Luther College Concert Band to perform Tour Homecoming Concert

The Luther College Concert Band will perform their Tour Homecoming Concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, in the Main Hall of the Center for Faith and Life. 

The concert is the final performance of the group’s Midwest tour titled “Respect is what we owe; love, what we give” which included stops in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. Audience members will enjoy wind ensemble repertoire by Oscar Navarro, Florence Price, Matthew Hindson and others, along with traditional Luther band encores by J.S. Bach and John Philip Sousa. 

Director Cory Near said he found the quote, “Respect is what we owe; love, what we give,” by English poet Philip James Bailey while searching for material focused on the word respect. 

“The idea of respect comes from one of the pieces on our program by my dear friend Kevin Poelking. His piece, “By the Hands that Reach Us,” is dedicated to people in our lives who lift us up: mentors, colleagues, family and friends. For me, those people are who I respect the most. I then decided to choose additional repertoire that highlights composers and stories that I find to be of huge value. We are thrilled to be sharing this program of reflection, joy and respect with our audiences,” said Near.

This concert is open to the public with no charge for admission. It will also be livestreamed on the Luther College Music Department’s YouTube channel. 

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. One of the oldest touring groups in the nation, Concert Band has risen to its current position of prestige through the influential directorships of Carlo Sperati, 1905-1943; Weston Noble, 1948-1973; Frederick Nyline, 1973-2011; and Joan deAlbuquerque, 2011-2020. Since 2020, Cory Near, a Cincinnati native, has led the band.

Throughout its long history, Concert Band has enjoyed performance opportunities in the United States, Western Europe and Japan. The ensemble tours annually, including an international tour every four years. In 2013, the band toured Iceland and Norway, 100 years after its first Norwegian tour. In 2017, the ensemble traveled to Spain. The next international tour for Concert Band will occur in 2025. 

About Luther College Music 

Luther is home to one of the largest undergraduate music programs in the nation, with five choirs, three orchestras, two bands and two jazz bands. One-third of all Luther students participate in music, including large ensembles, faculty-coached chamber groups, private lessons and master classes. Nearly 175 music majors study music theory, ear training, history, education, composition, jazz, church music and performance. Learn more at luther.edu/music.