Weston Noble
Encyclopedia
Weston Noble is a highly accomplished and honored American
music educator and conductor
.
Currently guest conductor of the Augustana Choir at Augustana College
in ioux Falls, South Dakota|Sioux Falls], South Dakota
, he is best known for his 57-year tenure as conductor of the Luther College Nordic Choir
from 1948 to 2005 and the Luther College Concert Band from 1948 to 1973. He has also served as guest director for over 800 music festivals in all three media—choral, orchestral and wind—spanning four continents.
Following retirement from Luther, he served as artist-in-residence at Carthage College
in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he taught in the music department and conducted the Carthage Choir. He went on to serve a similar position as visiting professor of music and interim conductor of the Wartburg Choir at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.
to parents of English ancestry. Later, he was confirmed in the Free Methodist Church
and received his early education in a country one-room schoolhouse until the eighth grade, afterward attending the local Riceville High School. Like many young Iowans with an interest in music at that time, Noble played in the high school band, sang in the choir, and played clarinet solos at state music contest. He first demonstrated his talents when taking piano lessons at the urging of his paternal aunt, Ruby (Noble) Dunton, and came to master the clarinet, organ, and piano as well.
Though he originally intended to enroll at The University of Iowa, Noble, through the influence of his father, Merwin, enrolled at nearby Luther College in 1939 at the age of 16. Majoring in history with work in music (not yet a major at the college), he quickly drew the attention of the music faculty due to his talents in conducting, sparked, according to Noble, by the last minute request of Schola Cantorum director Theodore Hoelty-Nickel to lead a rehearsal in his absence. In his second year he began leading rehearsals. He did his student teaching at nearby Decorah High School.
, and anticipating an eventual call-up, Noble volunteered for military service and was called to active duty in February 1943, in the spring of his senior year. Nevertheless, arrangements were made for him and others to accelerate their studies and complete their final semester prior to commencement. He graduated magna cum laude. Trained as a tank driver, he saw action in the Battle of the Bulge
in 1944 and was part of the main Allied thrust into the heart of Nazi
Germany
in 1945. Noble "liberated" some items from Berlin
during the initial stages of the Allied occupation, including a marble bust of Beethoven
previously owned by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring
, which he mailed home among several items.
, where he directed the school's music program and taught courses in the social sciences. While in graduate school at the University of Michigan, his alma mater, Luther College, asked him to serve as interim director of the band and choir on a one-year faculty appointment. His appointment was extended to two years, and then became more permanent beginning in 1950. During a highly distinguished 57-year career, Noble served as music director of the Luther College Concert Band from 1948–1973 and The Nordic Choir from 1948-2005.
Following his retirement, he served a one-year appointment as visiting conductor-in-residence at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin during the 2007-08 academic year. During 2008-09, Mr. Noble conducted The Wartburg Choir and Ritterchor at a nearby sister institution, Wartburg College, in Waverly, Iowa. He replaced Paul A. Torkelson, a protégé and close friend of Mr. Noble, who has now retired from Wartburg to conduct professionally for MidAmerica Productions at Carnegie Hall
in New York City.
In the spring of 2006, he conducted the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in a national radio broadcast. He also received the Distinguished Service Award from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, making him the only non-Mormon to ever receive this award. In June 2006, he was once again the guest conductor at Guam's 3rd Annual Pacific Summer Music Festival. Most recently he guest conducted the JMU ACDA Choral Fest.
In December, 2010, at the age of 88 years old, Noble traveled to South Korea (for the first time), to conduct a concert of Handel's "Messiah" for the Camarata Music Company.
college choirs in the United States. His Nordic Choir has performed throughout the United States and, indeed, much of the world. He has served as guest conductor at more than 950 music festivals around the world.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
music educator and conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
.
Currently guest conductor of the Augustana Choir at Augustana College
Augustana College (South Dakota)
Augustana College is a private, liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. The campus makes the school the largest private university in South Dakota...
in ioux Falls, South Dakota|Sioux Falls], South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, he is best known for his 57-year tenure as conductor of the Luther College Nordic Choir
Nordic Choir
The Nordic Choir is a 64-voice a cappella choir of highly select mixed voices from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.In 1948, just two years after its founding by Dr. Sigvart Steen, a young Weston Noble began a 57-year tenure as music director and conductor...
from 1948 to 2005 and the Luther College Concert Band from 1948 to 1973. He has also served as guest director for over 800 music festivals in all three media—choral, orchestral and wind—spanning four continents.
Following retirement from Luther, he served as artist-in-residence at Carthage College
Carthage College
Carthage College is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Situated in Kenosha, Wisconsin midway between Chicago, Illinois and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the campus is on the shore of Lake Michigan and is home to 2,500 full-time and 900 part-time...
in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he taught in the music department and conducted the Carthage Choir. He went on to serve a similar position as visiting professor of music and interim conductor of the Wartburg Choir at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.
Early life and education
Weston Henry Noble (b. 1922) was born and raised on a farm located just west of Riceville, IowaRiceville, Iowa
Riceville is a city in Howard and Mitchell Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 840 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Riceville is located at ....
to parents of English ancestry. Later, he was confirmed in the Free Methodist Church
Free Methodist Church
The Free Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination within the holiness movement. It is evangelical in nature and has its roots in the Arminian-Wesleyan tradition....
and received his early education in a country one-room schoolhouse until the eighth grade, afterward attending the local Riceville High School. Like many young Iowans with an interest in music at that time, Noble played in the high school band, sang in the choir, and played clarinet solos at state music contest. He first demonstrated his talents when taking piano lessons at the urging of his paternal aunt, Ruby (Noble) Dunton, and came to master the clarinet, organ, and piano as well.
Though he originally intended to enroll at The University of Iowa, Noble, through the influence of his father, Merwin, enrolled at nearby Luther College in 1939 at the age of 16. Majoring in history with work in music (not yet a major at the college), he quickly drew the attention of the music faculty due to his talents in conducting, sparked, according to Noble, by the last minute request of Schola Cantorum director Theodore Hoelty-Nickel to lead a rehearsal in his absence. In his second year he began leading rehearsals. He did his student teaching at nearby Decorah High School.
Military career
Due largely to the intense patriotism of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and anticipating an eventual call-up, Noble volunteered for military service and was called to active duty in February 1943, in the spring of his senior year. Nevertheless, arrangements were made for him and others to accelerate their studies and complete their final semester prior to commencement. He graduated magna cum laude. Trained as a tank driver, he saw action in the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
in 1944 and was part of the main Allied thrust into the heart of Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1945. Noble "liberated" some items from Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
during the initial stages of the Allied occupation, including a marble bust of Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
previously owned by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring
Hermann Göring
Hermann Wilhelm Göring, was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. He was a veteran of World War I as an ace fighter pilot, and a recipient of the coveted Pour le Mérite, also known as "The Blue Max"...
, which he mailed home among several items.
Teaching
Discharged from military service, Noble returned to Iowa in 1946 and spent two years teaching high school in Lu VerneLu Verne, Iowa
Lu Verne is a city in Humboldt and Kossuth Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 299 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lu Verne is located at ....
, where he directed the school's music program and taught courses in the social sciences. While in graduate school at the University of Michigan, his alma mater, Luther College, asked him to serve as interim director of the band and choir on a one-year faculty appointment. His appointment was extended to two years, and then became more permanent beginning in 1950. During a highly distinguished 57-year career, Noble served as music director of the Luther College Concert Band from 1948–1973 and The Nordic Choir from 1948-2005.
Following his retirement, he served a one-year appointment as visiting conductor-in-residence at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin during the 2007-08 academic year. During 2008-09, Mr. Noble conducted The Wartburg Choir and Ritterchor at a nearby sister institution, Wartburg College, in Waverly, Iowa. He replaced Paul A. Torkelson, a protégé and close friend of Mr. Noble, who has now retired from Wartburg to conduct professionally for MidAmerica Productions at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
in New York City.
Musical activities
Noble is an internationally acclaimed conductor as well as a music educator. His distinguished career includes conducting more than 900 music festivals throughout the United States, Australia, Canada, Europe, Russia, Asia, and South America. The venues include Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall in New York, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the Los Angeles Music Center, Chicago Orchestra Hall, the Ordway Theater in St. Paul, Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, and the Bolshoi, Kremlin and Tchaikovsky Halls in Moscow. He is the only director to have led all-state choruses, bands and orchestras in all fifty states.In the spring of 2006, he conducted the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in a national radio broadcast. He also received the Distinguished Service Award from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, making him the only non-Mormon to ever receive this award. In June 2006, he was once again the guest conductor at Guam's 3rd Annual Pacific Summer Music Festival. Most recently he guest conducted the JMU ACDA Choral Fest.
In December, 2010, at the age of 88 years old, Noble traveled to South Korea (for the first time), to conduct a concert of Handel's "Messiah" for the Camarata Music Company.
Legacy
Noble built the 72-voice Nordic Choir into one of the most elite a cappellaA cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
college choirs in the United States. His Nordic Choir has performed throughout the United States and, indeed, much of the world. He has served as guest conductor at more than 950 music festivals around the world.
Awards
- Robert Lawson Shaw Citation, awarded by the American Choral Directors Association
- Distinguished Service AwardDistinguished Service AwardThe Distinguished Service Award is an ambiguous term used often to describe an organization's highest award for services and contributions. Examples include:* Distinguished Service Medal...
, 2006 - received from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the only non-Mormon to be so honored - St. Olav's MedalSt Olav's medalThe St. Olav's Medal and the St. Olav's Medal With Oak Branch were instituted by King Haakon VII of Norway on 17 March 1939. They are awarded in recognition of "outstanding services rendered in connection with the spreading of information about Norway abroad and for strengthening the bonds between...
, 1999 - received from King Harald VHarald V of NorwayHarald V is the king of Norway. He succeeded to the throne of Norway upon the death of his father Olav V on 17 January 1991...
of NorwayNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
for his contributions to Norwegian-American relations - Weston H. Noble Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Choral Art, 1998 - first recipient of this award, presented to him by Robert Shaw on behalf of the American Choral Directors AssociationAmerican Choral Directors AssociationThe American Choral Directors Association , headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is a non-profit organization with the stated purpose of promoting excellence in the field of choral music...
- Outstanding Music Educator of the United States, 1989 - presented to him by the National Federation of State High School AssociationsNational Federation of State High School AssociationsThe National Federation of State High School Associations is the body that writes the rules of competition for most high school sports and activities in the United States. Most high schools, whether public or private, belong to their state's high school association; in turn, each state association...
- Honorary doctorate degrees
- Augustana College (South Dakota)Augustana College (South Dakota)Augustana College is a private, liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. The campus makes the school the largest private university in South Dakota...
, 1971 - St. Olaf CollegeSt. Olaf CollegeSt. Olaf College is a coeducational, residential, four-year, private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 1874 by a group of Norwegian-American immigrant pastors and farmers, led by Pastor Bernt Julius Muus. The college is named after Olaf II of Norway,...
, 1996 - Westminster Choir CollegeWestminster Choir CollegeWestminster Choir College is a residential college of music, part of Rider University, located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States.Westminster Choir College educates men and women at the undergraduate and graduate levels for musical careers in music education, voice performance, piano...
, 2005 - Carthage CollegeCarthage CollegeCarthage College is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Situated in Kenosha, Wisconsin midway between Chicago, Illinois and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the campus is on the shore of Lake Michigan and is home to 2,500 full-time and 900 part-time...
, 2008 - Wartburg CollegeWartburg CollegeWartburg College is a selective four-year liberal arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in Waverly, Iowa. Wartburg West is in Denver, Colorado....
, 2009
- Augustana College (South Dakota)