DECORAH, IOWA—Luther College will host its annual Benefactor’s Organ Recital, featuring Nicole Keller, assistant professor of organ at the University of Michigan. The recital will take place at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, in the Center for Faith and Life’s Main Hall.
Keller’s program will include works by Buxtehude, Mendelssohn, Shearing and Bach. The recital is open to the public with no charge for admission.
Nicole Keller
The Chicago Crusader described Keller as “an aggressive player with outstanding technique and fine musical sensibilities.” She has performed widely in the United States and abroad in such prestigious venues as St. Patrick Cathedral in New York, Cathédrale Notre-Dame in Paris and Kazakh National University for the Arts in Kazakhstan. Keller specializes in eclectic programs, pairing familiar sounds and genres with less familiar ones.
“Keller has the rare ability to play an immense variety of music from different times and places thoughtfully and sensitively,” said Alexander Meszler, assistant professor of music at Luther College. “We’re excited to host her for this program as well as provide opportunities for her to engage with Luther students.”
The annual Benefactor’s Organ Recital features outstanding artists of international caliber on Luther’s 42-stop Robert Sipe Organ in the Center for Faith and Life. The intent of the concert is to provide an inspirational role model for current and prospective students who wish to pursue organ or church music study at Luther, as well as offer the community a concert of the highest quality. It is made possible through the Kathryn Ulvilden Moen ’41 Organ Fund and the William B. Kuhlman Endowment. Learn more about the organs at Luther College.
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.
The Decorah Community School District is reaching out to our community to gather input on an important matter. As we discussed in a recent statement (http://tinyurl.com/DCSDNEIC23), recent developments have placed the viability of the Northeast Iowa Conference in jeopardy. Given these developments, we are seeking community input on our options for conference affiliation.
To ensure that your voice is heard in this decision-making process, we have created a brief survey focusing on five key elements related to conference affiliation. We ask you to rank each of the five elements provided, with 1 being the most important and 5 being the least important. Your participation in this survey is vital to ensure that the administration and board have a comprehensive understanding of the community’s perspectives.
Thank you for your ongoing support of the Decorah Community School District.
DECORAH, IOWA—Luther College invites everyone to recognize and celebrate Black History Month this February with a series of events on campus. The month will include a jazz performance of one of Langston Hughes’s poems, film screenings and a distinguished lecture. The events are open to the public.
“Black History Month provides an opportunity to reflect on the contributions and influences of African Americans,” said Robert Clay, diversity, equity and inclusion officer and assistant to the president for community engagement at Luther. “It also challenges us to further social justice and civil rights efforts that are necessary for African Americans to have equitable experiences in local and global capacities.”
Luther College’s Black Student Union (BSU) will host a film screening of “Pariah” (2011) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 2, in Valders Hall of Science 206. Directed by Dee Rees, the film tells the story of Alike (Adepero Oduye), a 17-year-old Black teenager embracing her identity as a lesbian. BSU will also host Nerdology Trivia at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3, at Marty’s in the basement of Dahl Centennial Union.
“I’m thrilled to announce our Black History Month theme, African Americans and the Arts,” said Jasmine Studer-Sarjeant, president of BSU and a junior. “This theme embodies a celebration of the remarkable contributions made by African American artists throughout history. Join us in a series of enriching events that aim to highlight the diverse talents and creativity that have shaped our cultural landscape.”
Erik Clark, class of 2009, will host a reading and signing of his book “Blunt Force Trauma” from 4–6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 9 in the Center for the Arts Atrium. Attendees will be able to gain insights into his creative process.
Ron McCurdy, professor of music at University of Southern California, and his quartet will perform Langston Hughes’s “Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for Jazz” for Luther College’s Center Stage Series at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9, in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall. Langston Hughes wrote “Ask Your Mama” between 1959 and 1960 and shared sections at the Newport Jazz Festival. McCurdy and his quartet have brought the poem fully to life with jazz accompaniment, visuals and spoken word. Tickets are required for this event and are available online at tickets.luther.edu or by calling the Luther College Box Office at 563-387-1357.
At 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16, BSU will host a film screening of “Fences” (2016) in Valders 206. Written by August Wilson, the film stars Denzel Washington and is based on the 1985 Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name.
Rev. Lamont Wells
Rev. Lamont Wells, the executive director of the Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities (NECU), will give the Black History Month Keynote Address at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 21, in the CFL’s Main Hall. His lecture will share insights about ecumenism, queer identity, social justice and inclusion and how these themes motivate him as a faith leader and community organizer.
“Together, let’s honor the past, appreciate the present, and inspire a future where the arts continue to be a powerful force for unity and understanding within our community,” said Studer-Sarjeant.
BSU will host an Afro Music Concert beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24, in Marty’s. Experience an evening of vibrant music, dance and spoken word that pays homage to inspiring stories throughout history.
“Black History Month is a wonderful opportunity for the Luther campus to get a fuller understanding of American history,” said Novian Whitsitt, professor of Africana studies and English at Luther. “We still live in times in which the accepted constructed American historical narratives eliminate or diminish the integral role of Black American contributions to intellectual, scientific, political, artistic and athletic endeavors.”
About Luther College
At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our 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.
The High School Music Listening Contest regional event took place on Friday, Jan. 19, at seven regions across Minnesota, Iowa, and Utah. Nearly 90 teams participated in the contest this year, representing 35 different schools, home schools, and private music studios.
Decorah High School had 13 teams of three students each competing at Decorah High School at the Region 5 competition. Organizers said this was the biggest group from any school, and it is the largest number of teams from DHS thus far. This is the fifth year Decorah students have competed in the contest. They are coached by Nicole Cody, a member of the music faculty at the high school.
Ten of Decorah’s 13 teams placed in the top 10 of the competition out of 15 teams participating from four schools. Earning first place with a score of 94/100 were Nora Lesmeister, Mason Myers, and Karmyn Bakken. Two Decorah teams tied for second place with a score of 89/100: Alex McGohan, Elizabeth Pritchard, and Jensen Korsness; and Aidan Nalean-Carlson, Ansel Kowitz, and Evon Leitz. The Decorah team of Julia Severtson, Lauren Severtson, and Grace Stockman placed 3rd with a score of 88/100.
Cody remarked, “I am incredibly proud of all the teams. Their performance at the contest was remarkable. They learn so much, so quickly, and we have so much fun listening together. It never gets old to watch students argue about Robert Schumann vs. Johannes Brahms or laugh at the comedic parts of a Medieval piece of music about two very good dogs.”
The top two scoring teams from two different schools from the regional contests automatically advance to the championship competition held at Augsburg University in Minneapolis on Friday, . Because of this rule, the team who scored in 11th place, Wisconsin Hills Middle School, will advance to the championships along with Decorah’s first place winning team. The 2nd place teams and the 3rd place team were chosen as wildcards because of their high scores and will compete at Augsburg as well.
According to Cody, the contest is an ideal opportunity to enrich students’ experiences with classical music in a fun and competitive environment. This statewide contest connects high school students with classical music and enhances their ability to identify composers, periods, and styles. In the fall, teachers or coaches recruit three students to form a team. Team members receive a study guide and access to all the musical selections they will need to compete effectively.
The mission of the Music Listening Contest is to assist teachers in their efforts to expand the music experiences of students—primarily through the use of Western art music, commonly referred to as classical music. The contest materials cover classical music, global perspectives, and a variety of musical influences. The objective of the contest is to inspire students to become lifelong participants in the musical experience.
MLC Full Group: All thirteen MLC teams from DHS
MLC First Place Team: Nora Lesmeister, Mason Myers, Karmyn Bakken
MLC Second Place Tie: Alex McGohan, Elizabeth Pritchard, and Jensen Korsness
MLC Top Teams: Lauren Severtson, Julia Severtson, Grace Stockman, Mason Myers, Nora Lesmeister, Evon Leitz, Ansel Kowitz, Aidan Nalean-Carlson
The Decorah Community School District Board of Directors and administration continue to monitor possible membership changes in the Northeast Iowa Conference, which has a long and proud history spanning more than a century.
Founded in 1920, the NEIC was the state’s first interscholastic conference, and Decorah is a charter member. The league consisted of the same seven members from 1970, when Waukon joined, until 2022, when Oelwein departed the conference. Waverly-Shell Rock will cease its NEIC membership at the conclusion of the 2023-24 school year.
In recent weeks, the Howard-Winneshiek Board of Education authorized its superintendent to formally request admission to the Upper Iowa Conference. In response, the Charles City Board of Education granted approval to its superintendent to inquire about moving to the North Central Conference.
Potential new conference membership options for the Decorah Community School District are limited due to the district’s geographic location. The administration and board will continue to monitor these developments, seek feedback from the community, and evaluate the district’s options moving forward.
The Decorah High School chapter of the National Honor Society inducted 60 new members during its annual induction ceremony Tuesday, January 23, at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.
This year’s program included speeches by the NHS officers: President Brynn Storhoff, Vice-President Simon Kutz, Communications Director Spencer Rix, Treasurer Libby Phillips, and Maverick Elizabeth Pritchard. Music featured included an orchestra ensemble and a performance by the Madrigal Singers.
In order to be inducted into the National Honor Society, a student must have maintained a high grade point average and must have demonstrated effective leadership, scholarship, character, and service. Members are selected by a committee of faculty members after a review of applications.
The Decorah NHS is involved in a number of initiatives, including volunteerism, building community, and tutoring. President Brynn Storhoff commented, “I am proud of the work the Decorah NHS has accomplished thus far. I look forward to working with the new inductees and am confident we will achieve great things as an organization.”
The new National Honor Society inductees include Hannah Arendt, Karmyn Bakken, Edyn Bateman, Bridget Bentley, Elizabeth Bjork, Grace Blikre, Charlie Brandel, Elliana Brodbeck, Oliver Brummel, Louis Bucksa, Davis Coppola, Gabrielle Dixon, Carter Dlhy, Jaidyn Duvel, Bryce Elsbernd, Sophia Fahey, Kelley Gates, Natalie Goodner, Gavin Groux, Shelby Hageman, William Hahn, Austin Helgerson, Kealy Hines, Camryn Holland, Leah Holland, Abbeke Jensen, Sara Johanningmeier, Dakota Johnson, Elsa Johnson, Annika Keefe, Ansel Kowitz, Andrew Kruger, Reid Kuehner, Jakob Maret, Emily Myers, Mason Myers, Beau Newhouse, Savannah O’Reilly, Lillian Olson, Amelia Pankow, Jackson Pipho, Andrew Rhodes, McKenzie Riley, Kellen Roffman, Ellie Rolfs, Lily Sandhorst, Klaara Short, Jordan Sims, Domenik Smith, Kamryn Steines, Ella Stille, Leah Suhr, Nathan Swarbrick, Gwenyth Thompson, Jerald Thompson, Amelia Wadsworth, Kera Walter, Kinsey White, Addison Wicklund, and Grant Zilka.
Current National Honor Society members include Brooke Anfinson, Lucas Arendt, Annaleissa Arnold, Brady Bohner, Caden Branum, Annika Brynsaas, Grace Brynsaas, Cody Carolan, Brock Christensen, Olivia Christopher, Peter Essa, Jorja Folkedahl, Lydia Frank, Madelyn Fromm, Bethany Hanson, Brody Hanson, Brayden Hartl, Gabriel Hiner, Elayna Hook, Kathryn Kelly, Sydney Kipp, Simon Kutz, Evon Leitz, Danielle Losen, Anders Lovstuen, Alexander McGohan, Lydia Monreal-Rice, Creed Monroe, Aidan Nalean-Carlson, Brenna Parker, Libby Phillips, Elizabeth Pritchard, Jeramiah Rediske, Spencer Rix, Julia Severtson, Naomi Simon, Joseph Stammeyer, Brynn Storhoff, Grace Stortz, Will Teslow, Corina Timm, Fisher Tweten, Abbie Valkosky, Ciara Wedmann, Henry Weis, Yazmeen Whitsitt, Paige Wrightsman, and Kaiden Youngblood.
Liz Fox and Shannon Horton are the faculty advisers of the Decorah chapter of the National Honor Society at Decorah High School.
NHS Inductees 1 Photo ID (l-r):
Front Row: Hannah Arendt, Edyn Bateman, Bridget Bentley, Elizabeth Bjork, Grace Blikre, Charlie Brandel, Elliana Brodbeck, Oliver Brummel, Louis Bucksa
DECORAH, IOWA—Luther College’s Hongxiao Yu, assistant professor of management, is the first recipient of the Excellence in Collaboration Award from the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce for her active role in helping local businesses.
Yu received the award at the 2024 annual Luther Luncheon, which showcases the connection between Decorah and the college.
“What a nice way to kick off 2024 with our Decorah-area partners and friends: celebrating the past with 100 years of the chamber and 33 years of our annual luncheon, while looking to the future with a new award honoring Luther College and Decorah-area organization collaborative efforts,” said President Jenifer K. Ward. “We were proud to see Yu honored as the first recipient of this award.”
Hongxaio Yu
Yu worked to connect Luther students with several local employers including Decorah Bank & Trust, Landing Market, Impact Coffee and Pulpit Rock Brewery along with Luther’s Center for Ethics and Public Engagement and the Career Center.
Decorah-area leadership, chamber members and business leaders filled the Peace Dining Hall in the Dahl Centennial Union for the event.
“It was delightful to see a huge turnout for the luncheon today. The joyous occasion in honor of the 100th anniversary of the chamber exemplified the importance of the collaboration between Luther and Decorah,” said Decorah mayor Lorraine Borowski.
Robert Clay, chief equity and inclusion officer and assistant to the president for community engagement, presented the award. Alexander Meszler accepted the award on behalf of Yu, who was able to spend J-Term with family and friends in her home country of China.
“She sets a standard for future efforts,” said Clay. “Yu connected academia and business, and infused new elements of creativity into our shared Decorah space.”
Yu was one of 12 nominees for the award, which focused on collaborative projects between the campus and community in areas like career services, historic preservation, cultural heritage, manufacturing, small businesses, safety, tourism, research, internships and experiential learning that expanded services, added skills or enhanced the Decorah experience.
Nominations for the 2025 award will open in late fall of this year on the Decorah-Area Chamber of Commerce website. Individuals or teams that demonstrate successful cooperation, collaboration or innovation to positively impact quality of life for campus and community are eligible to apply. The review committee encourages specific projects, events, efforts or initiatives that ultimately benefit campus life, community vibrancy, health and wellness, open communication or the local economy.
Hongxiao Yu is the first recipient of the Excellence in Collaboration Award.
About Luther College
At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our 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.
DECORAH, IOWA—Ron McCurdy, professor of music at the University of Southern California, and his quartet will perform Langston Hughes’s “Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for Jazz” for Luther College’s Center Stage Series at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9, in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall.
Langston Hughes (1901-1967) wrote “Ask Your Mama” between 1959 and 1960 and shared sections at the Newport Jazz Festival. An innovator of the literary art form known as the jazz poem during the Harlem Renaissance, Hughes died before the piece was ever staged with music as he intended. McCurdy and his quartet have brought the poem fully to life with jazz accompaniment, visuals and spoken word.
Langston Hughes
“I’m excited to bring this multimedia performance to Luther in February, especially as we’re celebrating Black History Month,” said director of campus programming Kristen Underwood. “The Harlem Renaissance was an explosion of music, art and literature by Black Americans that changed our cultural landscape forever. Langston Hughes was at the center of it. I can’t wait to experience this performance in person.”
Ron McCurdy
A professor of music at the USC Thornton School of Music, McCurdy has served as chair of the school’s jazz studies department and director of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz at USC. His primary instrument is the trumpet. He has released several recordings, including “Once Again for the First Time” and “The Langston Hughes Project – “Live” at the Huntington.” From 1990-99, he served as professor of music, chair of the Afro-American Studies Department, and director of jazz studies at the University of Minnesota.
Center Stage Dinner Series
The talented chefs of the Norse Culinary Team are back with the popular Center Stage Dinner Series. The dinners feature a multicourse menu to complement each performance. A separate ticket is required; the menu for February 9 can be viewed at tickets.luther.edu. 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, online, 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. Our 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.
Decorah early childhood and elementary students have been participating in Dream Week festivities to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Preschool through fourth grade students and families were invited to attend a Dream Week Hour of Service where they participated in a variety of projects to support local organizations. They made tie blankets for Project Linus to share with children in need, created Valentine cards and decorations for residents of local nursing homes, packed birthday bags (complete with cake mix, frosting, candles, and balloons) for the Decorah Community Food Pantry, and advocated for (and snuggled with) some of the animals up for adoption at the Humane Society of Northeast Iowa.
Decorah schools also collaborated with Luther College for Dream Week Guest Readers. Luther students and faculty visited John Cline and Carrie Lee elementary schools to share stories celebrating diversity, kindness, and love.
Co-facilitator of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Decorah schools Shanna Putnam Dibble stated, “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. dedicated his life to fighting for equality and respect for all individuals. Celebrating Dream Week and learning about the life and legacy of Dr. King in our elementary schools helps to foster an appreciation for diversity and a foundation of respect and kindness for all. Dream Week was a great opportunity for learning while also spreading kindness throughout our community!”
Putnam Dibble shares dog treats with Jasper, one of the many wonderful animals up for adoption at the Humane Society of Northeast Iowa.
Dream Week participants make Valentine’s Day cards for local nursing home residents.
Carrie Lee students created tie-blankets to give to Project Linus to share with children in need.
Avery and Stacy Williams helped pack birthday bags filled with cake mix, frosting, candles, and balloons, to help ensure everyone in our community can enjoy a birthday cake on their special day.
John Cline and Carrie Lee students enjoyed having guest readers from Luther College. Readers shared books about diversity, equity, kindness, and love.
John Cline and Carrie Lee students enjoyed having guest readers from Luther College. Readers shared books about diversity, equity, kindness, and love.
The 2024 Luther College Dorian Vocal Festival was held January 7-8 with nearly 1000 high school juniors and seniors from Midwest schools participating. Each year at the festival a solo competition is held to select individuals to perform at the Festival Grand Concert. This year two singers from Decorah High School advanced to the semi-final round: Bethany Hanson and Gabriel Hiner. Due to impending weather, the semi-final and final rounds did not occur. In addition, six DHS students were selected as Honorable Mention: Oliver Brummel, Connor Evelsizer, Kealy Hines, Sydney Kipp, Libby Phillips, and Julia Severtson.
Photo ID:
Front (l-r): Kealy Hines, Bethany Hanson, Julia Severtson, Sydney Kipp
Back (l-r): Oliver Brummel, Gabriel Hiner, Connor Evelsizer
