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Noble announces retirement

Date 4/1/2004 12:00 AM | Topic: News

Students come and students go, but at the end of the 2004-2005 academic year, Luther College will have to say good-bye to a legend.

After 57 years, Weston Noble will conduct his last concert, leaving an impression that could be considered unmatched by anyone who has been part of Luther's 143-year history.

Noble, both an acclaimed director and music educator, has been at the center of Luther's music program since 1948. For 25 years he directed both the concert band and Nordic Choir. In 1973, Noble started to direct only Nordic and has not officially led another choir to this day.

Noble cited the fear of going too long as part of the challenge of making his decision now.

"It's not an instant awareness," Noble said. "And that's part of the challenge."

"Like chasing a moonbeam, you can't get a hold of it except by chasing it until you hope that you have it," Noble explained. "But even then, it seems to escape and you chase once more."

In his 57 years, Noble has led and conducted 93 Luther ensemble tours. Twenty-seven of those were with the concert band, while 66 were with Nordic Choir.

His tours have taken ensembles to places like the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis and Crystal Cathedral in Los Angeles. Nordic has also traveled abroad to places such as Norway, Hungary and the Caribbean.

Noble quickly named the West Coast tour in 1959 as one of the most memorable tours he has led. "I will never forget the tour of the West Coast," he said. "Nor will I forget many of the concerts of this year."

Noble has touched many people through his work at Luther, whether they have been part of one of his ensembles or not. He said that his goal has always been "to have Luther excel in the finest way possible."

He also said that he tried to convey the message to people that "their spirit side will be forever changed" through music.

But Noble has not found the decision to step away from conducting and teaching to be an easy one.

"I never dreamt it would be this hard," Noble said.

Noble quickly referred to an e-mail that he had received from a current member of Nordic not thirty minutes after his retirement was announced. In it, the student wrote, "You have given us so much. I can only hope that one day I will experience such a pain as you must be feeling now."

Noble reflected on the e-mail.

"The student hopes that there will be something so dear to him in life," Noble explained, "that it will cause him pain to give it up."

Noble first directed a performance of the "Messiah" in 1948, and he conducted Minneapolis performances of it from 1952-1966. He plans to conduct another performance during December of 2004.

Noble also started "Christmas at Luther" in the 1980s. The Juletide festival, which has gained national attention, was broadcast on over 100 public television stations nationwide this past December.

As his choirs have spread the gift of music, Noble's efforts have not gone unnoticed. Among his many awards, in 1989 Noble was the first person to be name Outstanding Music Educator of the United States by the National Federations of State High School Associations. He was also the first recipient of an award that carries his name, the Weston H. Noble Award for lifetime achievement in the choral art, which was presented in 1994 by the American Choral Directors Association.

Noble has also received honorary doctor of arts degrees from Augustana and St. Olaf colleges in 1971 and 1996, respectively.

Noble was given recognition by the Norwegian government in 1999. The Royal Norwegian Embassy presented Noble with the St. Olav's Medal from King Harald of Norway for his contributions to Norwegian-American relations.

The accolades are not what he will miss, however.

"I will miss the feeling of family which only a tight knit ensemble can give."

"I will miss the sharing of beauty which can so profoundly affect a life."

Weston Noble doesn't know what he will do upon leaving Luther. "It remains a mystery," he said.

For Noble, he finds peace in a combination of passages from Jeremiah 29:11 and Isaiah 43:1. "I rely totally on this scripture," he said. "I know the plans I have for you, plans for your welfare and not for harm. For I know you by name. You are mine."

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Andy Haugen

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