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. Concert Band is now one of the oldest touring organizations in the nation and ranks among the country's outstanding undergraduate college bands.

From its beginnings as a student-directed brass and percussion ensemble formed with instruments from a discontinued community band, Concert Band rose to its current position of prestige through the influential directorships of Carlo Sperati (1905-1943), Weston Noble (1948-1973), and Frederick Nyline (1973-2011) and Joan deAlbuquerque (2011-2020). The 2021-2022 Luther College Concert Band is directed by Cory Near.

Touring Tradition

Throughout its long history, Concert Band has enjoyed performance opportunities in the United States, Western Europe, and Japan. The ensemble tours every year, with international travel every four years. In 2013, the band toured Iceland and Norway, nearly 100 years after its first Norwegian tour. In 2017, the ensemble toured in Spain. The group will continue this long-standing touring tradition with an international tour to Northern Spain, Portugal, and France in the near future.

Recognition

In 2016 the Luther College Concert Band was invited to participate in the North Central Regional Conference of the College Band Director's National Association (CBDNA) in Ames, Iowa. The Band was also selected to perform at the 2014 North Central Regional CBDNA conference in Muncie, Indiana.