Luther presents Family Weekend evening concert Sept. 23

Luther College’s music department will present a concert of vocal and instrumental music at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, as part of Luther’s Family Weekend activities.

The concert, featuring Norsemen, Aurora, Cantorei, Cathedral Choir, Collegiate Chorale, Varsity Band, and Wind and Percussion Ensemble, will take place in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall on Luther’s campus. The event is open to the public with no charge for admission.

Norsemen, the choir for first-year male singers, and Cathedral Choir, select singers from the sophomore class, are both directed by Mark Potvin, visiting instructor in music and Luther class of 2001. Norsemen perform on and off campus and at the North Central American Choral Directors Association conferences most recently at the 2011 NC-ACDA convention in Chicago. Cathedral Choir recently premiered works from Stephen Paulus, Eric Whitacre and other composers.

Aurora, comprised of first-year female singers, and Collegiate Chorale, select junior and senior singers, are under the direction of Jennaya Robison, assistant professor of music and Luther class of 1996. Aurora is actively involved in the process of creating new music, premiering works from Stacey Gibbs, Libby Larsen, Mack Wilberg and many more. Collegiate Chorale features 100 mixed voices performing sacred and secular choral works of a variety of periods and styles.

Cantorei, a treble ensemble of approximately 65 women, is under the direction of Jill Wilson, assistant professor of education and coordinator for music education. Cantorei premiered “Ring Out, Wild Bells” by Bradley Ellingboe, which was written for the ensemble.

Varsity Band, a preparatory ensemble of approximately 100 students, and Wind and Percussion Ensemble, consisting of approximately 50 auditioned students, are under the direction of Joan de Albuquerque, director of bands and associate professor of music. Both ensembles perform at a variety of events throughout the year including formal concerts each semester.

For more information about Luther’s Family Weekend, visit luther.edu/parents/family-weekend/schedule/.

Luther is home to one of the largest collegiate music programs in the nation, with six choirs, three orchestras, three bands, two jazz bands and more than 800 student musicians. Luther students participate in large ensembles, faculty-coached chamber groups, private lessons and master classes. Nearly 275 music majors study music theory, ear training, history, education, composition, jazz, church music and performance.