Luther alumna Evelyn “Eddy” Galstad (‘20), the 2020 recipient of the Alan R. and Sally J. Brudos Family Prize for Opera Performance, gave her award recital on Saturday, October 24, in the Jensen Noble Recital Hall. Students, family, friends, and the sponsors of the prize were in attendance of the live performance. It was also live-streamed for other students to watch.

Galstad was accompanied by Professor of Music in Collaborative Piano Dr. Nicholas Shaneyfelt, and performed a wide variety of pieces from the operatic repertoire; the program included pieces composed by Franz Schubert, Camille Saint-Saëns, Edvard Grieg, and more. The repertoire also included contrasting styles to show all aspects of her vocal range. Galstad also displayed her ability to sing and perform effectively in five different languages, including German, French, Italian, Danish, and English. When asked about Galstad as a musician, Professor of Music and Coordinator of Opera at Luther College Dr. Andrew Whitfield praised her for her performance and dedication to opera. 

 “What stands out most to me about Eddy is her superior work ethic,” Whitfield said. “Her joy and radiance in performing, and the ease with which she naturally integrates into her singing the elements of musicianship, character, style, and vocal skill.” 

Echoing Dr. Whitfield’s sentiments about Galstad, Professor of Music Dr. Edwin Andereck added that Galstad embodies a Brudos Prize recipient. 

“Eddy has a beautiful, clear soprano voice with a high extension. She exhibits all the qualities we look for in a recipient,” Andereck said. 

The Alan R. and Sally J. Brudos Family Prize for Opera Performance also included a cash prize of $6,000, which was established and funded by the Brudos family to help offset the costs of pursuing a career in vocal and operatic performance. Alan Brudos (‘55) is a Luther alumnus and regent emeritus. 

A board of Luther College voice faculty, along with one guest adjudicator, team up to review applications and choose a winner for the annual prize. Applicants must submit multiple materials and sing two arias of contrasting styles for the committee of judges. To be eligible for the prize, an applied voice student must be in the junior year with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and plan to pursue a career in opera. Judges look at vocal accomplishment and skill, ability to effectively portray a character on stage, and commitment and promise in the pursuit of an operatic career. For aspiring applicants, Professor of Music Dr. Beth Ray shared some advice.

“Going beyond mere accuracy is what can make something truly artistic,” Dr. Ray said. “Even with something familiar, you can almost always gain a deeper understanding. Listen to and watch established performers, both current and past. Also, take in other forms of artistic expression: theatre, dance, visual art, literature, film, et cetera. These broaden our imaginative possibilities and help us relate to how other art forms communicate.” 

Galstad plans on continuing her studies of Vocal Performance at Indiana University beginning in the fall of 2021.