Luther College Concert Band to perform at Ascension, Paradise Valley, March 26

The Luther College Concert Band, one of the Midwest's touring collegiate wind ensembles, will present a concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, at Ascension Lutheran Church, 7100 Mockingbird Lane, Paradise Valley, Arizona. The performance is part of the Concert Band's 2019 Southwest Tour. 

The performance is open to the public with no charge for admission. A freewill offering will be taken. 

The program includes "Paris Sketches" by Martin Ellerby, "La Procession Du Rocio" by Joaquin Turina, "Konzertstück for Four Horns and Band" by Robert Schumann, "Rocky Point Holiday" by Ron Nelson, "Be Thou My Vision" by David Gillingham and "Stars and Stripes Forever" by John Philip Sousa. 

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. Directed by Joan deAlbuquerque, 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 with deAlbuquerque through the influential directorships of Carlo Sperati, 1905-1943, Weston Noble, 1948-1973, and Frederick Nyline, 1973-2011. 

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

Luther is home to one of the largest collegiate music programs in the nation with five choirs, three bands, three orchestras, two jazz bands and more than 800 student musicians. Luther students participate in large ensembles, faculty-coached chamber groups, private lessons and master classes. More than 275 music majors study music theory, ear training, history, education, composition, jazz, church music and performance.