Luther senior Stuelke to perform the Brudos Family Opera Prize Recital on April 13

Luther College senior Katie Stuelke of Center Point, Iowa, is the 2018-2019 recipient of the Alan R. and Sally J. Brudos Family Opera Prize. As part of the award, Stuelke will perform a recital at 4 p.m. Saturday, April 13 in the Noble Recital Hall of the Jenson-Noble Hall of Music on the Luther campus.

The recital and reception to follow are open to the public with no charge for admission.

Stuelke, daughter of Mark Hancock and Jennifer Bliss, is a 2015 graduate of Center Point-Urbana High School. She plans to graduate in 2019 with a major in environmental studies and a minor in music.

As a soprano, Stuelke will sing “Non piú! Tutto ascoltai”¦Non Temer” by Mozart, “Selige Nacht” and “Hat dich die Liebe berührt” by Joseph Marx, “Ich wollt ein Sträusslein binden” and “Kling!” by Richard Strauss, selections from “Three Browning Songs” by Amy Beach, selections from “Singing Earth” by Elinor Remick Warren, selections from “Les Nuits D’Été” by Hector Berlioz, and a piece from “The Rake’s Progress” by Igor Stravinsky.

Stuelke studies voice with Edwin Andereck, Luther professor of music, and Nicholas Shaneyfelt, assistant professor of music. Shaneyfelt will accompany Stuelke on piano for the Brudos Recital.

Stuelke is the 17th recipient of Luther’s annual Alan R. and Sally J. Brudos Family Prize for Opera Performance. The prize carries a $6,000 cash award and was established and funded by a gift from Alan R. and Sally J. Brudos of Atherton, California. Alan Brudos, a 1955 Luther graduate and regent emeritus, is former chair of the Luther Board of Regents.

The purpose of the award is to assist talented students with the extraordinary expenses involved in the preparation and pursuit of careers in opera performance. Selection takes place during the student’s junior year based on accomplishment in vocal performance and promise of an operatic career. The Brudos Prize is one of the largest awards given for excellence in music at Luther College.

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