Joe Luegers of Jasper to Perform in University of Evansville's Gumberts Award Recital

2013 Apr 22

The University of Evansville is proud to announce that Jasper resident Joe Luegers (piano) has been selected as one of four performers to compete in the prestigious 36th annual Gumberts Award Recital. Luegers is majoring in Music Education.

Each year, the Gumberts Award Recital features several outstanding senior music students, as selected by the Department of Music faculty on the basis of their academic and performance achievements.

"Being selected to perform at the Gumberts Award Recital is a tremendous honor, and Joe should be deeply proud of this accomplishment," said Thomas Josenhans, chair of the Department of Music. "Joe has dedicated significant time and effort to becoming an outstanding musician, and we're pleased to provide this opportunity to recognize his abilities."

Luegers began studying guitar at age 10 and piano at 15. Prior to college he studied piano with Linda Musselwhite and guitar with Jeff Crandall. At the University of Evansville, he studies piano with Garnet Ungar, organ with Douglas Reed, and guitar with Renato Butturi. Luegers will graduate with a degree in instrumental music education in Fall 2013. As one of the winners of this year's Vukovich Concerto Competition, he will perform the first movement of the Ravel's Piano Concerto in G Major with the University of Evansville Symphony Orchestra next year. Luegers also holds the position of Neu Chapel keyboard scholar at UE, a role that includes planning music for Sunday services and arranging music for the Neu Chapel Jazz Quartet. He currently teaches private piano and guitar lessons at D'Alto Studio of Performing Arts in Evansville and is their music director for the upcoming 2013-14 season.

As the guitarist of the UE Jazz Ensemble, Luegers has performed at the Elmhurst Jazz Festival, premiered an original composition, and appeared in concert with the legendary rock drummer Max Weinberg of the E Street Band. As a member of the band Blue Jay Way, Luegers has shared the concert bill with acts such as Leon Russell, Herman's Hermits, Jefferson Starship, and Peter Asher of Wings. After graduation, Luegers plans to pursue a career as an elementary music specialist and marry his fiancée, acting and ukulele teacher Alax Traylor.

The Gumberts Award Recital, where one winner will be chosen by a panel of area musicians, will take place in UE's Wheeler Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23. It is free and open to the public.

The University of Evansville is a private, liberal arts-based university with a full-time undergraduate enrollment of approximately 2,400. UE's diverse student body represents 42 states and 46 countries. U.S. News & World Report recognizes UE as a top 10 master's-granting university in the Midwest, and third in the region for "Great Schools, Great Prices." For more information, please visit http://www.evansville.edu.