The music of Luke Dahn has been called "terrific, awfully good" (Sequenza 21) and "blessed with a vigorous rhythmic sense" (Fanfare), and has been performed by groups such as the Moscow Conservatory Studio for New Music, the NODUS Ensemble, the NEXTET Ensemble, Composers Inc., the University of Iowa Center for New Music and the violin/piano duo Wolfgang David and David Gompper. Venues have included Rachmaninoff Hall (Moscow), the Estonia Academy of Music (Tallinn), the Frankfurter KuenstlerKlub, Harvard University’s Memorial Church, the Miami ISCM Festival Series and the N.E.O.N. (Nevada Encounters of New Music) Festival at which he was awarded the Max Di Julio Prize.
Several of his works are available on the Albany label—Penumbrae for clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano has been recorded by the Moscow Conservatory’s Studio for New Music, Downward Courses and Traces has been recorded by pianist Ryan Fogg on a new 2011 release, and Edges for large ensemble has been recorded by the University of Iowa’s Center for New Music.
Dahn teaches composition and music theory at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, where he also serves as chair of the music department.
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News

I was named the 2011 recipient of the Northwestern College Teaching Excellence Award! In other Northwesternly news, I have recently accepted the appointment of Chair of the Music Department.

Traces will be performed by pianist Lino Rivera on a program of new piano music presented by Composers, Inc.. The concert will take place on February 26, 2011 at the Piedmont Piano Co. in Oakland, CA.

Trumpet Rhimes are Sound Bound will be presented in February by UNLV’s NEXTET Ensemble under the direction of Virko Baley. Trumpet Rhimes was commissioned by the ensemble as part the Max Di Julio Prize.

I will be returning to the Moscow Conservatory in May to work once again with the Moscow Conservatory’s Studio for New Music. The ensemble will be premiering and recording my new string quartet.