Audition information
for incoming students

Aurora is one of five auditioned choral ensembles at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Established in 1981, the group is comprised of sopranos and altos, selected each fall by audition. They participate in worship services, perform in the Family Weekend concert, participate in Christmas at Luther, the Dorian Vocal Festival, and present a spring concert with the Norskkor, Luther's choral ensemble for first-year tenors and basses. The choir has also participated in Luther performances of major choral/orchestral works, such as Beethoven's Mass in C major and Bach's The Passion according to St. John.

Aurora has performed at several North Central American Choral Directors Association conferences. The ensemble is featured on an instructional DVD accompanying the book, Conducting Women’s Choirs: Strategies for Success by GIA Publications.

Actively involved in the process of creating new music, Aurora has premiered works by composers such as Libby Larsen, Ola Gjeilo, Jocelyn Hagen, Shawn Kirchner, Kevin Jay Isaacs, Abbie Betinis, Gwyneth Walker, Mack Wilberg, Daniel Kallman, Ben Allaway and Melba Williamson. The choir has been a member of the ACDA Women’s Commissioning Consortium since 2009. 

The word Aurora, Latin for dawn, represents the first light of day, or for many of these singers, the beginning of their college experience and journey as independent scholars.