Audition information
for incoming students

The Luther College Symphony Orchestra, Luther’s largest and oldest orchestral ensemble, maintains an active rehearsal and performance schedule during the academic year, from early September to late May. Over eighty student musicians, representing a variety of academic disciplines, perform with Symphony Orchestra. Many members also sing in a choir, play in a band or jazz ensemble, and form small chamber groups. Symphony Orchestra is conducted by Daniel Baldwin.

In addition to regular concerts featuring masterworks of the orchestral literature, Symphony Orchestra takes great pride in performing new music on a regular basis. Since 2001, the orchestra has been pleased to present six world premiers. The orchestra also collaborates with the Luther College choirs in biennial performances of major choral-orchestral works and in the annual Christmas at Luther festival performances.

Symphony Orchestra tours annually in the United States and every four years maintains a three-week residency in Vienna, Austria, with a final performance at the Konzerthaus or Musikverein. Domestic tours have included trips through the Pacific Northwest, the Great Plains States, the Southeast, and the Upper Midwest. The Symphony Orchestra's next residency will take place in January 2023.

In addition to off-campus tour performances, the Symphony Orchestra performs a full-length fall concert, two full-length spring concerts, is featured at Christmas at Luther, and is included in the Homecoming and Commencement Weekend concerts.

Auditions for Symphony Orchestra are held annually at the beginning of the academic year.