DECORAH, Iowa— The internationally-renowned choirs and orchestra of Luther College will perform the world premiere of "Luther Mass" by Stephen Paulus Saturday, April 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the Center for Faith and Life on the Luther campus.

Conducted by Allen Hightower, Luther professor of music, the Luther Cathedral Choir, Collegiate Chorale, Nordic Choir and Symphony Orchestra will perform the world premiere of the newly commissioned mass in addition to Franz Joseph Haydn's "Lord Nelson Mass."

For tickets, call the Luther College Box Office at (563) 387-1357 or visit the Luther College Box Office website, http://www.luther.edu/programming/boxoffice/.  Cost is $15 for adults and $8 for students, reserved seating.

Concert attendees are invited to a pre-concert lecture Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Mott Borlaug Room in Dahl Centennial Union.  James Griesheimer, Luther associate professor of music, will present comments on the "Lord Nelson Mass," and Paulus will be on hand to discuss the "Luther Mass."

The ensembles will also perform Sunday, April 17 at 4 p.m. at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis.  For tickets, call the Orchestra Hall Box Office at (612) 371-5656 or 1-800-292-4141 or visit http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/. Cost is $24 for adults and $17 for students, general admission seating.

Paulus has composed more than 400 works spanning all musical genres, including orchestra, opera, chorus, chamber ensemble, solo voice, concert band, piano and organ.

He co-founded the American Composers Forum in 1973 and continues to serve as the symphony and concert representative on the board of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.

His music has been commissioned, recorded and performed by such varied performers as the New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and numerous others.

Cathedral Choir is conducted by Sandra Peter, assistant professor of music, Collegiate Chorale is conducted by Timothy Peter, professor of music, Nordic Choir is conducted by Hightower and Symphony Orchestra is conducted by Daniel Baldwin, professor of music.

The performances are part of the Luther College Sesquicentennial.  Founded in 1861, Luther was first established by Norwegian immigrants in the United States.

The college will both reflect on its past and envision its future during its Sesquicentennial.  Events will commend the holistic nature of a Luther education and honor the college's Norwegian heritage, curriculum, music and arts, athletic and wellness programs, faith and worship, environmental stewardship, and service ethic.

The theme of the Sesquicentennial, "Transformed by the Journey," recalls the journeys

Luther College founders made from Norway, celebrates the value of a liberal arts education and the transformation of students during their Luther years, and recognizes the vocational journeys of Luther alumni.

The scripture passage selected for the Sesquicentennial is from Romans 12: "Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect."

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(Des Moines, IA) – Modern American Cinema announces its latest full-length feature Brent Houzenga: Hybrid Pioneer will be screening at Bucktown Center of the Arts on Friday, February 25th, 2011 at 6PM.

The documentary chronicles the life, art and creative process of Des Moines visual artist and musician Brent Houzenga, who is known for his “do-it-yourself vintage punk” mixed media work.

“When I was first introduced to Brent’s art, I was blown away by his mixture of Americana and chaos,” Day said. “As I got to know him through the making of Hybrid Pioneer, I realized he was living the dream as a full-time artist – no day job, couch surfing, suffering for his art. Many people would scoff at this kind of ruthless dedication, so I became determined to make a film about a guy from Iowa who had put his career of creativity above everything else.”

Originally from Fulton, IL, Houzenga studied printmaking and graphic design at Western Illinois University before moving to Des Moines in 2006. Houzenga’s art has been featured in numerous group and solo shows on both the local and national levels, including the December 2009 Art Basel Miami Beach (Miami Beach, Fla.) and March 2010 “G40 – The Summit” (Crystal City, Va.) exhibitions.

Hybrid Pioneer is the first film in Modern American Cinema’s “Made in Iowa” documentary series. The ongoing series tells the stories of the innovative people, places and ideas that have influenced Iowa’s culture.

Modern American Cinema is an independent film production company based in Des Moines, Iowa. Founded in 2010, the company specializes in creating full-feature narratives and educational documentaries for international distribution.

Charlie King and Karen Brandow, nationally known musical storytellers and political satirists from Massachusetts, will perform in a fund-raising concert at 6 pm March 20 at Broadway Presbyterian Church, 721 23rd Street, Rock Island.

The concert will raise money for the Centro Maya Project, to benefit children with disabilities and their families who live in four Mayan pueblos on the shores of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala; and the Oaks of Mamre Catholic Worker House, Davenport, which provides hospitality and meals for people in need of shelter.  Donations of $10 at the door, $8 in advance are requested.  Call Vince or Marg Thomas at 309 786 6944 for more information, and mail requests for tickets to 1000 21st St., Rock Island IL 61201 (or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Charlie King and Karen Brandow have just released a new CD called The Distance Remaining.

Their repertoire covers a century and a half and four continents. They perform with the sweet and precise harmonies of life partners. They sing and write passionately about the extraordinary lives of ordinary people. “Two voices that complement each other beautifully & instrumentation that is spare, acoustic & just right” Victory Music Review.

Their central vision as entertainers is to leave audiences with a sense of optimism and possibility about the future. “We try to cover a broad emotional landscape in our concerts. The stories we collect and the songs we write take the listener on a journey of humor, heartache and hope. What we most value in a song is the way it helps us see an old reality in a totally new light.”

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