Luther College Music FAQs

When are the Festival concerts and how are tickets obtained?

Sunday, 7:00 P.M. (Main Hall, CFL)

Featured Guest Choir: Roseville, Minnesota High School Concert Choir - Dean Jilek, Conductor

Norsemen (Luther first-year men’s choir)

Aurora (Luther first-year women’s choir)

FREE ADMISSION—NO TICKET NEEDED

Monday, 7:00 P.M. (Main Hall, CFL)

Festival Choir

Selected student soloists

Chamber Choir

Luther Nordic Choir

ADMISSION BY TICKET ONLY

Directors of Festival Choir members may order their tickets when they pre-register.

Parents must send a request and $10 per ticket (limit of 2) in order to be entered in the ticket lottery for a very limited number of tickets. Requests must be postmarked on or before December 7 to be included.

What is the Festival repertoire, and how do schools obtain it?

Once the rosters have been set for the Festival Choir and the Chamber Choir, lists will be sent to Kephart’s Music Center, here in Decorah. Music packets will be assembled there for each school, based on the students selected from that school. One copy of each piece will be sent for each student, along with one copy of each piece for the school director. The school will be billed directly by Kephart’s for the music sent. Payment to Kephart’s for the music must be separate from the payment to Luther College for the Festival fees.

Unused music may be returned to Kephart’s for a full refund (minus postage) according to the time schedule which will be included in the music shipment.

Some schools may already have a Festival selection in their school library. Music packets will be assembled in full for each school, with the understanding that unneeded music may be returned. Many schools are making it possible for participating students to keep their Festival music, however, so it doesn’t make a difference if the music is already in the school library or not.

2012 Dorian Vocal Festival repertoire

Festival Choir:

1. Credo (from Mass in c minor) – W. A. Mozart, arr. Gibbons   (SATB)
2. The Seal Lullaby – Eric Whitacre   (SATB)
3. Faithful Over a Few Things – Glenn Edward Burleigh   (SATB)
4. Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal – Craig Carnahan   (TTBB)
5. The bike let loose – Edie Hill   (SSAA)

Chamber Choir:

1. To the Mothers in Brazil, Salve Regina – Janssen & Ericksson
      (SSATTBB)
2. The Ground (from Sunrise Mass) – Ola Gjielo   (SATB)
3. Oh Lord, In Thee Have I Trusted – G. F. Handel   (SATB)

What is the Chamber Choir, and who is in it?

100 members, selected from entire Festival Choir membership

Members will begin rehearsal at noon on Saturday, January 7

Chamber Choir will perform as part of the Grand Concert

Requirements for membership consideration: 1) all-state choir experience; or 2) two consecutive years of “1” or “superior” ratings at state solo contest; or 3) audition by cassette tape or CD, including only one accompanied contest-type solo, to be submitted at the time of Festival Choir nomination; and 4) the ability to be at Luther by noon, Saturday, January 7. Priority will be given to seniors.

Who is in the Festival Choir, and how are they nominated?

Approximately 1,200 singers from approximately 360 schools
Juniors and seniors are nominated by their school directors
Membership is based on the ranking and recommendations of the student’s director and the needs of the Festival Choir
No more than two sopranos will be accepted from any school
Deadline: Nominations must be postmarked on or before November 4, or submitted online on or before November 8. Printed forms should be mailed to:

Jim Buzza
Luther College
700 College Dr.
Decorah, IA 52101

What is the cost for the Festival?

Festival Fees: Once the roster is selected, registration/participation fees will be due from each participating school. (Link to Fee Form)

Basic registration fee:
Festival Choir member--$12 per student
Chamber Choir member--$17 per student

Additional optional costs:
On-campus housing--add $4 per student, per night
Solo/mini-lesson--add $3 each
Luther accompanist for solo--add $15 each
Director/chaperone registration--add $3 each (includes ticket for Grand Concert)

Where do students and directors stay during the Festival?

On-campus student housing may be requested by schools farther than 50 miles from Decorah.

Students will be housed in host dormitory rooms or grouped in secure sites, including residence hall study lounges or on gym floors, and should plan to bring along sleeping bags, air mattresses, pillows, etc. as well as towels and toiletries for their overnight stays.

The college is not able to offer housing to teachers and/or chaperones.

Commercial off-campus housing is available to directors and students. http://www.luther.edu/about/decorah/lodging/

What is the optional Solo/Mini-lesson?

Student sings one piece for a Luther voice faculty member in a 10-minute private session.

Solo does not have to be accompanied.

Luther student accompanist can be hired ($15.00 fee) if requested ahead of time and if music is provided well in advance.

Four or five soloists will be chosen to perform as part of the Grand Concert on Monday night. (Solos must be memorized to be considered.)

Solo session cost is only $3.00 per student.

Session can also be used as an official Luther Music Scholarship audition by seniors who are prospective Luther students.