News

'Night Music' Luther College's 'Music in the Shape of a Pear' concert series continues March 12

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:40:07 -0600

DECORAH, Iowa – Luther College’s semi-annual “Music in the Shape of a Pear” concert series, directed by music faculty member Brooke Joyce, will continue in March with a concert titled “Night Music.”

The concert will be held Friday, March 12 at 8 p.m. in the Noble Recital Hall of the Jenson-Noble Hall of Music on the Luther campus (http://www.luther.edu).

The concert is open to the public with no charge for admission.

Included on the program are works based around the idea of “night,” including “Suddenly It’s Evening” by Donald Erb, “Come Close the Curtains of the Night,” by David Hogan, “Evensong,” by Brooke Joyce, “Dark Matter,” by Alex Nohai-Seaman, “Hypnagogia,” by Randall Bauer (a world premiere), and “Starry Night,” by Alan Hovhaness. In addition to these instrumental/vocal works, six new electronic compositions will be premiered by students from Brooke Joyce’s electro-acoustic music class at Luther.

Featured performers include a mix of over 25 Luther students and faculty.

Composer Randall Bauer Randy Bauer is a diverse artist whose pursuits explore the worlds of music composition, jazz, improvisation, performance, and scholarship.

His compositions have received several national awards (including three ASCAP Morton Gould awards and an ASCAP jazz composer's award) and have been premiered by such groups as the Brentano String Quartet, eighth blackbird, Nash Ensemble of London, Synergy Vocals, New Millennium Ensemble, MATA Micro-Orchestra, Network for New Music, Talujon Percussion Quartet, Clogs, Tarab Cello Ensemble, Chicago Ensemble, Philadelphia Chamber Symphony, and DoublePlay.
He is also an accomplished jazz pianist and composer and has received awards and honors from ASCAP, DownBeat, the Commission Project, Jazz Composers Alliance, and the Concours International de la Ville de Paris. He currently teaches theory and composition at Macalester College in St. Paul, MN.

Since joining the Luther faculty in 2005, where he teaches composition, theory, contemporary music history and electronic music, Brooke Joyce has composed new works for the Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band, Nordic Choir, Murasaki Duo, Talus Trio, and several individual faculty performers. He recently released his first CD of chamber music, Waves of Stone, on the Innova label. In addition to his work at Luther, Joyce is composer in residence with the Water City Chamber Orchestra (based in Oshkosh, WI) and Lutheran Summer Music, as well as a summer faculty member at The Walden School in New Hampshire.

For more information about the “Music in the Shape of a Pear” concert, visit http://www.music.luther.edu/composition or call Brooke Joyce at (563) 387-1386.

Luther College is home to one of the largest collegiate music programs in the world with seven choirs, three orchestras, three bands, two jazz bands and nearly 1,000 student musicians. Luther students perform in large ensembles, faculty-coached chamber groups, private lessons and master classes. More than 350 music majors study music theory, ear training, history, education, composition, church music and performance.

'The Music of Randall Bauer' Luther College's Guest Composer colloquium series continues March 12

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:31:28 -0600

DECORAH, Iowa – Luther College’s semi-annual “Music in the Shape of a Pear” concert series, directed by music faculty member Brooke Joyce, will continue in March with a concert titled “Night Music.” Featured on the program will be a premiere of a new work for piano, flute and cello by Randall Bauer, who will offer a colloquium on his music and ideas.

The colloquium will be held Friday, March 12 at 4 p.m. in the Room 123 of the Jenson-Noble Hall of Music on the Luther campus (http://www.luther.edu).

The event is open to the public with no charge for admission.

Composer Randall Bauer Randy Bauer is a diverse artist whose pursuits explore the worlds of music composition, jazz, improvisation, performance, and scholarship.

His compositions have received several national awards (including three ASCAP Morton Gould awards and an ASCAP jazz composer's award) and have been premiered by such groups as the Brentano String Quartet, eighth blackbird, Nash Ensemble of London, Synergy Vocals, New Millennium Ensemble, MATA Micro-Orchestra, Network for New Music, Talujon Percussion Quartet, Clogs, Tarab Cello Ensemble, Chicago Ensemble, Philadelphia Chamber Symphony, and DoublePlay.
He is also an accomplished jazz pianist and composer and has received awards and honors from ASCAP, DownBeat, the Commission Project, Jazz Composers Alliance, and the Concours International de la Ville de Paris. He currently teaches theory and composition at Macalester College in St. Paul, MN.

For more information about the Guest Composer series, visit http://www.music.luther.edu/composition or call Brooke Joyce at (563) 387-1386.

Luther College is home to one of the largest collegiate music programs in the world with seven choirs, three orchestras, three bands, two jazz bands and nearly 1,000 student musicians. Luther students perform in large ensembles, faculty-coached chamber groups, private lessons and master classes. More than 350 music majors study music theory, ear training, history, education, composition, church music and performance.

Three Luther College singers advance to Region Finals in Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions for 2009-10

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:03:30 -0600

DECORAH, Iowa –A Luther College student and two Luther alumni have advanced to the Region Finals of the Metropolitan Opera (Met) National Council Auditions for 2009-10.

Jill Phillips, a senior music major from Pocahontas, Iowa, was selected to advance to the Region Finals at the Met’s Iowa District audition held Jan. 9 at the Martha-Ellen Tye Recital Hall at Iowa State University in Ames.

Luther alumni Andrew Stenson, from Rochester, Minn., and Emily Fons, from Milwaukee, Wis., were selected to advance to the Region Finals at the Met’s District audition held in October at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts in Brookfield, Wis.

Stenson, a 2008 graduate of Luther, is now studying at the University of Cincinnati. Fons, a 2006 graduate of Luther, earned a master’s degree in music from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and will join the Ryan Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in April.

The Met’s Upper Midwest Region Finals competition will be held Saturday, Feb. 6 at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul, Minn. Twelve singers have advanced to the Region Finals. The performances are open to the public.

Three of the 12 Region finalists will be selected to advance to the National semi-finals in New York on Sunday, March 7.

At Luther, the three region finalists studied under professors of music Karen Kanakis and Jessica Paul. Fons also studied with professor Edwin Andereck.

Fons and Stenson were winners of the college’s Alan and Sally Brudos Opera Prize, and Phillips was runner-up for the award in 2009.

The Met auditions, a national competition designed to discover the best young opera talent, is open to singers age 20-30 years.
Eric Cutler, a 1999 graduate of Luther, was a winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 1998. He has become an internationally know tenor, winning the Richard Tucker Award in 2005.

The Met auditions are conducted each year to provide a venue for young opera singers from all over the country and at all different levels of experience to be heard by a representative of the Metropolitan Opera and to assist those with the greatest potential in their development.

The program also searches for new talent for the Metropolitan Opera and the Met's Lindemann Young Artist Development Program.

The auditions are held annually in 15 regions of the United States and Canada. There are 45 districts within these regions, each providing an opportunity for talented singers to enter the program at the local level.

The National Semi-Finals competition is held on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera. Approximately 10 of the semi-finalists are selected as national finalists who compete in a public concert, the Grand Finals Concert, accompanied by the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.

The jury awards approximately five grand winner awards of $15,000 each. The concert is broadcast nationwide on the Metropolitan Opera Radio Network.

About 100 former auditioners appear in Metropolitan Opera productions each year.

'Christmas at Luther College' Nationally acclaimed holiday concerts Dec. 3-6 in Center for Faith and Life

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:45:10 -0600

DECORAH, Iowa “Christmas at Luther College,” a musical celebration of the joy, faith and traditions of Christmas, will be performed Dec. 3-6 in the Luther College Center for Faith and Life Main Hall.

The “Christmas at Luther” concert showcases 600-plus musicians of the college’s vocal and instrumental music ensembles. The nationally acclaimed concert, now in its 28th year, features traditional Christmas carols and a variety of sacred choral music.

The theme of the 2009 concert is “Joy to the World.” More than 8,000 people will attend the five performances.

Tickets for all five “Christmas at Luther” performances are sold out.

One of the top college Christmas concerts in the nation, “Christmas at Luther” is aired annually on Minnesota Public Radio and broadcast on public television stations.

In 2008, “Christmas at Luther” was produced by Twin Cities Public Television and broadcast nationwide as a PBS Holiday Special on more than 100 public television stations nationwide.

PBS will broadcast the “Christmas at Luther” 2008 holiday special program again in 2009 with national releases on Friday, Dec. 18, 10 p.m. Eastern Time, 9 p.m. Central Time, 8 p.m. Mountain Time and 10 p.m. Pacific Time; Saturday, Dec. 19 at 5 p.m. ET, 4 p.m. CT, 3 p.m. MT, and 4 p.m. PT; and Christmas Day, Friday, Dec. 25, 4 p.m. ET as part of a PBS holiday package.

Check local listings for public television broadcast dates and times in your area.

MPR will air the 2009 “Christmas at Luther” concert Wednesday, Dec. 23,
8-9 p.m.

The concert showcases 600-plus musicians of the college’s vocal and instrumental music ensembles, including performances by the Nordic Choir under the direction of Craig Arnold, Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Daniel Baldwin, Cathedral Choir and Aurora under the direction of Sandra Peter, Cantorei under the direction of Linda Martin, Collegiate Chorale and Norsemen under the direction of Timothy Peter, Christmas Brass and Percussion Ensemble under the direction of Frederick Nyline, and Luther Handbell Choir under the direction of Gregory Peterson. Peterson is also the concert organist.

To purchase a DVD or CD of the “Christmas at Luther” concert, visit web site www.music.luther.edu or contact the Luther College Book Shop, telephone 1-888-521-5039. CD price is $20, and HD-DVD price is $24.

'Celebrating Christmas at Luther' Luther College releases 'Christmas at Luther' compilation CD

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:42:22 -0600

DECORAH, Iowa—Luther College has released the new album “Celebrating Christmas at Luther” featuring timeless favorites from the past nine years of “Christmas at Luther” performances.

The “Celebrating Christmas at Luther” CD is $20 and available on the Luther website, http://music.luther.edu/recordings.
The CD is a compilation of massed choral and orchestral pieces featuring Luther music ensembles including Nordic Choir, Symphony Orchestra, Aurora, Cantorei, Cathedral Choir, Christmas Brass and Percussion Ensemble, Collegiate Chorale, Luther Ringers and Norsemen.

Conductors represented on the CD include Craig Arnold, Daniel Baldwin, Michael Culloton, Linda Martin, Weston Noble, Frederick Nyline, Sandra Peter, Timothy Peter, Gregory Peterson, Kirstina Rasmussen and Jennaya Robison.

A complete listing of tracks with select audio samples and online ordering information can be found on the Luther music recordings website, http://music.luther.edu/recordings. CDs are also available through the Luther Book Shop, (888) 521-5039.

The disc includes six songs arranged by Mack Wilberg, including “I Saw Three Ships” and “Silent Night” as well as Handel’s “And the Glory,” “I Was Glad” by Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, “This Christmas Tide” by Donald Fraser, “Coronation Te Deum” by William Walton, Beethoven’s “Quoniam tu solus sanctus,” “Gloria!” by Randol Alan Bass and “Before the Marvel” by Carl Schalk.

Also featured are “Gracious Spirit Dwell with Me” arranged by K. Lee Scott, “Wake, Awake” arranged by F. Melius Christiansen and two Ralph Vaughan Williams pieces “Nation Shall Not Lift Up a Sword Against Nation” from “Dona Nobis Pacem” and “Epilogue” from “Hodie.”

Luther is home to one of the largest collegiate music programs in the world with seven choirs, three bands, three orchestras, two jazz bands and nearly 1,000 student musicians.

Luther’s students perform in large ensembles, faculty-coached chamber groups, private lessons and master classes. More than 350 music majors study music theory/ear training, history, education, composition, church music and performance.

'Christmas at Luther' television program wins Emmy award

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:55:56 -0600

DECORAH, Iowa – Luther College’s nationally recognized “Christmas at Luther” holiday concert television program has earned an Emmy award for Twin Cities Public Television, the producer of the 2008 program that was aired by PBS Television as a PBS Holiday Special in December.

TPT won a regional Emmy award for “Best Special Event Coverage” for the program. “Christmas at Luther - Night of Glory, Dawn of Peace,” which was broadcast nationwide on more than 100 public television stations in December 2008 as a PBS Holiday Special.

The Chicago/Midwest chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences selected the TPT television production of “Christmas at Luther” as the best special event coverage (other than news or sports). NATAS recognizes excellence in television with the Emmy award in the categories of news, sports, daytime, public service and technology.

Led by Dianne C. Steinbach, executive producer, arts and cultural productions, the TPT production team included Jeff Weihe, director; Joe Price Cunningham, lighting designer; Mich Griffin, audio and sweetening; John Kendall, production manager; and Skip Davis, on line editor.

The Luther production team included Craig Arnold, professor of music, artistic director; Jennifer Self, coordinator for music marketing, production and administrative arrangements; and Kendall Thompson and Tom Henning, programming technicians, lighting and technical support.

Twenty NATAS chapters across the United States conduct awards competitions to recognize excellence in regionally produced shows. Founded in 1955, NATAS is dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational and technical achievements within the television industry.

The NATAS Emmy awards are recognized as the gold standard of achievement in the television industry.

PBS has announced that it will broadcast the “Christmas at Luther” program nationwide again this year in its December holiday package to all PBS-affiliated stations. PBS will release the program Friday, Dec. 18, 10 p.m. Eastern Time and 10 p.m. Pacific Time; Saturday, Dec. 19, 5 p.m. Eastern time and 5 p.m. Pacific Time; and on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 4 p.m. Eastern Time. Check local public television listings for broadcast dates and times in your area.

“Christmas at Luther - Night of Glory, Dawn of Peace” is a dramatic production featuring the performances of more than 600 Luther student musicians. Vocal and instrumental ensembles and massed choirs present traditional holiday carols and sacred Christmas choral anthems, performing in one of the nation’s top college concert halls, the Luther Center for Faith and Life.

The concert included performances by Nordic Choir under the direction of Craig Arnold, Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Daniel Baldwin, Cantorei under the direction of Linda Martin, Christmas Brass and Percussion Ensemble under the direction of Frederick Nyline, Cathedral Choir and Aurora under the direction of Sandra Peter, Collegiate Chorale and Norsemen under the direction of Timothy Peter, Luther Ringers under the direction of Gregory Peterson, and the Christmas Flutes.

Organist is Gregory Peterson, and faculty accompanists included Du Huang and Xiao Hu, piano; Juan Tony Guzman, guitar; and Jacquelyn Venter Ridder, harp. Ann Sponberg Peterson is the narrator.

“Christmas at Luther’s” powerful and moving music is complemented by the magnificence of the Center for Faith and Life in its Christmas decoration and the choreography of the ensembles, including the stunningly beautiful candle-lighting hymn that slowly bathes the entire hall in the glow of hundreds of singers’ sequentially lighted candles. The spectacular visual power and majesty of Christmas at Luther is even more striking in 2008 through the high-definition television production of Twin Cities Public Television.

Luther College is a liberal arts college with a long and nationally recognized tradition of excellence in music education and performance. Each year, more than 6,500 people attend the Christmas at Luther performances on the Luther campus.

“Christmas at Luther - Night of Glory, Dawn of Peace” DVDs and CDs can be purchased on-line at http://music.luther.edu/recordings.

Luther College Homecoming concert Oct. 4

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:52:16 -0600

DECORAH, Iowa – Three Luther College music ensembles will present a Homecoming concert Sunday, Oct. 4, at 1:30 p.m. in the Center for Faith and Life on the Luther campus (http//www.luther.edu).

The concert is open to the public with no charge for admission.

Performing ensembles include Concert Band, Nordic Choir and Symphony Orchestra.

The Luther College Concert Band is composed of 65 members. It was one of the nation’s first music organizations to tour nationally and internationally.

The band’s annual performance tours have taken the group coast-to-coast in the continental United States, twice to Hawaii, six times to Europe and three times to Japan and East Asia. Frederick Nyline, professor of music, conducts the band.

Concert Band will perform “Masquerade” by Vincent Pereschetti and “Humoresque on Swanee” by John Phillip Sousa, arranged by Keith Brion.

Nordic Choir, a 72-voice a cappella ensemble, is the flagship choral ensemble of Luther College. The choir features 72 mixed voices performing sacred choral works of a variety of periods and styles. Craig Arnold, professor of music, directs the choir.

Nordic Choir has made numerous national and international concert tours. The choir has also recorded extensively, releasing at least one CD each year.

One of the top college orchestras in the Midwest, the 85-member Symphony Orchestra tours yearly throughout the United States and maintains a three-week residency in Vienna, Austria every four years.

In addition to presenting regular concerts featuring the masterworks of orchestral literature, members of the orchestra perform with the Luther College choirs at the annual Christmas at Luther performance. Daniel Baldwin, associate professor of music, conducts the orchestra.

The Luther Orchestra will be performing “Billy the Kid ballet suite” by Aaron Copland and “Dance Episode ‘The Great Lover’ from ‘On the Town’” by Leonard Bernstein.

The event will also include the presentation of the Carlo A. Sperati Award, the Weston H. Noble Award and the Theodore Presser Scholarship.

Luther's Armstrong to perform instrumental recital Sept. 25

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:55:12 -0600

DECORAH, Iowa – Heather Armstrong, assistant professor of oboe at Luther College, will perform an instrumental recital on Friday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. in Noble Recital Hall in the Jenson-Noble Hall on the Luther Campus (http://www.luther.edu).

The program titled “Oboe+2” is open to the public with no charge for admission.

The recital will feature the premier piece “Sticks and Stones” for oboe, flute and clarinet written for the Talus Trio by Luther professor Brooke Joyce. The Talus Trio is composed of Heather Armstrong, Michael Chesher, and Carol Hester.

The recital will also feature works by Madeline Dring, Charles Loeffler and Randall Thompson.

Also Accompanying Armstrong are Luther faculty members Du Huang and Spencer Martin.

Armstrong holds the bachelor’s degree in music from Houghton College, the master of music and the doctor of musical arts degree from the Eastman School of Music.

She began teaching at Luther in 2006, where she teaches oboe, theory, and double reed methods.

Armstrong plays with the Lacrosse and Waterloo-Cedar Falls symphonies. She was recently appointed as principal oboe in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony. She has also played principal oboe for the Southern Teir Symphony and has made appearances with the Erie and Binghampton Philharmonic Orchestras, the Cayuga and Rochester Chamber Orchestras, and a series of concerts with the Olean Chamber Music Society.

Armstrong was recently given an Ylvisaker grant from Luther College which helped to fund the Talus Trio. The trio performed in Appleton and Black River Falls, Wis. and Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Murasaki Duo to perform recital Oct. 10

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:42:35 -0600

DECORAH, Iowa – The Murasaki Duo, consisting Luther College faculty members Eric Kutz and Miko Kominami, will perform a recital on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. in Noble Recital Hall in the Jenson-Noble Music Hall on the Luther campus (http://www.luther.edu).

The program is open to the public with no charge for admission.
The recital will feature a piece recently premiered in Malibu “Peccavi Duo” by Maria Johnson and made possible by funding from of Guy Johnson of Decorah.

The recital also features works by Alberto Ginastera, Astor Piazzolla and Robert Schumann.

Also accompanying the duo are Luther faculty members Jubal Fulks and Spencer Martin.

Kutz, associate professor of music holds the bachelor’s degree magna cum laude in music from Rice University, the master of music and the doctor of musical arts degree from the Juilliard School.

Kutz began teaching at Luther in 2002, where he teaches cello.
During the summer Kutz performs with the Grant Park Symphony in Chicago. He has also played principal cello for the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Juilliard Orchestra. He has also made appearances at the Lincoln Center, the Tchaikovsky Institute and performed tours of Canada, England and Switzerland.

Kominami, adjunct faculty in music, holds the bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in music from the Juilliard School.

She began teaching at Luther in 2002, where she teaches piano and music theory.

Kominami has been hailed as a “virtuosic and musicianly performer” by the New York Concert Review. She has toured North America, and played with both the Murasaki Duo and the Chester String Quartet. She has received numerous awards including a Canada Council of Arts grant and first prize at the Concert Soloists Competition in Philadelphia.

Luther's Kanakis to perform voice recital Sept. 13

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:53:12 -0600

DECORAH, Iowa – Karen Kanakis, assistant professor of music at Luther College, will perform a voice recital Sunday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. in Luther’s Noble Recital Hall in the Jenson-Noble Music Hall (http://www.luther.edu).

The program is open to the public with no charge for admission.

The recital will feature works of J.S Bach, Enrique Granados, Miguel Sandoval, Giuseppe Verdi, Pauline Viardot, and Alexander Zemlinsky.

Accompanying Kanakis will be Luther faculty members Jubal Fulks, Eric Kutz, Spencer Martin, Jessica Paul, Gabriel Shuford, Richard Tirk and Luther senior Eric Malmquist.

Kanakis holds the bachelor’s degree in music cum laude from Missouri State University, the master of music degree from Stephen F. Austin State University and the doctor of musical arts degree in voice performance from University of North Texas.

She began teaching at Luther in 2004, where she teaches voice and opera.

In addition to appearances with the “Lucia di Lammermoor”, “La Traviata” and “Le Nozze di Figaro,” she has also taught at Missouri Southern State University and Texas Women’s University. She has held teaching fellowships at Stephen F. Austin University and the University of North Texas.

Kanakis was named one of six “Young Leaders” across the nation by the National Association of Singers of Teaching in 2008.

Luther College announces sale on ensemble recordings

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:09:59 -0600

DECORAH, Iowa – Luther College Music Department is holding a sale of several Luther College recordings on CD.

The CDs now on sale include Nordic Choir’s “Everlasting Light,” “I Will Sing to the Lord” and “I Sing as I Arise Today” and Symphony Orchestra’s “Luther College Symphony Orchestra.” Each CD is $12, including shipping and handling.

The “Christmas at Luther 2005” DVD is also on sale. The cost of the DVD is $15, including shipping and handling.

A complete listing of each CD’s tracks and online ordering information is available at the Luther College Music Recordings website, http://music.luther.edu/recordings. Recordings can also be purchased through the Luther Book Shop, (888) 521-5039.

Luther College is home to one of the largest collegiate music programs in the world with seven choirs, three orchestras, three bands, two jazz bands and nearly 1,000 student musicians. The college’s touring ensembles perform around the world and have won praise for their excellence.

Concert Band to perform Showcase concert May 23

Wed, 13 May 2009 13:42:51 -0600

Concert Band will perform Saturday, May 23 at 1:30 p.m. in the Center for Faith and Life, following the Commencement ceremonies.

The concert, a prelude to the ensemble’s fifth tour of Japan and China May 27- June 9, is open to the public with no charge for admission.

The Concert Band will perform selections including “Zampa” by L. J. Ferdinand Hérold, arranged by Van der Beek; “Shenandoah” by Randal Alan Bass; “Little Fantasy on an American Hymn” by David Holsinger, with Luther freshman Teresa Procter as vocal soloist; “The Restless Soul” by Daisuke Ehara; “Streets of Honor March” by Daniel Kallman; “A Weekend in New York” by Philip Sparke; “Dances from The Oprichnik” by P. I. Tschaikovsky, arranged by John Bourgeois; “Silhouette” by Roger Cichy, with Rachel Haug as flute soloist; “Roma Sacra” by Luigi Zaninelli; “Night and Day” by Cole Porter, arranged by Daniel Raney ’92, with Procter as vocal soloist; selections from “Hello Dolly” by Jerry Herman, arranged by John Cacavas and Daniel Raney, with Luther senior Adam Erdmann and Procter as vocal soloists; and “Divertimento” by Leonard Bernstein, arranged by Clare Grundman.

Conducted by Frederick Nyline, professor of music at Luther, the Luther College Concert Band is one of the oldest touring organizations in the nation. In the past 125-plus years of existence, the Luther College Concert Band has performed all around the world including such venues as Avery Fisher Hall, the Lincoln Center; the Tivoli Garden, Copenhagen; and the Bergen International Festival, Bergen, Norway. Concert band also performed in Japan in 1993, 1997, 2001 and 2005. In May 2009, concert band will conduct its fifth tour to Japan.

Nyline conducts the Luther College Concert Band, Varsity Band and the Wind and Percussion Ensemble. He also teaches advanced instrumental conducting.

Luther music ensembles to perform Brahms' "A German Requiem"

Tue, 05 May 2009 14:10:38 -0600

The Luther College Cathedral Choir, Collegiate Chorale, Nordic Choir and Symphony Orchestra will perform Johannes Brahms’ “A German Requiem” in concert on Friday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the Main Hall of the Center for Faith and Life.

Tickets to the performance are free for Luther students, faculty and staff; $15 for adults and $8 for students.   For complete ticket information, telephone the Luther College Box Office, (563) 387-1357, open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; extended hours Thursdays; open until 7 p.m.

The concert will be conducted by Daniel Baldwin, Luther professor of music and conductor of the Symphony Orchestra.

Brahms’ “A German Requiem”, most of which was composed between 1865 and 1866, is among the best known and most frequently performed choral-orchestral works.

Brahms assembled the libretto for the “Requiem”, taking verses from 11 different Biblical and Apocryphal books. Four of seven movements are based on scriptural texts which are organized according to a distinctive structure or pattern: a statement of misery, affliction or sadness is followed by uplifting and comforting words. The oratorio’s other three movements express joy in the contemplation of heaven and hope and comfort for the living and dead.

The Symphony Orchestra consists of 79 student musicians representing a variety of academic majors.

Nordic Choir, the 72-voice flagship choral ensemble of Luther College, is conducted by Craig Arnold, Luther professor of music.

Cathedral Choir, composed of 90 singers from the college’s sophomore class, is conducted by Sandra Peter, Luther assistant professor of music.

Collegiate Chorale, featuring 85 mixed voices of select junior and senior singers, is conducted by Timothy Peter, Luther professor of music.

Opera students to present Strauss's 'Die Fledermaus' May 8-9

Mon, 04 May 2009 09:19:08 -0600

Luther College’s students of the spring semester opera performance class will present two performances of Strauss’s Die Fledermaus Friday and Saturday, May 8-9, 7:30 p.m. in the Main Hall of the Center for Faith and Life. Tickets are $10. For complete ticket information, telephone the Luther College Box Office, (563) 387-1357, open Monday-Friday, 9-10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; extended hours Thursdays: open until 7 p.m.

Die Fledermaus (The Bat) is a Viennese operetta in three acts composed by the “Waltz King” Johann Strauss. This charming comedy, which takes place in Vienna 1850, is full of deception, lust, laughter and champagne!
Gabriel von Eisenstein is due to serve a prison sentence. While preparing for his leave, he is paid a visit by Dr. Falke, who convinces Eisenstein to delay his sentence. Instead, the two men will spend the evening at Prince Orlofsky’s masked ball. Falsely announcing his departure for jail, Eisenstein says a teary-eyed farewell to his wife Rosalinda and their chambermaid, Adele.

While Orlofsky’s guests are enjoying themselves at the party, Dr. Falke’s prank begins to unfold. He is seeking revenge against Eisenstein, who once left him stranded in a bat costume.

While Falke entertains the prince with his domestic comedy “The Revenge of the Bat,” Rosalinda, disguised as a Hungarian countess, sets out to test her husband’s faithfulness.

The production is directed by David Judisch, Luther professor of music, and will be sung in English.

    The cast of the Friday production of “Die Fledermaus” includes: Rachel Barkel, Ryan Deignan, Brett Epperson, Brent Gerike, Henry Hammond, Beth Jeddeloh, Lindsey Johnson, Matt Myers, Steve Rosas, Dave Schmitt and Jenny Ward.

    The cast of the Saturday production of “Die Fledermaus” includes: Tyler Best, Gary Danciu, Rachel Grippen, Henry Hammond, Drew Hillertz, Mandy Inhofer, Laura Krumm, Matt Myers, Emily Moore, Zach Owen and Matt Tschimperle.

Jonathon Struve and Jessica Paul to perform baritone and piano recital May 9

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:47:04 -0600

Jonathon Struve, baritone, and Jessica Paul, piano, will present a faculty recital Saturday, May 9 at noon in the Noble Recital Hall.

The performance is open to the public with no charge for admission.

The program will feature 20th century British art songs, including four folksong arrangements by Benjamin Britten, various selections by Roger Quilter, and Arthur Somervell’s song cycle “A Shropshire Lad,” with poetry by A.E. Housman.

Struve is currently serving as alumni guest lecturer in voice at Luther. He graduated summa cum laude from Luther in 2002. Struve holds the master’s degree in vocal performance from Northwestern University and is pursing a doctoral degree in vocal literature from the University of Iowa.

Struve has appeared in opera and in recital at the University of Iowa and Northwestern University, most recently as Stephano in the University of Iowa’s production of Donizetti’s “Viva la Mama” in May 2008.

A proponent of new music, Struve has taken an active role in premiering pieces by graduate composition students at the Center for New Music at the University of Iowa. Two pieces were chosen to be performed at the Midwest Composer’s Symposium 2007 and 2008.

Paul, an associate professor of music at Luther, holds the bachelor of music degree in piano performance from Northwestern University. She earned the master of music and doctor of musical arts degrees in vocal coaching and accompanying at the University of Illinois.

Paul is frequently engaged as a collaborative pianist and guest clinician, and she has worked with such opera companies as the Pittsburgh Opera Theatre, Opera Theatre of Illinois, National Opera Company, Cleveland Opera Theatre, Virginia Opera Association, Lake George Opera Festival, Cedar Rapids Opera, and Pine Mountain Music Festival.

She is the former principal conductor and artistic director of the Dorian Opera Theatre. At Luther she serves as a vocal coach, collaborative pianist, and teacher of accompanying.