Luther College (Iowa)
Encyclopedia : L : LU : LUT : Luther College (Iowa)
- For other places with the same name, see Luther College (disambiguation).
Luther College is a private, selective, four-year liberal arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Located in Decorah, Iowa, USA and founded in 1861 by Norwegian immigrants, Luther College today boasts an enrollment of nearly 2,600 students representing 34 states and 35 countries. The college confers the Bachelor of Arts degree in more than 60 majors and preprofessional and certificate programs. A Phi Beta Kappa institution, its most popular academic programs are found within the areas of the natural and social sciences, language and literature, music, business, and education.
History
The path to founding Luther College began on October 10, 1857, when the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church (NELC) decided to create a college to supply ministers for Norwegian congregations in the Upper Midwest. Until the college was completed, students would study at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. On October 14, 1859 the Rev. Laur. A. Larsen was appointed professor to the Norwegian students at Concordia by the NELC.Upon the closing of the seminary in April 1861, the NELC decided to open their own college that fall in an unused parsonage at Halfway Creek, Wisconsin, just north of La Crosse, Wisconsin and close to present day Holmen, Wisconsin. On September 1, 1861, classes officially began with an enrollment of 16. The following year classes moved to Decorah, Iowa, with NELC Pastor Ulrik Vilhelm Koren responsible for arranging this move.
It didn't take long for Luther to build an exceptional music program. In 1905, Carlo A. Sperati, an 1888 graduate of Luther, became the music director of the college and worked to develop the Luther College Concert Band, which was originally founded in 1878. Under Sperati, the band took many tours of Europe, their first in 1914, earning international acclaim for their musical talent. Sperati remained on the faculty until 1945.
In 1932 Luther College dropped its mandatory study of the classics. The 1930s also marked another milestone in the college's history, the decision to become coeducational, which happened in 1936 due primarily to financial reasons. During the 1960s Luther again experienced significant change with the construction of several new buildings on campus and the adoption of a 4-1-4 semester schedule.
Music
Luther is arguably most famous for its music organizations, some of which have acquired international recognition through their annual concert tours and appearances over the past several decades at many of the major concert halls and music centers of Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, China, Japan, Mexico, and the Caribbean. About 40% of the student body participates in at least one of the college's six choirs, three concert bands, three orchestras, and three jazz ensembles. Since 1907 the Luther community has performed Handel's Messiah, a tradition whose longevity is exceeded only by Bethany College (1903). "Christmas at Luther," Luther's spectacular, annual Christmas choir concert, is now televised nationwide.
Much of Luther's musical heritage can be largely attributed to the influence of two individuals. It was the 40-year tenure of Dr. Carlo A. Sperati, Class of 1888, who fostered the college's Lutheran musical tradition beginning in 1905, and quickly developed the Luther College Concert Band into one of the nation's finest touring music ensembles. History shows that the Sperati's Concert Band quickly achieved notoriety, even to the point that famed bandmaster John Philip Sousa cancelled a performance of his touring ensemble just so he could attend a concert of the Luther Concert Band, which was also scheduled to appear nearby.
Sperati's foundation would later be strengthened and steadily built upon by Weston Noble '43, himself a student of Sperati. Following three years of military service in World War II, Noble returned to his alma mater to conduct the Nordic Choir and Concert Band, direct Christmastime performances of Handel's Messiah, and teach in the Music Department. Noble's bands (which he conducted until 1973) and choirs achieved critical acclaim for their coast-to-coast tours and international appearances.
Ensembles under his direction performed at such venues as Lincoln Center in New York; the Kennedy Center in Washington; the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City; Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and the Walt Disney Concert Hall, both in Los Angeles; the Ordway Music Theatre in St. Paul; and Orchestra Hall in Chicago and Minneapolis. Under Noble's direction, Luther ensembles also appeared at historic cathedrals and concert halls throughout Europe, Russia, and Scandinavia, as well as on the programs of several national conventions of the American Bandmasters Association, the American Choral Directors Association, and the Music Educators National Conference.
Nordic Choir was featured in the film "The Joy of Bach," and in four weekly international broadcasts of "The Hour of Power" from the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California. Weston Noble retired from the faculty at the close of the academic year in 2005, having served continuously for 57 years, from 1948 to 2005.
Nordic Choir, which tours internationally, is the most well known choral ensemble beyond the Luther College community, but Nordic Choir is only one of the six traditional choral ensembles at Luther. Collegiate Chorale is a mixed choir composed of juniors and seniors. Cathedral Choir is a mixed choir composed of sophomores. Pike Kor (Norwegian for young women's choir) and Norsemen are choirs composed entirely of first-year students. And Cantorei is a women's choir drawing membership from all classes, though primarily sophomore through senior. In addition to the six traditional choirs, there are two additional choral ensembles. Collegium Musicum is an early music ensemble of vocalists and instrumentalists, and the Vocal Jazz Ensemble often performs jointly with Luther's instrumental jazz ensembles.
Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Orchestra also tour internationally. Symphony Orchestra establishes residency in Vienna every four years, and Jazz Orchestra has toured in the Caribbean.
As of 2006, Frederick Nyline continues to conduct the Concert Band, and Dr. Craig Arnold has succeeded Weston Noble as Director of Choral Activities and conductor of Nordic Choir. Dr. Daniel Baldwin conducts the Luther College Symphony Orchestra, and Dr. Juan-Tony Guzmán directs Jazz Orchestra.
In 1996 musician Dave Matthews appeared in concert with Tim Reynolds at Luther College in the Center for Faith and Life, the site of their 1999 album Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds Live at Luther College.
Campus
Overlooking the Oneota Valley, Luther's picturesque campus contains a nice mix of old and new buildings. [Larsen Hall], [Loyalty Hall], and the [Koren Library], built in 1907, 1916 and 1921, respectively, add the character of a small college on an Iowa prairie. During the last decade the college has engaged in extensive building and renovation projects. The [Franklin W. Olin Building] (1995), [Baker Village] (1999), the [Jenson-Noble Hall of Music] (ren. 2002), and the [Center for the Arts] (2002) paint Luther to be a modern school with facilities equipped to offer innovative ideas in learning. An extensive renovation of the [Centennial Union] is currently underway, and the college is planning for a major renovation and addition to the [Valders Hall of Science]. Luther is host to a variety of housing options, including residence halls, language houses, and community-style townhouses (Baker Village) for upperclass students, and renovations are being undertaken in the residence halls as well. The Center for Faith and Life is Luther's largest and primary performing arts facility, seating about 1450, and housing the 62-rank Rost Memorial Organ.Recognitions
Luther has consistently been recognized as a leader in liberal arts studies. In the 2003, 2004, and 2005 editions of the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings, Luther was given a second-tier rating and was listed as one of America's "Best Liberal Arts Colleges". In the 2006 edition (as in the 2002 edition), Luther College was given a third-tier ranking. [link].In 2004 Luther was also named one of the [Colleges of Distinction], a list of schools emphasizing student engagement, strong teaching, a vibrant community and successful outcomes. It was also listed as one of the 170 colleges in the "Best in the Midwest" list by the Princeton Review. In March 2005 Luther was named by the [Teagle Foundation] as one of America's top 13 liberal arts colleges based on its strong utilization of resources, high graduation rate and large number of alumni that pursue advanced degrees.
Among the other liberal arts colleges in Iowa, Luther usually ranks with Cornell College as a "more selective" institution. Luther has a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest and most prestigious academic honor society in the United States.
Athletics
The Luther Norse have been a member of the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (commonly called the Iowa Conference or IIAC) since its founding in 1922. Luther has won more conference championships than any other school in the history of the IIAC.Luther is the traditional athletic rival of Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.
Famous alumni
Jacob Aall Ottesen Preus 1903, 20th Governor of MinnesotaClarence Norman Brunsdale '13, 24th Governor of and U.S. Senator from North Dakota
Weston Noble '43, internationally renowned director of Nordic Choir (1948-2005) and Concert Band (1948-1973)
Cheryl Brown '72, 1970 Miss Iowa pageant winner and Miss America competitor
Marty Haugen '73, composer of sacred music (Holden Evening Prayer)
Jim Nussle '83, U.S. Congressman from Iowa
Callista Bisek-Gingrich '88, wife of former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich
Drew Curtis '95, founder of Fark.com
Eric Cutler '99, opera singer
External links
- [Official Website]
- [Music at Luther]
- [Norse Athletics]
- [Luther Review] (Student Newsmagazine)
- [Luther College Chips] (Student Newspaper)
- [Princeton Review profile of Luther College]
- [MPR story about "Iowa's Brain Drain" highlighting Luther College students]
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