Luther College Announces 2025-26 Center Stage Series Schedule

Be the reason your community stays informed—give to local journalism now! DECORAH — Luther College has announced the 2025-26 Center Stage Series schedule and highlighted a special opportunity for season subscribers. Patrons who purchase their season tickets before Wednesday, Sept. 3, are guaranteed their seat at the free Crossings Concert: Musical Migrations at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 11 in the Noble Recital Hall at Jenson-Noble Hall of Music. "The Crossings Concert celebrates the 200th anniversary of Norwegians crossing the Atlantic Ocean as they immigrated to North America—an excellent way to kick off this year's Center Stage Series," said Susan Potvin, director of programming and outreach at Luther. The Crossings Concert: Musical Migrations is a free ticketed event presented in collaboration with the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum Folk Art School and is supported in part by a generous gift to the Vesterheim Annual Fund from Carol Birkland and Tom Woxland. "The Noble Recital Hall has seating for only 300 people, so advance tickets are highly encouraged," Potvin said. "We are proud to guarantee tickets to our Center Stage Series season subscribers. It's a nice way to thank them for their ongoing support." Season subscribers who purchase tickets to all of the shows before Sept. 3 will also receive 15% off their show tickets. Potvin noted that two of the Center Stage Series groups have Luther connections. "I'm especially excited to have Luther alumni, Olivia Diercks and Karla Peters from The OK Factor, and Beth Willer, the artistic director of Lorelei Ensemble, back on campus for the Center Stage Series," she said. The 2025-26 Center Stage Series season performances are: Crossings Concert: Musical Migrations, 7:30 p.m., Sept. 11. Join Luther College for a special night exploring the lives and works of Norwegian American composers as we celebrate the 200th anniversary of Norwegian immigration to North America. Pianist-composer Steven Luksan and soprano Laura Loge share newly uncovered works that blend cultures and showcase the challenges, humor and poetry of adjusting to a new home. Jaerv + The OK Factor, 7:30 p.m., Oct. 28. Through folk-inspired songs that are fresh, playful, intricate and joyous, the Minneapolis-based string duo The OK Factor and Swedish quintet Jaerv will have audiences tapping their feet and smiling in their seats. Lorelei Ensemble, 1 p.m., Nov. 9. The Grammy-nominated Lorelei Ensemble delivers bold and inventive programs that champion the extraordinary range of the human voice. At turns eerie and hypnotic, razor-sharp and precise, resonant and dissonant, this riveting performance features a cinematic backdrop and a cautionary tale in the era of climate change. Catalyst Quartet, 7:30 p.m., Feb. 13. Hailed by "The New York Times" as "invariably energetic and finely burnished," the Grammy-winning Catalyst Quartet is in wide demand around the world. Known for its unequaled unity and execution, the ensemble is equally committed to celebrating composers of color whose works have been overlooked by the traditional canon. Jazz at Lincoln Center Presents Great American Crooners, 7:30 p.m., Feb. 28. Get ready for a stylish evening of timeless tunes and world-class talent. Relive classics like "Moon River," "I Only Have Eyes for You" and "I've Got You Under My Skin" alongside incredible true stories about the superstar velvety voices who made them famous. Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, 7:30 p.m., April 17. Enjoy a musical whirlwind through genres that's funny, thought-provoking and played entirely on ukuleles. The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain is always surprising, so come without expectations — except the expectation to laugh. Most Center Stage Series performances are held in the Center for Faith and Life. Tickets and more information about each performance can be found at tickets.luther.edu. Individual ticket sales start Sept. 3. Center Stage student matinees The Center Stage Series also offers matinees for school groups and families. Harald and His Headphones, 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 28. Follow young Harald as he listens to different pieces of music — performed live by classical-crossover duo The OK Factor—through his headphones while processing the way the music makes him feel. This story engages students in an exciting social-emotional learning adventure, inviting them to explore how music and their emotions might affect one another. Pete the Cat presented by TheaterWorksUSA, 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 17. When groovy Pete the Cat meets the Biddles, he gets the whole family rocking—except for young Jimmy Biddle, the most organized second grader on the planet. But it turns out that Pete and Jimmy both have a little something to learn about inspiration. Join them on their adventure of friendship, all the way to Paris and back in a VW bus. To reserve tickets for a matinee performance, contact Bradley Phillips at phillibr@luther.edu or 563-387-1293. Financial assistance may be available for tickets and transportation for qualifying school groups; please inquire at programming@luther.edu. Additional community members are welcome as space allows. Center Stage Dinner Series The Center Stage Dinner Series offers a gourmet three-course dinner before each show in the Peace Dining Room, overlooking the lower campus and the Upper Iowa River. Beer and wine are available for purchase. Information for the dinner series can also be found at tickets.luther.edu, with menus posted two weeks before the corresponding events. Luther chefs can easily accommodate dietary restrictions when notified in advance. Sponsors make the series possible The Center Stage Series is made possible by the generous support of major season sponsors, including Decorah Bank and Trust, Emplify Health by Gundersen, Kurtich Endowment for Campus Programming, Minnesota Public Radio, Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies and Vesterheim Museum. Organizers expect to secure additional sponsors for the 2025-26 Center Stage Series in the coming weeks. Don't miss out on important updates! Subscribe to the newsletter for free and stay informed about local topics that matter most to you.