Austin-based quartet Invoke to open the Center Stage Series at Luther College

The multi-instrument quartet Invoke will perform at Luther College Sept. 29.

DECORAH, IOWA—The multi-instrument quartet Invoke will open the Center Stage Series at Luther College on Friday, Sept. 29. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall, and is generously sponsored by WinnMed.

The Austin, Texas-based quartet consists of Zach Matteson, Nick Montopolm, Karl Mitze and Geoff Manyin on cello, violin, viola, banjo and mandolin.

“We’re excited to return to Iowa for our first visit to Luther College, and are looking forward to getting to know the Luther College community,” said Matteson. “This is also a wonderful chance to reconnect with our dear friend, colleague and mentor Kacy Clopton, the cello instructor at Luther College, who helped guide Invoke in our early stages. We hope we can share some more of that wisdom and more with the students during our time in Decorah.”

With a passion for storytelling, Invoke’s performances feature original works composed by and for the group, which form a unique contemporary repertoire inspired by many different musical styles — from minimalism, to jazz, to American fiddle tunes and bluegrass. The group has performed at venues across the country including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the Green Music Center.

Strongly committed to championing diverse American voices through new music, Invoke’s ongoing commissioning project, entitled American Postcards, asks composers to pick a time and place in American history and tell its story through the group’s unique artistry. They have commissioned eight new works since 2017, including the latest addition to the initiative, The Lessons of History, by Jonathan Bingham.

Invoke’s discography includes Souls in the Mud (2015), Furious Creek (2018) and Fantastic Planet (2021), as well as contributions to the soundtrack for Richard Linklater’s 2019 film “Where’d you go, Bernadette?”

Center Stage Dinner Series

The talented chefs on the Norse Culinary Team are back with the popular Center Stage Dinner Series. The dinners feature a multi-course menu to complement each performance. A separate ticket is required and a 15% discount is applied to the purchase of all six before Sept. 28. Dinner seating begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Peace Dining Room on the second floor of Dahl Centennial Union.

Both dinner and show tickets are on sale through Luther’s Ticket Office in the Center for Faith and Life, and online at tickets.luther.edu, by emailing tickets@luther.edu or by calling (563) 387-1357.

About Luther College

At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Luther’s academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.