge and
great fun at the same time. And, I think the future will really be exciting!”
