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Nordic ChoirAllen Hightower, conductor

WiNter tour 2013

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Tour Program

WINTER 2013 APPEARANCESWednesday, January 16, 2013 / 7 p.m.Our Saviour’s Lutheran ChurchNaperville, Illinois

Thursday, January 17, 2013 / 7:30 p.m.Holy Cross Lutheran ChurchFort Wayne, Indiana

Friday, January 18, 2013 / 7 p.m.Peace Lutheran ChurchGahanna, Ohio

Saturday, January 19, 2013 / 7:30 p.m.St. Paul’s Lutheran ChurchArdmore, Pennsylvania

Sunday, January 20, 2013 / 4 p.m.Asbury First United Methodist ChurchRochester, New York

Tuesday, January 22, 2013 / 7:30 p.m.St. Bart’s Episcopal Church New York, New York

Wednesday, January 23, 2013 / 7:30 p.m.Lutheran Church of the Reformation Washington, D.C.

Thursday, January 24, 2013 / 7:30 p.m. Holy Trinity Lutheran ChurchHickory, North Carolina

Friday, January 25, 2013 / 7:30 p.m. The Conn Center at Lee UniversityCleveland, Tennessee

Saturday, January 26, 2013 / 7 p.m. Central Baptist Church of BeardenKnoxville, Tennessee

Sunday, January 27, 2013 / 7:30 p.m. Westminster Presbyterian ChurchGreenville, South Carolina

Monday, January 28, 2013 / 7:30 p.m. Palms Presbyterian ChurchJacksonville Beach, Florida

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 / 7:30 p.m. First Presbyterian ChurchSt. Petersburg, Florida

Thursday, January 31, 2013 / 8 p.m. University of Georgia Performing Arts CenterAthens, Georgia

Friday, February 1, 2013 / 7:30 p.m. Asbury United Methodist ChurchMadison, Alabama

Saturday, February 2, 2013 / 8 p.m. Cathedral Basilica of St. LouisSt. Louis, Missouri

Tuesday, February 5, 2013 / 7:30 p.m. Luther College, Center for Faith and LifeDecorah, Iowa

Selections to made from the following:

I: ThE LIFE oF ChRIST

hosanna to the Son of DavidThomas Weelkes (d. 1623)Oxford University Press

Hosanna to the Son of David.Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord,Hosanna, thou that sittest in the highest heavens.Hosanna in excelsis Deo.

Verbum caro factum estZ. Randall Stroope (b. 1953)manuscript

And the word became flesh, dwelt and walked among us, We beheld His glory, Alleluia! Full of grace, full of truth,those who walk in darkness and death’s shadow, have seen a great light shining, Alleluia!

(without applause)

II. Christ Is Arisen(from three Pre-reformation Chorale Motets)Ludwig Lendel (1914–2002)Concordia Publishing House, 98-1572

Christ is arisen,overcome death’s prison, rejoice, rejoice we all, for Christ the Lord, Christ the Lord is our trust and Comfort.Kyrieleis.

Had He not ascended, the world had gone asunder,Christ risen now for us, Praise to thee, Most Glorious.Kyrieleis.

Alleluia, rejoice we all, for Christ, for Christ the Lord is our trust and Comfort, Kyrieleis.

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II. oF A RoSE, A LoVELy RoSE

IV: A Spotless Rose(from Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal)Paul Mealor (b. 1975)Novello & Co., NOV292754

A Spotless rose is growing, Sprung from a tender root, of ancient seers’ foreshowing, of Jesse promised fruit;its fairest bud unfolds to lightAmid the cold, cold winter, and the dark midnight. the rose which i am singing, Where of isaiah said,is from its sweet root springingin Mary, purest Maid:the Blessed Babe she bare us through God’s great love and mightthe Blessed Babe she bare usAmid the cold, cold winter, and the dark midnight.A Spotless rose is growing, in a cold, cold winter’s nightNow sleeps the crimson petal.Amen.

(without applause)

Go, Lovely RoseEric Whitacre (b. 1970)Santa Barbara Music Publishing, Inc., SBMP 432

Go, lovely rosetell her that wastes her time and me, that now she knows, When i resemble her to thee, How sweet and fair she seems to be.tell her that’s young, And shuns to have her graces spied, that hadst thou sprungin deserts where no men abide, thou must have uncommended died.

Small is the worth of beauty from the light retired; Bid her come forth, Suffer herself to be desired, And not blush so to be admired.then die, that she the common fate of all things rareMay read in thee; How small a part of time they share, that are so wondrous sweet and fair!

DR. ALLEN hIGhToWERAllen Hightower is professor of music at Luther College, where he serves as conductor of the renowned Nordic Choir and artistic director of Christmas at Luther. As Luther’s director of choral activities, he gives leadership to a choral program that includes four conductors, six choirs, and more than 500 singers. 

Prior to joining the faculty at Luther, Hightower served as professor of music and director of choral activities at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. During his tenure, the SHSU Chorale performed for the 2007 National Convention of the American Choral Directors Association, the 2010 Southwestern Division of ACDA, and the 2003, 2006, and 2010 conventions of the Texas Music Educators Association.

Before joining the faculty at Sam Houston, Allen served on the faculty of California State University, Long Beach, conducting the CSULB Chamber Singers. His high school teaching experience includes positions at Klein High School in Houston, Texas, and at Odessa (Texas) Permian High School. Under Allen’s direction, the Permian High School Kantorei performed for the 1996 Texas Music Educators Association convention. 

From 2005–10 Allen was music director of the Houston Masterworks Chorus, Houston’s largest independent symphonic chorus. A lifelong church musician, Hightower has served Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Congregational churches in Texas and California. He served as the Duesenberg Concert Choir Chair for the Lutheran Summer Music Academy and Festival in 2007 and 2011, and will serve in this role again this year.

Allen holds degrees from Sam Houston State University, Baylor University, the Eastman School of Music, and UCLA. He was the first-prize winner in the graduate division of the ACDA Conducting Competition in 1997.  From 1997–2000 he served as conducting intern with the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Allen has been mentored by choral conductors Bev Henson, Donald Neuen, Paul Salamunovich, Joe Flummerfelt, and Weston Noble.

Performing and teaching opportunities during the fall of 2012 and the spring and summer of 2013 include venues in Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Missouri, Colorado, California, Texas, and Washington, D.C. These include residencies at the University of Alabama, Colorado State University, Pepperdine University, and VanderCook College.

Allen is married to soprano Kristin Hightower. They reside in Decorah, Iowa with their daughters, Caroline and Julianne.

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III. MAkE A JoyFuL NoISE To ThE LoRD

Jauchzet dem hernn alle WeltBMV Anhang 160J.S. Bach (1685–1750)Carus-Verlag, CV 35.002/05

Shout now, shout to the Lord. All the earth, shout to the Lord, Serve ye the Lord with gladness.Come ye, come before his faceWith rejoicing, Hallelujah!

INTERMISSIoN

IV: IN PRAISE oF ThE SAVIoR

All hail the Power of Jesus Namearr. James Mulholland (b. 1935)Colla Voce, 12-50830The audience is invited to sing on the fourth verse.

All hail the power of Jesus’ name!Let angels prostrate fall;Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all!

Ye chosen seed of israel’s race, Ye ransomed from the fall;Hail Him who saves you by His grace, And crown Him Lord of all!

Let every kindred, every tribe, on this terrestrial ball, to Him all majesty ascribe, And crown Him Lord of all!

o that with yonder sacred throngWe at His feet may fall! We’ll join the everlasting song, And crown Him Lord of all! Amen.

hANNAh MyoTT ‘13Minneapolis, Minn.Anthropology and German major, music minor

Postgraduation plans: Teaching abroad in Asia or living in Germany before attending graduate school

What do you appreciate most about the liberal

arts experience? “I’m someone who loves to try many different things, and a liberal arts education allows me to do that. It’s also very flexible—last year I switched my major from music to environmental studies and then to communication studies before finally deciding on anthropology and German. Where

else could I do that and still graduate on time?”

ADAM BRADLEy ‘13Sioux Falls, S.D.Music major, management minor

Postgraduation plans: Attending graduate school for vocal performance

What do you love about the Jenson-Noble hall of Music? “The thing I love the most about the Jenson-Noble

Hall of Music is the community it provides. It is impossible to walk into the building and not feel like you are at home. With the amount of time students spend there, it really becomes a family. Everyone is always supportive, affirming, and helpful.”

Tour Program

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The Lord is the Everlasting GodKenneth Jennings (b. 1925)Mark Foster Music, MF2137

Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? it is God who sits above the circle of the earth,who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to live in. to whom then will you compare me, or who is my equal? says the Holy one. Lift up your eyes and see: God who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name, not one is missing.

the Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth, who does not faint or grow weary;whose understanding is unsearchable. God gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted;but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Have you not heard? Have you not known?

(without applause)

Praise to the Lordarr. F. Melius Christiansen (1871–1955)Augsburg Fortress, 11-0076

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!o my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation! All ye who hear, Now to His temple draw near, Join me in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee;Ponder anew What the almighty can doif with His love He befriend thee!

Praise to the Lord! o let all that is in me adore Him! All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him! Let the Amen Sound from His people again;Gladly for aye we adore Him!Alleluia!

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ShANE WILSoN ‘13Bolingbrook, Ill.Mathematics major

Postgraduation plans: Attending graduate school for meteorology science

What do you think is unique about the Nordic experience? “Being involved with Nordic and the music department in general has really

allowed me to have a foot in two worlds. I’ve met so many people in music that I never would have known had I gone to a larger school and been confined to the math department. It’s never felt like the experi-ences were totally separate—my math professors animatedly chat with me about choir (one of them was actually a math and music double major in college), and I’m recognized in the music department as the guy that’s pretty good at addition. It’s an awesome combination that I hope I can continue after Luther.”

SoPhIA huANG ’14Fishers, Ind. Music major

Postgraduation plans: Attend graduate school for Opera/Vocal performance

Why did you choose Luther College? “I chose Luther College because of its music program. I

was impressed with the quality and size of Luther’s mu-sic department. We are blessed with excellent faculty, and not only in the music department, but the entire college.”

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V. WoRDS FRoM ThE PRoPhETS

o Vos omnesPablo Casals (1876–1973)Tetra/Continuo music group, TC 128

o ye people that are passing by me and see me,behold and see and considerif there can be any sorrow as mine? o ye people, is it nothing to you?

(without applause)

E’en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly ComePaul Manz (1919–2009)Concordia Publishing House, 98-1054

Peace be to you and grace from HimWho freed us from our sins, Who loved us all and shed his bloodthat we might saved be.Sing Holy to the Lord, Almighty God, Who was and is and is to come;Sing Holy, Holy, Lord! rejoice in heaven, all ye that dwell therein, rejoice on earth, ye saints below, For Christ is coming soon!e’en so, Lord Jesus, quickly come, And night shall be no more;they need no light, nor lamp, no sun,For Christ will be their All!

VI: ThE Joy oF SINGING

BenedictioUrmas Sisask (b. 1960)Warner/Chappell Music Finland, HL48000823

May the Almighty God Bless you, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.Amen.

My RomanceRodgers and Hart, arr. Roy Ringwald (1910–1995)Shawnee Press, A 1491

My romance doesn’t have to have a moon in the sky, My romance doesn’t need a blue lagoon standing by;No month of May, no twinkling stars,

DoRIAN FESTIVALS AND SuMMER PRoGRAMSLuther College hosts hundreds of middle and high school student musicians at seven annual Dorian Festivals and Summer Programs. Participants receive private instruction, ensemble coaching, and performance opportunities in Luther’s own Noble Recital Hall and Center for Faith and Life.

Dorian Band Festival625 participants3 ensembles, including select Symphonic Band

Dorian Choral Invitational FestivalMore than 450 participants

Dorian keyboard FestivalMore than 150 participantsPiano, organ, and harpsichord

Dorian orchestra FestivalMore than 150 participants3 ensembles, including select Chamber Orchestra

Dorian Junior and Senior high Summer CampsMore than 600 participants

Dorian Vocal Festival1,250 participantsChoral and solo opportunities, including select

Chamber Choir

For information, contactJim Buzza, coordinatorDorian Music Camps, Luther College563-387-1389jimbuzza@luther.eduhttp://music.luther.edu

Tour Program

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No hide away, no soft guitars.My romance doesn’t need a castle rising in Spain, Nor a dance to a constantly surprising refrain. Wide awake i can make my most fantastic dreams

come true;My romance doesn’t need a thing but you.

Joshua Fit the Battle of Jerichoarr. Edwin Fissinger (1920–1990)Colla Voce, 55-48166

Joshua fit the battle of Jericho, And the walls came tumblin’ down.You may talk about your king of Gideon, You may talk about your men of Saul. But there’s none like good old Joshua at the battle of Jericho. right up to the walls of Jericho, And he marched with a spear in hand, “Now go blow those ram horns” Joshua cried, “Cause the battle am in my hand!” o then Joshua had the people blow on the trumpets with a

mighty sound, And they blew so awful loud and long. that the walls came tumblin’ down over Jericho.

VII: TRADITIoNS oF NoRDIC ChoIR

o Lord GodPavel Chesnokov (1877–1944)The Boston Music Company, 7723-7

o Lord God, hear thou my prayer, help thou me, and give ear to my prayer.Daily do i worship thy great name and thy power.thou alone canst help me. o send me thy peace and love, o protect me, my God. Let me never stray, o my Savior. Leave me not, o God of my salvation. i will sing to the Lord as long as i live, and praise thy great name while i have my being.Hear my prayer, help thou me, and give ear to my prayer.Glory to God.

optionalAn expression of Gratitude, David Schwoebel

LuThER CoLLEGE VoCAL PRoGRAMLuther College offers a wide variety of opportunities for vocal music participation for young aspiring singers.

Choral EnsemblesAurora, Dr. Sandra Peter, 90-voice first-year women’s

choirCantorei, Linda Martin, women’s choirCathedral Choir, Dr. Sandra Peter, 90-voice sophomore

touring choirCollegiate Chorale, Dr. Andrew Last, 100-voice upper-

class touring choirNordic Choir, Dr. Allen Hightower, upper-class touring

choirNorsemen, Dr. Andrew Last, 90-voice first-year men’s

choirNumerous student-led a cappella groups

Voice StudyGenerous renewable scholarshipsVocal coachingCourses in lyric diction and vocal literatureFully staged spring opera productionOpera workshop13 applied voice faculty

For more information about the Luther College vocal program, visit http://music.luther.edu.

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Nordic choir

Nordic Choir, founded in 1946, enjoys national and international acclaim as a premier collegiate choral ensemble in the united States. Following the

57-year tenure of Weston Noble and Craig Arnold’s five years as director of choral activities, Nordic is currently under the direction of Dr. Allen Hightower, named director of choral activities at Luther College in 2010.

Nordic Choir is Luther’s flagship choir in a choral program that comprises three upper-class mixed touring choirs, two first-year choirs, and a women’s choir. More than 500 singers from these ensembles combine with Symphony orchestra, Luther ringers, and pipe organ for five Christmas at Luther performances each year. Christmas at Luther 2008, “Night of Glory, Dawn of Peace,” and Christmas at Luther 2012, “Tidings of Comfort and Joy,” were nationally broadcast as PBS holiday specials. the 2008 broadcast won a regional emmy for “Best Special event Coverage.”

Nordic Choir has toured extensively throughout the united States, performing in countless churches, schools, and concert halls, including Lincoln Center, New York; Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.; orchestra Hall, Chicago; orchestra Hall and the Historic State theatre, Minneapolis; the ordway Music theatre, St. Paul, Minn.; Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Crystal Cathedral, Los Angeles; and the Mormon tabernacle, Salt Lake City. Nordic Choir has also appeared

at national American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) conventions in Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, and Kansas City, and at the Music educators National Conference in Kansas City, Mo. the choir was selected to perform at the 50th anni-versary national convention of the ACDA in oklahoma City, March 2009.

Nordic Choir has made numerous concert tours of europe, the Caribbean, Mexico, russia, and eastern europe. in 2000 and 2003, the choir revisited the college’s founding roots with tours to Norway and Scandinavia. Nordic Choir was featured in concert throughout France, Spain, and italy in May 2009. Most recently, Nordic Choir completed a tour of ireland and england in May 2012. other notable appearances for Nordic Choir include a performance of the Mozart Requiem with the Minnesota orchestra in 2001, Chichester Psalms with the Des Moines Symphony in 2003, and St. John Passion with orchestra iowa in 2012.

Nordic Choir has also recorded extensively. recent titles in-clude Holy, Radiant Light (2012), Here I Am, Lord (2012), We Sing with Joy (2010), In the Beginning (2009), Everlasting God (2007), The Road Home (2006), and The Culmination of an Extraordinary Career, reflecting Weston Noble’s final tour as conductor. Nordic Choir performances are also included on the CD and DVD of Christmas at Luther 2012 and the 2009, 2010, and 2011 Christmas at Luther CDs.

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Soprano IAriel Gauslow, Fargo, N.D.

musicJenna Hoge, Wayzata, Minn.

independent interdisciplinary major: persuasion and social change, English writing minor

Bridget Keenan, Burnsville, Minn.English and music, education minor

Val Krych, Champlin, Minn.music, education and management minors

*Hannah Myott, Minneapolis, Minn.anthropology and German, music minor

Christine O’Brien, Western Springs, Ill.music, English minor

Rachel Selvig, St. Michael, Minn.anthropology and history, music minor

Kelsey Tarbert, Oshkosh, Wis.music, education minor

Allison Vollinger, Hickory Hills, Ill.music, education minor

Soprano IIEllen Amundson, Golden Valley, Minn.

English and Scandinavian studiesSophia Huang, Fishers, Ind.

musicVanessa Libbey, Wauwatosa, Wis.

musicMary Lieberman, Katy, Texas

music, education minor*Erin Persick, Robins, Iowa

musicLillianna Petsch-Horvath, Elkhorn, Wis.

sociology, Africana studies minorMarissa Satern, Hiawatha, Iowa

biology, music minorSadie Stoiber, Muskego, Wis.

music, social welfare minor

Alto IKarissa Crouse, North Branch, Minn.

English, education minor*Emily Davis, Brookfield, Wis.

history and music, education minorHannah Delzer, Janesville, Wis.

elementary education and musicHolly Fusco, Indianola, Iowa

music and theatre/dance, education minor

Andrea Keuper, Brookfield, Wis.music, education minor

Amelia Kundel, Cedar Rapids, Iowabiology, music minor

Brittney Leemon, McFarland, Wis.music, management minor

Kelley Lokensgard, Eagan, Minn.music, education minor

Katherine Ollman, Mason City, Iowamusic, education minor

Melani Schwartz, Plymouth, Minn.music, education minor

Alto IIMary Bissen, Austin, Minn.

music, education minorKelsey Brown, Urbandale, Iowa

music, education minorKelsi Holmes, Monticello, Iowa

music, education minorKari Jensen, Decorah, Iowa

psychologyAllison Kephart, Decorah, Iowa

music, education minorJessica Lowry, Minneapolis, Minn.

music, education minorMarita May, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

music, management minorTaylor Numedahl, Owatonna, Minn.

social work, Spanish minor*Alexandra Nyman, Stillman Valley, Ill.

music and psychology *Emily Streeper, Falcon Heights, Minn.

management, art minorSarah Webb, Spirit Lake, Iowa

anthropology and biology, chemistry minor

Tenor IBradley Beale, Warrenville, Ill.

music, education minor† Adam Bradley, Sioux Falls, S.D.

music, management minorPatrick Fagan, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

music, education minor*William Haugen, White Bear Lake, Minn.

political science, Spanish minorSam Jones, Des Moines, Iowa

music, English writing minorTrevor Maloney, Cambridge, Minn.

music, history minorJames Odegaard, Hiawatha, Iowa

musicNathan Wiley, Bondurant, Iowa

music

Tenor IIAlec Carlson, Red Oak, Iowa

music, management minor*Benjamin Cramer, Brooklyn Center, Minn.

musicDavid Duba, Northfield, Minn.

computer science, psychology minorTyler Hagy, Muscatine, Iowa

music and theatre/dance, education minor

Cole Melby, Cedar Falls, Iowaanthropology, religion minor

Charlie Parrish-Siggelkow, Orr, Minn.music, education minor

Tom Reimann, Cottage Grove, Minn.chemistry

Scott Senko, Champlin, Minn.music, education minor

Bryan Waznik, Menomonie, Wis.music, education minor

Ben Wegner, St. Paul, Minn.music, education minor

Bass IKalle Akkerman, Austin, Minn.

musicJimmy Deignan, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

music, education minorRyan Fugleberg, Chisago City, Minn.

music, education minorDavid Geist, Burnsville, Minn.

musicSteven Halloin, Eau Claire, Wis.

music, English writing minorBen King Quale, Lake Crystal, Minn.

music, education minorEvan Mitchell, Melcher, Iowa

music* † Chris Paulson, Medina, Minn.

music*Tyler Reece, Glenwood Springs, Colo.

musicAlex Sievers, Hiawatha, Iowa

accounting, management minorTyler Simpson, Chatfield, Minn.

history and music

Bass IIDavid Baxter, Algona, Iowa

music, education minorColin Berry, Iowa City, Iowa

music, education minorDylan Carlson, Wayzata, Minn.

musicThomas Gerber, Austin, Minn.

music, education minorDaniel Gibson, Urbandale, Iowa

biology, chemistry and history minorsLukas Hampton, Montevideo, Minn.

music, education minorDietrich Jessen, Lake Charles, La.

accounting, management and French minors

Tim Komatsu, Northfield, Minn.political science and theatre

Anders Nilsen, Gahanna, Ohiopsychology, music minor

*Stephen Uhl, Bensenville, Ill.music

* † Shane Wilson, Owatonna, Minn.mathematics

* section leader† officer

NoRDIC ChoIR PERSoNNEL

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Now in his third year of conducting Nordic Choir, Allen Hightower is settling in.

His Southern roots continue to peek through—for instance, when he calls J. S. Bach the granddaddy of Lutheran church music—but he has a rapport with the students of Luther College that makes him very much at home in his role as the fourth conductor of the Nordic Choir.

“i think what has continued to nurture my sense of place has been the deepening of relationships,” he reflects. His quickness to adopt Nordic Choir traditions—and to impart a few of his own—certainly speeds up the process.

Prior to joining Luther as director of choral activities, conductor of Nordic Choir, and professor of music, Hightower had been director of choral studies at Sam Houston State, his alma mater. A native texan, he was pleased by Luther’s interest. “to ultimately entrust their choral tradition to someone outside of the Lutheran Norwegian tradition was maybe a big step for Luther,” he says.

Hightower doesn’t take this lightly. “i said to the students not too long ago,

‘We’re stewards of the Lutheran choral tradition—what does that mean?’

i think it means that we sing in as many churches as concert halls. We sing in churches, and i would want church musicians around the country to be able to see the Nordic Choir as a model for what beautifully rendered sacred music can sound like.”

While Nordic Choir may offer a model of the Lutheran choral tradition, the group is anything but typical. in comparison with other choral programs, Hightower says,

“the amount and the intensity of nonmajors participating in music at Luther is remarkable. We have hundreds and hundreds of people at Luther who are studying biology and math and education who want to participate in music, and i think somehow it brings a more balanced and less self-centered focus to the experience. Because they really are there because of the love it, not because of the necessity of it—it’s not as though they’re there to fulfill a requirement. they’re there to sing because they realize it enriches their lives in a tremendous way. And therefore the output, the outpouring, the vulnerability—all of those things that they bring to the experience are very enriching.”

Sharing that vulnerability is a tradition in the Nordic Choir, particularly through devotionals prior to each tour performance. “For some, these are very much a sharing of their spiritual walk, and some are more comfortable sharing other aspects of their journey,” he says. “there are always lots of tears and then we have to sort of sniff up and go perform, but it creates this lovely dynamic and vulnerability on the part of the singers, as well as this deep bond—we’re in this together.”

Hightower continues, “i have found those to be very ennobling and very meaningful as students have become transparent and shared their heart and become more vulnerable. And therefore the whole act of music making is one of trust: they trust me and i trust them and they trust each other. And it is through this trust that you can take risks and really go some place musically—transcendentally, if you will.”

in addition to learning Nordic traditions, Hightower has imparted one of his own. “i’ve begun kind of a new tradition of a piece called An expression of Gratitude, which is part of our encore. the text is from the first chapter of Philippians: ‘i thank my God in all my remembrance of you with every prayer of joy. . . .

iN PursuiT of ExcEllENcE

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RECENT RELEASES Available in the lobby

Holy, Radiant Light is the second album of Allen Hightower conducting the Nordic Choir of Luther College. This disc features great songs from the 2012 Winter Tour of Colorado and the Midwest.

The Christmas at Luther 2012: Tidings of Comfort and Joy CD and DVD feature choral and orchestral pieces performed at the Christmas at Luther concerts in December and broadcast nationwide on PBS. Both feature Nordic Choir performing “A Spotless Rose” by Paul Mealor.

Here I Am, Lord is the first album of Allen Hightower conducting the Nordic Choir of Luther College.

Celebrate 150 Years with Luther College, recorded live in April 2011, includes Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass and the world premiere of Luther Mass by Stephen Paulus.

You may also order these and other Luther recordings online at www.lutherbookshop.com or by calling the Luther Book Shop at 1-888-521-5039.

i thank my God for you.’ And the wonderful thing about this text is that for those people who may not be in a place where they have a relationship with God, there is still a component of having journeyed with these people in the choir, and so there’s this relationship and they are grateful to these people. this will be the second year we’ve done it. these traditions of having a piece or two that we keep with us as we tour also starts to mean something to our audience and to our alums who’ve sung them.”

Hightower is eager to recognize these kinds of connections, between the choir and the audience and among the singers themselves, which are intrinsic to Nordic. Along these lines, another Nordic tradition that has impressed Hightower is the spontaneous holding of hands. “i’ve never encountered it before. once the music’s memorized, the singers begin of their own volition to start holding the hand of the person next to them. Big ol’ burly boys, you know? it’s interesting: you walk into any academic building these days and you find more outlets for hand sanitizer than you do pencil sharpeners. really, we’re in that age, aren’t we? And yet making this connection is a high priority for these students.

“For all the horror that is perpetrated on our society, all the ugly, all the disappointment in youth, imagine coming to a church and hearing a concert of kids—19, 20, 21 years old—wearing choir robes, holding hands, and singing beautifully about meaningful, eternal things. i think even beyond the context of worshipping God, it is an encouragement to people to see young people doing something of beauty and of worth and, in a sense, giving. it gives people hope for our future as a nation and a culture. it’s powerful.”

Here I Am, LordLuther College Nordic Choir—Allen Hightower, conductor

Luther College Nordic Choir Allen Hightower, conductor

20122012

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GREGORY PETERSON ’83. D.M.A., university of iowa. Department head, organ, Luther ringers, College organist.

EDWIN ANDERECK. D.M.A., university of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music. Head of voice and opera, vocal literature.

HEATHER ARMSTRONG. D.M.A., eastman School of Music. oboe, theory, double reeds methods.

ERIC ASHCRAFT. M.M., university of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music. Voice, opera.

DANIEL BALDWIN. D.M.A., university of texas at Austin. Symphony orchestra, Chamber orchestra, conducting.

ANN BENJAMIN. M.M., indiana university. Harp.

REBECCA BOEHM SHAFFER. D.M.A., university of Northern Colorado. Horn, brass methods, ear training.

TOM BOURCIER. M.M., Western Michigan university. Jazz Band, improvisation, theatre/Dance composition.

JASON BRITTON. Ph.D., university of oregon. theory, ear training.

MARGARET BRITTON ’10. M.M., university of texas at Austin. theory, ear training.

MICHAEL CHESHER. D.M., indiana university. Clarinet, saxophone, woodwind methods.

BRENT DODSON. D.M.A., university of Southern California. trumpet, Varsity Band, brass methods.

JOAN DEALBUQUERQUE. D.M.A., university of North texas. Concert Band, Wind and Percussion ensemble, conducting.

AMY ENGELSDORFER. Ph.D., indiana university. theory, ear training.

ROLF ERDAHL. D.M.A., Peabody Conservatory. Double bass, string methods.

BILL FORDICE ’82. M.A., Northern illinois university; A.B.D., Boston university. Music education.

RONALD FOX. D.M., indiana university. Professor emeritus.

MICHAEL GEARY. M.A., university of iowa. Percussion, Percussion ensemble, percussion methods.

JAMES GRIESHEIMER. Ph.D., indiana university. Music history.

JUAN TONY GUZMÁN ’90. Ph.D., Florida State university. Music education, ethnomusicology, Jazz orchestra.

LYNNE HART. M.F.A., university of iowa. Saxophone.

CAROL HESTER. D.M., Florida State university. Flute, flute methods.

ALLEN HIGHTOWER. D.M.A., university of California. Director of Choral Activities, Nordic Choir, conducting, choral methods.

KRISTIN HIGHTOWER. D.M.A., university of California. Voice.

XIAO HU. D.M.A., State university of New York-Stony Brook. Piano, class piano.

DU HUANG. D.M.A., State university of New York-Stony Brook. Piano, class piano.

HELEN JAMES. D.M.A., university of oregon. Bassoon.

BROOKE JOYCE. Ph.D., Princeton university. theory, composition, music history, electronic music.

DAVID JUDISCH. D.M.A., university of iowa. Voice, vocal methods, Dorian Music Camp director, opera. Professor emeritus

KAREN KANAKIS. D.M.A., university of North texas. Voice, opera.

MIKO KOMINAMI. M.M., the Juilliard School. Piano, theory.

WILLIAM KUHLMAN. M.M., Syracuse university. Professor emeritus.

ERIC KUTZ. D.M.A., the Juilliard School. Cello, string methods.

JACOB LASSETTER. D.M.A., university of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music. Voice, opera.

ANDREW LAST ’97. D.M.A., university of Nebraska-Lincoln. Collegiate Chorale, Norsemen, voice, conducting.

HANNAH LEFFLER. M.M., university of Northern iowa. Flute.

PETER LINGEN. Guitar, lute, classical guitar.

LINDA MARTIN. M.A., university of St. thomas. theory, ear training, Cantorei, general music education.

SPENCER MARTIN. D.M.A., university of Minnesota. Viola, conducting, Philharmonia.

MAURICE MONHARDT. Ph.D., university of iowa. Professor emeritus.

GARY MOSS. D.M.A., university of Michigan. Voice, ear training.

WESTON NOBLE ’43. M.M., university of Michigan. Professor emeritus.

FREDERICK NYLINE. M.A., university of Minnesota. Professor emeritus.

MICHAEL O’BRIEN. Ph.D., university of texas, Austin. ACM-Mellon Post-Doctoral Fellowship in ethnomusicology.

JESSICA PAUL. D.M.A., university of illinois, urbana-Champaign. Vocal coach, collaborative arts.

SANDRA PETER. D.M.A., university of iowa. Aurora, Cathedral Choir, conducting.

BETH RAY WESTLUND ’89. D.M.A., university of texas at Austin. Associate Department head, voice, diction.

KATHRYN REED. M.A., university of Michigan. ear training, harpsichord, Collegium Musicum.

AMBER RIGGENBACH. M.A., university of iowa. Piano.

BRAD SCHULTZ ’07. M.M., emory university. organ, ear training.

MICHAEL SMITH. D.M.A., university of illinois, urbana-Champaign. Low brass, brass ensembles, brass methods.

STEVE SMITH ’95. M.M., university of North texas. Composition, electronic music.

GRAHAM STEEDS. D.M.A., university of Minnesota. trumpet.

JOHN F. StrAuSS. D.M.A., university of texas at Austin. Piano.

VIRGINIA STRAUSS. D.M.A., university of texas at Austin. Violin, advanced ear training, counterpoint.

JONATHON STRUVE ’02. M.M., Northwestern university; A.B.D., university of iowa. Voice.

RICHARD TIRK. D.M.A., Michigan State university. trumpet, brass methods.

KYLIE TOOMER ’08. M.M., university of North texas. Voice.

TARN TRAVERS. M.M., Cleveland institute of Music. Violin, string methods.

ANDREW WANNIGMAN ’07. M.M., New england Conservatory. Voice.

RACHEL WARE ’06. D.M.A., university of Minnesota. Voice, music history.

MARJORIE WHARTON ’66. M.A., (French) tulane university; D.M.A., university of iowa. Piano, class piano.

ANDREW WHITFIELD. D.M.A., Louisiana State university. Voice, opera.

SUSAN WILLIAMS. M.M., indiana university. Voice, class voice.

BENJAMIN YATES ’08. M.M., university of illinois, urbana-Champaign. Low brass, brass ensemble.

music faculTy

13

music aT luThEr

Martin Luther—our namesake—believed music to be “one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.” For over 130 years, Luther

students have been sharing this marvelous gift with audiences across the country and around the globe.

Music is much more than a gift, though. it’s an integral part of the community of faith and the community of learning on campus. the arts are fundamental to the liberal arts experience at Luther; they help to define what it means to be human. Here creative scholarship, personal growth, worship, and social relations merge to create an understanding of the wholeness of life.

the vibrancy of Luther’s music program is rooted in a balance between the academic rigor of our acclaimed music major and the numerous opportunities for study and performance by

students from all disciplines across campus.

the Luther campus is alive with the sounds of six choirs, three bands, three orchestras, two jazz bands, and nearly 1,000 student musicians. our students participate in large ensembles, faculty-coached chamber groups, private lessons, and master classes. More than 300 music majors study music theory/

ear training, history, education, composition, church music, and performance. it all adds up to one of the largest collegiate music programs in the world!

For more information about Luther’s music program, visit the Luther College music website, http://music.luther.edu.

Luther CollegeFounded in 1861 by Norwegian immigrants, Luther College provides its 2,500 students with a classic liberal arts education.

Luther offers more than 60 majors and preprofessional and certificate programs leading to the bachelor of arts degree. the college’s strong academic program includes internships, professional semesters, and extensive study-abroad opportu-nities. Dedicated and talented faculty help Luther students develop solid research, writing, and critical-thinking skills, while the close-knit community imbues its members with a service ethic.

the Phi Beta Kappa college is bolstered by its Lutheran foundation, celebrated for its vibrant music and arts tradi-tion, and enriched by its strong athletic program.

Jenson-Noble hall of Music325-seat recital hall

Center for Faith and Life1,600-seat main hall, 200-seat recital hall

Center for the Arts225-seat black-box theatre

“Participating in Nordic Choir helps our students grow not only as musicians, but also as people.” —Rick Torgerson, President

MuSIC/ARTS FACILITIES

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14

ENcouragiNg suPPorT

on December 31, 2012, Lu-ther College celebrated the successful completion of The

Sesquicentennial Fund, the five-year, $50-million funding initiative surround-ing the college’s 150th anniversary. The Sesquicentennial Fund exceeded its goal with nearly $57 million in outright and deferred gifts from more than 14,700 donors. thanks to all who generously invested in the mission and students of Luther College! A series of special events to celebrate the success-ful completion of The Sesquicentennial Fund and honor the torgerson presiden-cy will be held throughout the country this spring. Go to www.luther.edu/giving/recognition/events for a complete listing.

Fully two-thirds ($33 million) of The Sesquicentennial Fund was devoted to endowment, and endowed scholarship support (with a goal of $12.5 million) was the largest single component of the funding initiative. We are pleased to announce that more than $21.9 million was committed through outright and deferred giving to scholarship endow-ment for students. Student scholarships will remain at the forefront of Luther’s on-going fundraising efforts, along with unrestricted support for the Annual Fund.

every year, nearly 9,000 alumni, par-ents, and friends support the Luther College Annual Fund with gifts ranging from $5 to $50,000.  each gift goes to

purchasing baby grand pianos in the student all-Steinway practice room corridor. the New York Steinway grand piano from the Noble recital Hall is also being completely rebuilt, thanks to significant donor underwriting from Weston Noble and his family. in the coming three years, the college will be replacing or rebuilding two more of our teaching Steinway grand pianos ($40,000 each); purchasing five new baby grands for student practice studios ($20,000 each); replacing six upright pianos ($7,000 each), and purchasing 12 new adjustable benches ($700 each). overall this investment in Luther pia-nos totals more than $400,000, and ap-proximately $235,000 is still needed to bring our piano fleet to its best teaching and practice condition.

As with all fund development efforts, the success of Luther College depends on the support of the many who believe in Luther’s mission. We invite your gifts and pledges toward student scholarships, the Luther College Annual Fund, the piano project, or any other college project or program. As always, your participation is what matters most, and gifts of all sizes are gratefully received. Contributions may be made through current gifts, planned gifts, or combinations of current and planned gifts. For further information about giv-ing opportunities in support of Luther College, please contact the Develop-ment office at (800) 225-8664 or visit the http://giving.luther.edu website.

work as soon as it’s re-ceived, in the areas where it is needed most.  this unrestricted giving pro-vides op-portunities for increased student scholarships, improved campus life, updated tech-nology, and

strengthened academic and cocurricular programs. With over $1.6 million raised each year, the Annual Fund supports every student, professor, and staff mem-ber and has an immediate and lasting impact on the Luther community.

in addition to the need for ongoing support of scholarship endowment and the Annual Fund, and especially for those who have a special fondness for Luther’s music programs, the college is also in the midst of a project to replace and refurbish pianos in the Jenson Noble Hall of Music. over the years, Luther’s music department has done a masterful job of maintaining a fleet of more than 100 pianos. on average, our 40 grand pianos and 59 uprights are ag-ing gracefully, but some instruments are now requiring refurbishment. Such re-building and refurbishment are typical in the life of a performance and practice piano, but also exception-ally costly. Last year, Luther Col-lege invested approximately $135,000 in rebuilding and refurbish-ing its main stage concert Steinway and

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luThEr collEgE

with students and colleagues. this cre-ates a strong sense of community and shared purpose on the Luther campus.

the sense of community at Luther is enhanced by the college’s picturesque location. Nestled in the bluff country of northeast iowa, Luther is a strong and vibrant residential community purposely set apart. our 1,000-acre campus includes frontage on the upper iowa river, recreation trails, outdoor research sites, and well-designed facili-ties dedicated to teaching and learning. A new $20 million science laboratories center has expanded opportunities for collaborative research and learning.

Luther has a strong tradition of en-gaged and experiential learning, most notably in our study-abroad programs. More than 70 percent of Luther students will study abroad before graduating, placing us among the top 10 baccalaureate colleges nationally in the number of students studying abroad each year. Many students travel with Luther faculty during the college’s January term, a month-long intensive course of study with programs on five continents.

We believe music is central to a liberal arts education. As one of our conduc-tors puts it, “Musical expression— artistic expression—answers some of our most fundamental needs as human beings: the need to be creative, the need for self-fulfillment, and the need for self-expression, beauty, and mean-ingful existence.”

in the end a Luther education is about transformation. We put our faith in a strong liberal arts education, rich cocur-ricular programs, and the beauty found in place and community. Students are transformed by their four-year journey at Luther and leave here ready to make their mark in the world.

to learn more about us, visit www.luther.edu or call 1-800-4 LutHer.

Since 1861, Luther College has placed its faith in a classic resi-dential, liberal arts education.

We believe that providing a rigorous academic program in the context of a faith tradition prepares students for more than successful careers. Luther graduates have a sense of a larger purpose—a sense that the “good life” is one where they use their talents and knowledge in service to others. our president, richard torgerson, puts it this way: “it’s not just about prestige and success. it’s about integrity, fulfill-ment, and knowing that what we do is going to make the world a better place.”

Luther’s liberal arts curriculum begins with 180 full-time faculty who come from the strongest graduate programs in the united States and around the world. they reflect the college’s ideals as a Phi Beta Kappa institution—excel-lence every day in the liberal arts. With expertise ranging from collaborative fil-tering (in computer science) to a fresh interpretation of St. Patrick from Latin (in classics) to biodegradable polyesters (in chemistry), our faculty feel called to be at a place where the attention is on undergraduates. the college’s 12:1 student-faculty ratio makes it possible for professors to know their students well and become intellectual mentors and guides. And because nearly all faculty live within five miles of campus, they make a life here, along

ExPEriENcE luThEr

To arrange a campus visit, call the Admissions office at 800-458-8437.

admissions@luther.edu

www.luther.edu

Luther College700 College DriveDecorah, Iowa 52101