Chad Winterfeldt, Cantor of Christ Chapel and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music at Gustavus Adolphus College, received the 2015 Swenson-Bunn Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence at the College’s Honors Day convocation on Saturday, May 2. The award, which is nominated and selected by students, has been presented annually since 1990.
Winterfeldt has served as an organist and adjunct instructor in the College’s Music Department since 2004, and began his duties as Cantor in August of 2014. He holds a bachelor of music degree in organ performance from Concordia College, Moorhead, a master of music degree in organ performance from Yale University, and a doctor of musical arts degree in organ performance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is the recipient of numerous awards and fellowships, including the Charles Ives Prize for an outstanding major in organ playing at Yale and the UNL Humanities Center Award for Graduate Research or Creative Activity from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
An accomplished performer, Winterfeldt has given more than fifty solo organ recitals around the country. He has served as Dean of the Sioux Trails Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and has been active in the Association of Lutheran Church musicians.
A number of current Gustavus students shared their thoughts on Winterfeldt being named this year’s Swenson-Bunn Award winner:
“Chad brings such excitement and faith to everything that he does. Through his classes, ensembles, and church leadership, he has challenged me to be mindful of the bigger picture and how I fit in to the world as a person. He always has a smile on his face, and is committed to his students’ personal development. Chad has had an incredible impact on my experiences at Gustavus.”
-Kirsten Larsen ’15
“Chad Winterfeldt embodies what it means to have a good heart. His optimism and awe-inspiring musical ability make rehearsal fun and meaningful. Even though it’s not required for my music major, I play in handbells because it’s so awesome to work with such a great musician and teacher! Congrats to Chad…he deserves it!”
-Karin Dye ’15
“Chad Winterfeldt is one whose teaching goes far beyond any classroom—he is constantly teaching, whether he realizes it or not. I have always been struck by his breadth and depth of knowledge and experience. His ability to communicate, engage, and relate to students establishes a relationship that goes beyond simply student and teacher. Certainly my appreciation for Dr. Winterfeldt as a scholar and teacher goes beyond his professorship; I am pleased to call him a mentor and friend. His receiving of the 2015 Swenson-Bunn Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence is absolutely deserved.”
-David Lim ’15
“Chad has stood out to me as a professor because he is genuinely interested in both what he teaches and in the lives of his students. He has encouraged and inspired me to look deeper into church liturgy and the rich history that it comes out of.”
-Kari Louwagie ’16
“I have had the honor to have Chad as my lesson teacher on organ for over a year now. Chad has set a wonderful example of how to be a well-respected musician as well as a person. Chad is the kind of person who would drop everything he’s doing to help you if you needed it. He is the kind of person that I hope I can be like. His wealth of knowledge makes playing the organ so much easier. I cannot think of anyone who deserves this award more than Chad Winterfeldt.”
-Zach Anderson ’17
The Swenson-Bunn Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence honors the memory of two Gustavus students and members of the Student Senate, Greg Swenson and Holly Bunn, who were killed in a car accident in 1989.
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