Timothy Peter named interim director of choral activities

Luther College Provost Pam Bacon recently announced that Timothy Peter will serve as visiting professor of music, interim director of choral activities, interim conductor of Nordic Choir, and interim Christmas at Luther artistic director for the 2026-27 academic year. Peter will also lead the Nordic Choir domestic tour in January 2027 and the Nordic Choir international tour in June 2027. His appointment is effective July 6.

Timothy Peter

“We are excited that Dr. Peter accepted our invitation to return and provide leadership to two of Luther’s signature music experiences in Christmas at Luther and Nordic Choir,” Bacon said. “Since his announcement to campus and our Nordic alumni, I’ve heard great things about his previous years at Luther, and I’m looking forward to his contributions to our faculty.”

Peter graduated with a degree in music education from Luther College in 1986. After earning his Doctoral of Musical Arts from the University of Arizona, Peter returned to Luther as a faculty member in the music department in 1991. In addition to serving as a conductor of Norskkor, Collegiate Chorale and Cathedral Choir, Peter was conductor and artistic coordinator of Christmas at Luther between 1991 and 2006. He was head of Luther’s Music Department from 2007 to 2011.

In 2012, Peter was appointed director of choral activities and professor of music at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. In that position, Peter conducted the Stetson Concert Choir, which is the university’s touring upperclass ensemble. He also conducted the Hatter Choir and the Stetson Choral Union and taught conducting and repertoire courses. In addition to his work as a faculty member, Peter served as dean of the School of Music at Stetson from 2018-2021.

Besides Peter’s national and international conducting engagements, his Luther choirs and Stetson choirs have been invited to perform at state, regional and national American Choral Directors Association conferences, and at the Florida Music Education Association conferences.

Peter retired from Stetson University in May 2026.