Gregory Peterson and Rachel Brandwein to perform joint recital

Rachel Brandwein, Luther College adjunct faculty in music, and Gregory Peterson, professor of music and college organist, will present a Faculty Artist Series recital featuring music for harp and organ at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, in the Center for Faith and Life on Luther’s campus.The recital is open to the public with no charge for admission.

The performance features original works for harp and organ by Brandwein, Aaron David Miller and Marcel Grandjany, as well as transcriptions of music by Edward Elgar and Michael Praetorius.

Peterson graduated from Luther College with a degree in music. He received a Master of Music degree from Yale University, where he was a Hugh Giles Scholar and received the Harry B. Jepson Memorial Scholarship. Peterson then attained a Doctor of Musical Arts in organ performance and pedagogy from the University of Iowa where he was a Rahn Scholar and teaching assistant. Peterson completed study at the Summer Institute for French Organ Study at the Gothenburg International Organ Academy in Sweden. He is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, the national music honor society.

At Luther, Peterson serves as Cantor to the student congregation, playing Sunday and daily chapel music. He also conducts Luther Ringers, which he founded in 2008.

Brandwein earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, a Master of Music from the Juilliard School, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from Stony Brook University. She studied harp and French for one year in Paris and Lyon, France. Upon performing at her doctoral commencement, Brandwein received the prestigious Ackerman Award for Excellence in Graduate Studies for accomplishments in performance and pedagogy.

In 2013, Brandwein was awarded the top prize in the Mu Phi Epsilon Original Composition Contest for her work for harp solo “Introduction, Theme and Variations.“ She was also the winner of the 2014 Mu Phi Epsilon International Solo Competition. Brandwein served as the Mu Phi Epsilon Concert Artist for the 2014-16 concert seasons.

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.