The Luther College Concert Band was formed in 1878, laying the foundation for what would become the college’s long-standing tradition of musical excellence. Concert Band is now one of the oldest touring organizations in the nation and ranks among the country’s outstanding undergraduate college bands. Concert Band is Luther College’s principal band ensemble.
From its beginnings as a student-directed brass and percussion ensemble formed with instruments from a discontinued community band, Concert Band rose to its current position of prestige through the influential directorships of Carlo Sperati (1905-1943), Weston Noble (1948-1973), and Frederick Nyline (1973-2011) and Joan deAlbuquerque (2011-2020). Since 2020 the Luther College Concert Band has been directed by Cory Near.
Distinctions
In 2016 the Luther College Concert Band was invited to participate in the North Central Regional Conference of the College Band Director’s National Association (CBDNA) in Ames, Iowa. The Band was also selected to perform at the 2014 North Central Regional CBDNA conference in Muncie, Indiana.
Prospective Students
Concert band meets five days a week, and is made up of musicians from all grade levels and study areas. Auditions for the ensemble take place every fall. Throughout the year Concert band hosts a variety of performances on-campus as well as maintaining an annual touring schedule, at the regional, national, and international level, in rotation with our other principal ensembles.
The Luther College Symphonic Band is open to all students on campus. In addition to a Family Weekend performance, the Symphonic Band enjoys regular concerts and special performances throughout the academic year. Since 2020, Symphonic Band has been directed by Cory Near.
Prospective Students
Symphonic Band meets two days per week, and is made up of musicians of all levels and study areas. Membership in the ensemble requires a chair-placement assessment, which will occur at the beginning of each semester.
Find music from the Luther College Music Department on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music!
Master your instrument by studying woodwinds, brass and, percussion at Luther College! During your course of study you will learn about a wide range of repertoire, music theory, and proper technique for your instrument.
Click here to learn more about the 100 year history of band at Luther College written by Benjamin Yates ’08.
Meet the Director
2024-2025 Band Rosters
Piccolo
Jenna Kleven, Albert Lea, Minn.
Flute
Victoria Alphs, Buffalo Center, Iowa
Avery Fisher, Marion, Iowa
Anna Floden, Mason City, Iowa
Jenna Kleven, Albert Lea, Minn.*
Audrey (Hanson) Sorlien and Marilyn (Sorlien) Skatrud Chair for Flute
Grace Landmesser, Ankeny, Iowa
Norah Petersen, West Bend, Wis.
Amelia Ramirez, Phoenix, Ariz.
Paige Vogel, Mantorville, Minn.
Oboe
Nathaniel Dennis, Winona, Minn.
Britta Elsbernd, Mason City, Iowa*
Marie Mullin, Creston, Iowa
English Horn
Britta Elsbernd, Mason City, Iowa
Bassoon
Charlotte Appel, Lynnwood, Wash.
Adam McDonald, Cold Spring, Minn.*
Owen Matzek, Hastings, Minn.
Contrabassoon
Adam McDonald, Cold Spring, Minn.
Eb Clarinet
Olivia Brown, Sauk Centre, Minn.
Clarinet
Olivia Brown, Sauk Centre, Minn.
Kayla Brummer, Ankeny, Iowa
Anastasia Davidson, Cedar Falls, Iowa
Ryan Hinderaker, Ames, Iowa*
Torgerson Concertmaster
Sahvanna Jordahl, Rochester, Minn.
CJ Lee, Lewiston, Minn.
Kelsey McGregor, Yorkville, Ill.
Arnold Mutasingwa, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Jax Rosland, Elmhurst, Ill.
Nicole Schobert, Sheboygan, Wis.
Bass Clarinet
Codie Luse, McGregor, Iowa
Mac Kenzie Frame, Farmington, Minn.
Alto Saxophone
David Helbling, Freeport, Ill.*
Jacob Wenger, Manchester, Iowa
Tenor Saxophone
Zachary Watson, Rochester, Minn.
Baritone Saxophone
Carson Weichers, Waverly, Iowa
Trumpet
Breah Hippler, Waukee, Iowa
Charles Jetton, Whitefish Bay, Wis.
Hannah Ullah, West Branch, Iowa
Mari Mineck, Urbandale, Iowa
Callie Pierce, Dodgeville, Wis.
Carter Sommerness, Cottage Grove, Minn.
Kristian Stordalen, St. Paul, Minn.
Karson Trujillo, Delano, Minn.*
French Horn
Chey Jordan, Hastings, Minn.
Isaiah Kahl, Humboldt, Iowa*
Kurt Lebakken, Edina, Minn.
Carter Oyen, Little Canada, Minn.
Evelyn Moan, Lockport, Ill.
Carly Schettler, Indianola, Iowa
Trombone
Karlton Anderson, Baxter, Minn.
Jamie Deeds, West Des Moines, Iowa
Kamina Gager, Woodbury, Minn.
Eli Vorvick, Decorah, Iowa*
Michael Van Meter, Delhi, Iowa
Bass Trombone
Evan McElroy, Iowa City, Iowa
Dane Nygaard, Wesley, Iowa
Euphonium
Em Ohrt, Spillville, Iowa
Kieran Ulbee, St. Anthony Village, Minn.*
Tuba
Caleb Burke, Waukee, Iowa
Mitchell McManus, Cannon Falls, Minn.
Mark Severtson, Ann Arbor, Mich.*
Alex Van Surksum, Sheldon, Iowa
Percussion
Tyler J. Belanger, Geneseo, Ill.
Eleanor Brown, La Crosse, Wis.
Maggie Hickman, Solon, Iowa
Ethan Olmsted, Rogers, Minn.
Audrey Zielstra, Glennwood, Iowa*
Piano
Lani Himergarner
Piccolo
Ombeni Goss, Westby, Wis.
Flute
Aria Bergman, Forest Lake, Minn.
Ombeni Goss, Westby, Wis.
Eva Hollingsworth, Platteville, Wis.
Lauren Ingram, Mantorville, Minn.
Leia Jones, Indianola, Iowa
Keira Kreider, Ames, Iowa
Madeline Meehan, Sergeant Bluff, Iowa
Chloe Moeller, Rosemount, Minn.*
Olivia Moore, Winona, Minn.
Violet Mowrey, Iowa City, Iowa
Bret Muhlbauer, Carroll, Iowa
Lucas Salzwedel, Tomah, Wis.
Brooklyn Schultz, Sparta, Wis.
Ella Sines Thomasson, Charleston, S.C.
Oboe
Gunnar Anderson, St Louis Park, Minn.
Summer Jensen, Rosemount, Minn.*
Bassoon
Peter Manzke, Glen Ellyn, Ill.*
Regina Waldbillig, Rochester, Minn.
Bb Clarinet
Addison Brey, Plain, Wis.*
Kathryn Merten, Ellensburg, Wash.
Allan Mills, Albert lea, Minn.
Leo Passe, Rochester, Minn.
Annemarie Schloo, Bloomington, Minn.
Lauran Schwake, Solon, Iowa
Bass Clarinet
McKenzy Nance, Rose Hill, Iowa
Maren Nietz, Zumbrota, Minn.
Alto Saxophone
Hannah Coy, Mahtomedi, Minn.
Ryan Kane, Spring Green, Wis.
Jacob Reister, Northfield, Minn.
Tenor Saxophone
Michael Burns, Forest City, Iowa
Baritone Saxophone
Mia Tessier, Urbandale, Iowa
French Horn
Will Grimm, Farmington, Minn.
Julie McDonald, Onalaska, Wis.
Isabella Miller, Ely, Iowa
Emily Righter, Wellman, Iowa*
Mackenzie Syvrud, Lake Mills, Wis.
Trumpet
Steven Charpentier, St. Paul, Minn.
Elise Duncan, Benson, Minn.*
Joshua Eggers, Fayette, Iowa
Erin Hauser, Elkader, Iowa
Jordan Kahl, Humboldt, Iowa
Braya Odegard, Apple Valley, Minn.
Elizabeth Pritchard, Decorah, Iowa
Jalen Taha, Waukee, Iowa
Myiah Wagner, Dexter, Minn.
Trombone
Mallory Fynaardt, West Des Moines, Iowa
Inessa Geske, Rochester, Minn.
Jeremiah Haven, East Dubuque, Ill.*
Marshall D. Waterman, Minneapolis, Minn.
Euphonium
William Isaacson, Farmington, Minn.
Cole Pollock, Ankeny, Iowa*
Pat Shugart, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Matthew Smith, Decorah, Iowa
Tuba
Chase Evans, Hamel, Minn.
Matthew Rogness, Roseville, Minn.*
Bode Zumach, Onalaska, Wis.
Percussion
Caleb Christiansen, Dubuque, Iowa*
Archie Davidson, Cedar Falls, Iowa
Ethan Andre Hagen Espino, Taxco, Guerrero, Mexico
Chris Smith, Rochester, Minn.
Isaac Trowbridge, Inver Grove Heights, Minn.
Aiden Young, Logan, Iowa