Category: Luther College and Decorah Schools

Nordic Choir features 66 Luther students from the sophomore, junior and senior classes.

DECORAH, IOWA—The Luther College Nordic Choir, one of the premier collegiate choral ensembles in the United States, will perform across the Upper Midwest in January and February. 

Students will perform in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Nebraska. The full itinerary of the 2024 Midwest tour is available on Luther’s website. The choir features 66 students from the sophomore, junior and senior classes. Tickets for the tour are available to purchase online or at the door an hour before the performances. However, there are a few performances that do not require a ticket, but instead ask for a freewill donation. 

 “While the choir is blessed to travel across the United States, some of my favorite audiences are in the Upper Midwest,” said Andrew Last, director of Nordic Choir. “This year’s tour will be an opportunity to connect with many friends, family and Luther alumni as we make stops in six different states. The weather may be cold, but we anticipate many warm hearts in the audiences.” 

During their performances across the Midwest this winter, Nordic Choir will feature choral classics such as Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Bogoroditse Devo” and Hans Leo Hassler’s “Verbum caro factum est,” premieres by composer Zach Moore, and excerpts from Craig Hella Johnson’s “Considering Matthew Shepard.” 

 “Audiences will hear selections that celebrate arriving at home,” said Last. “Luther is the first college in the United States founded by Norwegian immigrants, and we chose this theme to honor the 200th anniversary of the first Norwegian immigrants coming to the United States.” That celebration will continue in May, when Last leads Nordic Choir on a tour of Norway. 

Nordic Choir is Luther’s principal touring choir in a choral program that includes three upper-class touring choirs and two first-year choirs. Nordic Choir honors the Lutheran choral tradition while exploring new and innovative choral works that span styles and genres. Performances have been described as “thrilling,” “breathtaking” and “rock-solid in intonation and rhythmic clarity.”  

The Luther College Nordic Choir was founded by Sigvart Steen and memorably conducted for 57 years by Weston Noble, class of 1943. Previous conductors include Craig Arnold and Allen Hightower. Since 2017, the choir has been under the direction of Last, associate professor of music and director of choral activities and graduate of the class of 1997. He earned a master’s degree in choral conducting from Northern Arizona University and a doctor of musical arts degree in choral conducting from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln School of Music.

Nordic Choir tours annually, performing in churches of all denominations, schools and concert halls, including Lincoln Center in New York, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Internationally, the choir has toured in Germany, Italy, England, Ireland, Scandinavia, the Caribbean, Mexico, Russia and Eastern Europe.  

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. 

DECORAH, IOWA—Luther College will host Dream Week to honor Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Jan. 10–19. Events, activities and community outreach are planned throughout the week to remember King’s work and legacy and to examine the state of racism, bias, inequity and injustice in the world.  

Dr. Keona K. Ervin, a professor of gender, sexuality and women’s studies at Bowdoin College and former Luther assistant professor of history and Africana Studies, will give this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Lecture at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15, in the Center for Faith and Life’s Main Hall. The lecture, Insurgent Black Study: A Brief History of the Present, will trace the genealogy of struggles for freedom, power and liberation within Black studies and Black feminist studies. The lecture is sponsored by the Williams Endowment Fund and the Luther identity studies department.  

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Ervin to Luther to give this year’s MLK Lecture,” said Char Kunkel, head of the identity studies department at Luther. “She brings an intersectional lens to her social justice activism by looking at racism, gender and sexuality inequities. She reminds us that we have not yet fully achieved the dream of social justice and that we must look ahead in the fight for equality.” 

“In its second year, Dream Week provides an opportunity to build upon the ideals of community and belonging,” said Robert Clay, chief equity and inclusion officer and assistant to the president for community engagement at Luther. “Dr. King once said, ‘There is another element that must be present in our struggle that then makes our resistance and nonviolence truly meaningful . . . our ultimate end must be the creation of the beloved community.’”

Wednesday, Jan. 10, The F Word: Stories of Forgiveness will open with a gallery reception at 4 p.m. in the Center for Faith and Life. The exhibition, which opens as part of Dream Week, will be displayed in the CFL through Jan. 24. The exhibit is a program through The Forgiveness Project and features thought-provoking images and personal narratives exploring forgiveness in the face of atrocity. 

At 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, in the Center for Faith and Life Recital Hall, students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to A Conversation on Racial Healing. This event is in recognition of the National Day of Racial Healing, which calls on colleges and universities across the country to engage in activities, events and strategies that promote healing and foster engagement around the issues of racism, bias, inequity and injustice in our society. 

On Thursday, Jan. 18, Luther community members will read books to area elementary school students about service, leadership, justice, civility and diversity. 

There will also be chapel services in the CFL Main Hall, including a service remembering MLK at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 17, to honor King’s legacy. At 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 19, the community is welcome to attend a service lamenting racism. This special service will inspire all in attendance to recognize and work to repair the harm caused by racism and to recommit to doing the work of repair and restoration. 

 “It is my hope that through the program offerings and partnerships established throughout Dream Week, we can pause, reflect and answer the questions: Where are we now? Where must we go? What must be done? And more importantly, what can I do to create a just and equitable society for all of us?” Clay said. 

About the Williams Endowment Fund for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Lecture

Luther College’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Lecture began in 1987 to provide ongoing scholarly conversation about the struggle for human rights in the United States. It is supported by the Williams Endowment Fund, named in recognition of Lawrence and Queen Williams for their dedication and years of service to Luther. The endowment assures the continuation of the college’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Lecture. Lawrence Williams planned and solicited funding for more than 20 of these lectures throughout his career as a Luther faculty member. His dedication to the lecture series reflected a commitment to understanding civil rights that went beyond academic study. Williams’ personal experiences with the civil rights movement and its protests allowed him to share a firsthand perspective with students, and his acquaintance with civil rights leaders brought extraordinary people to campus to share their lives and stories.

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.

Luther alum Josh Cinnamo won gold at the 2023 Parapan American Games.

DECORAH, IOWA— Luther College alum Josh Cinnamo, class of 2003, won a gold medal in the shot put event at the 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile, which ran from Nov. 17–26.

Cinnamo’s outstanding throw of 14.93 meters earned him the gold in the Men’s F46 Shot Put — F46 refers to para-athletes who have an absence of the arm below or above the elbow. Cinnamo, who has a congenital limb deficiency, was a Norse football player and competed in track and field.

Cinnamo (middle) at the Parapan American Games.

Cinnamo holds the world record for Men’s F46 shot put at 16.80 meters, which he earned at the 2019 Dubai Para Athletics Championships. He also holds the record in shot put for the Parapan American Games,earned in 2019 in Lima, Peru. Cinnamo is one of two Luther alums to become an Olympic athlete. Gary Neist, class of 1969, wrestled in the 1972 Munich Olympics

“It’s not the tangible end result, the diploma or gold medal with meaningful value; it’s the journey, the people, the experiences and the victory over adversity you cherish,” Cinnamo said.

As a record holder, he outlines his strategic approach to setting and surpassing his own achievements. With an eye on The Paralympic Games of Paris 2024, he emphasizes the importance of incremental milestones and discipline.

Beyond records and medals, Cinnamo finds personal fulfillment in serving as a role model for his two children and benefiting from a network of highly motivated individuals.

“My continued participation in competitions stems from the desire to instill crucial values in my children, fostering their potential for success,” Cinnamo said.

Representing the U.S. internationally holds immense significance for Cinnamo. He takes pride in showcasing the best of the country, bridging cultural gaps and fostering global unity through sports and competition.

“Standing atop the podium and hearing our national anthem is an extraordinary experience that never loses its impact,” Cinnamo said. “My intention is for it to be the culminating moment in my throwing career.”

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.

Students performing at the dress rehearsal for Christmas at Luther 2023 “Love, the Rose, Is on the Way.”

DECORAH, IOWA—While Luther College performers have hung up their robes for 2023, that doesn’t mean that Christmas at Luther is over. Video on Demand tickets for “Love, the Rose, Is on the Way,” are availble to purchase online. Audiences can view the entire performance through Jan. 2 through VOD, while selections from Christmas at Luther will also be broadcast on radio and television stations this month.

Featured performers for the 2023 show include Aurora and Collegiate Choir conducted by Adrianna Tam, Norskkor and Cathedral Choir conducted by Mark Potvin, Nordic Choir conducted by Andrew Last, Symphony Orchestra conducted by Dan Baldwin, Percussion Ensemble prepared by Ryan Frost, and college organist Alex Meszler.

This year, selections from Christmas at Luther will also be broadcast on the following dates and times:

Radio broadcasts:

• KCZQ FM 102.3 Cresco: Dec. 24, 1 p.m.
• KCCK 88.3 FM Cedar Rapids/Iowa City: Dec. 20, 6 p.m.
• WVRQ 1360 AM Viroqua: Dec. 25, 9 a.m.
• IPR Iowa Public Radio: Dec. 24, 11 a.m. and Dec. 25, 4 p.m.
• WPR Wisconsin Public Radio: Dec. 24, 11 a.m. and Dec. 25, 2 p.m.

Television broadcasts:

• KFXA FOX 28 Cedar Rapids: Dec. 23, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
• KGAN CBS 2 Cedar Rapids: Dec. 25, 9–10 a.m.
• KIMT News 3 Rochester/Mason City: Dec. 25, 6–7 a.m. and 7–8 a.m.
• KAIT/ABC Region 8 News Jonesboro, Arkansas: Dec. 25, 6–7 a.m.
• KTIV News 4 Sioux City: Sunday Dec. 24, 11 a.m.–noon

The dates and times of these broadcasts could change in the coming weeks, so check local listings in case of any changes in the broadcast schedule.

The performance is available to stream on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and Amazon Music. The Christmas at Luther 2023 CD is available to purchase at the Luther Book Shop or online. The Christmas at Luther 2023 ornament is also available to purchase at the Book Shop or online.

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.