Mrs. Emily Olson will join Luther Classical College’s founding-year faculty as an adjunct instructor of vocal music. As a homeschool mother, church musician, and writer, she has exemplified the Lutheran liberal arts tradition that LCC is poised to pass on to its students when the first cohort arrives in August 2025. She will serve the college primarily by offering individual vocal lessons under the leadership of Dr. William Lipke, LCC’s parish music program coordinator.
While an undergraduate at Valparaiso University, Mrs. Olson double-majored in music (vocal emphasis) and English with a minor in humanities through Christ College, the honors college there. “I was trying to pursue a classical education before I knew what that was,” she says. She also holds a Master of Arts in English from South Dakota State University and has completed partial coursework toward a Master of Science in Education. Professionally, she has taught elementary through college-level students. As a mother of eight, she has applied her training as a homeschool parent, an ongoing classical education scholar, a mentor to other homeschool parents, and most recently by serving as a grant writer, PTO member, and library assistant at Mount Hope Lutheran School in Casper, Wyoming, where her older children currently attend. “I’ve learned that God uses all kinds of cross-disciplinary study and life experience to enable us to serve where needed.”
A lifelong LCMS Lutheran, Mrs. Olson is an active participant in LMAs, Lutheran Mamas Association, at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church where her husband Jon serves as senior pastor. She has collaborated with other mothers in leading Titus 2 seminars for young women of Trinity and Mount Hope. “Older women mentoring younger women for their vocations in the home and in the church is so important,” she notes. “Christ gives us our church family to help and encourage us in our daily life.”
Friends of LCC already are familiar with Mrs. Olson’s musical talent through her participation in the June 2024 Handel’s Messiah benefit concert, in which she sang “He Shall Feed His Flock.” Her other performances include decades of church services and sacred concerts as well as musical theater and opera. “I’m very excited to assist LCC students in preparing for musical life in the church,” Mrs. Olson says. “I also look forward to exploring other genres with them, as a high-quality varied repertoire develops flexibility in musicians.”
Since 2021, Mrs. Olson has taught private vocal lessons and directed the Trinity Choir and small ensembles there. “As a full-time mother, I appreciate and need the flexibility in setting family-friendly hours for music instruction,” she states, looking forward to mentoring the first cohort of LCC students for several musical performance opportunities. Dr. Lipke is planning for the choir and orchestra to perform one sacred concert per semester in addition to hosting monthly Abendmusiken recitals that may include a variety of soloists and flex ensembles, both vocal and instrumental. “Mrs. Olson’s preparation of our vocalists will be an important component for those Abendmusiken sacred recitals, and I am excited to welcome her,” notes Dr. Lipke.
Luther Classical College offers a robust core curriculum that includes music history and a course on hymnody and liturgics. Students who select the Parish Music Track additionally complete courses in music theory and music skills, while other students are encouraged to take those courses as electives. “I really appreciate the emphasis on music at LCC, where all students are exposed to our important musical traditions,” says Mrs. Olson. “Congregational life will always include music, whether through instrumental accompaniment or singing, and Lutherans treasure this.”
For more information about the Parish Music Track or music scholarships, complete a pre-admission form or contact the admissions director.
