BY LUKE SHANNO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Waverly-based composer John Ylvisaker will receive an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree from Wartburg College during the December Commencement ceremony.
Ylvisaker, a native of Moorhead, Minn. and graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead, has spent the better part of four decades working on worship materials and compositions as part of his ties to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Ylvisaker’s works as a composer, arranger and writer have reached many people across the world, as well as making a strong presence on the Wartburg campus.
Arguably his most famous hymn, “I Was There To Hear Your Borning Cry” was performed as part of Christmas with Wartburg in 2006. Ylvisaker credits the college for their willingness to look at his materials.
“Wartburg has become just a powerfully good laboratory because they permit me to try things over there that probably nobody else would let me do,” Ylvisaker said. “It’s a marvelously open community.”
As a composer, writer, arranger and performer, Ylvisaker is held in high regards by many.
“He is a gifted composer, a church leader and a wonderful person,” Wartburg College Interim President William Hamm said. “He has enriched the worship lives of millions of people. It is only fitting that he receives this degree.”
Ylvisaker’s work reaches far beyond just his composing, arranging and recording of music. He has taught high school music, directed church choirs and produces a weekly radio program called SCAN, sponsored by the ELCA.
Ylvisaker is honored to be receiving the degree, although he joked about how it was brought up.
“(Former Wartburg) President Ohle called about doing something special for me. I told him I’d take a building,” Ylvisaker said. “I guess to get a building named after you, though, you have to give a lot of money or something…He said ‘how about a doctorate?’ I settled for that.”
Winter Commencement and Ylvisaker’s honorary degree presentation will take place at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, in the Wartburg Chapel.