Luther College announces winner of the Sperati Award

1981 Luther College graduate James Ripley has been awarded Luther College's Carlo A. Sperati Award.  The award is the namesake of Carlo Sperati, 1888 Luther graduate, professor emeritus, founder of the Luther College Concert Band and the driving force behind all music touring at Luther College.
 
Ripley grew up in Lime Springs, attended high school in Cresco, graduated from Luther College in 1981, earned the Master of Music degree from Northwestern University and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Eastman School of Music.
 
Ripley began his instrumental teaching experience as a band director at various schools throughout Iowa and Minnesota including Crestwood High School in Cresco.  He went on to hold faculty positions at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff and the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y.