Luther College’s Gregory Peterson to Give Faculty Organ Recital

Gregory Peterson, Luther College assistant professor of music, will present a faculty organ recital Sunday, Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. in the Center for Faith and Life main hall on the campus of Luther College. The performance is open to the public with no charge for admission. The recital is a tribute to French composer and organist Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) whose centenary is being observed this year, and includes a complete performance of his Nativity Suite composed in 1935. The program also includes Litanies by French composer Jehan Alain (1911-1940). A pre-concert talk on the music of Messiaen will be given by Brooke Joyce, assistant professor of music, beginning at 3:15 p.m. in Qualley Lounge. Peterson received the bachelor’s degree in music from Luther. He holds the master of music degree from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music and the doctor of musical arts in organ performance and pedagogy from the University of Iowa. At Luther, Peterson teaches applied organ and church music. He also plays at daily and Sunday chapel in Luther’s Center for Faith and Life. As a frequent soloist, Peterson has given recitals in the Memorial Music Hall, Methuen Mass.; Riverside Church, New York City; Berlin Cathedral, St. Anne’s Church, Warsaw; St. Thomas Church, Leipzig and the Uppsala Cathedral, Sweden. Luther is a selective four-year college located in northeast Iowa. The college has an enrollment of 2,600 students and offers a liberal arts education leading to the bachelor of arts degree in 60 majors and pre-professional programs.