Music
The music program at Luther builds a strong fundamental knowledge of theory, history, music literature, and performance. The department offers an excellent core curriculum that may be supplemented with specialty courses in a student's area of interest.
Music majors may choose from the following areas of concentration: music education, vocal or instrumental performance, church music, music history, music theory, and music composition. The college also offers courses in opera, electronic music, chamber music, and music management. Luther College hosts more than 160 concerts and recitals annually, six Dorian festivals for high school students, and two Dorian summer music camps.
Instrumental ensembles at Luther include Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonia, Concert Band, Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Band, Wind and Percussion Ensemble, Varsity Band, and a wide variety of smaller chamber ensembles. Vocal music students participate in Nordic Choir, Collegiate Chorale, Cathedral Choir, Norsemen, Aurora, and Cantorei. Instrumentalists, who play recorders, viols, and other period instruments, and vocalists participate in Collegium Musicum, an ensemble specializing in music of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Baroque periods.
Luther is committed to the idea that music is important in the lives of all students. Any student, regardless of major, is eligible to audition for an ensemble or take private lessons. In fact, more than half of the nearly 1,000 students taking private lessons are majors in other areas. Students receive academic credit for these lessons, although the cost is not included in the comprehensive fee. Prospective students may audition for a Weston Noble Music Scholarship, as well as for a one-year lesson scholarship.