Volume CXV November, 2007 No. 9 Published by the American Union of Swedish Singers In its 115th year of Performing Svenska Sånger in America AUSS Members Tour Iceland July 2007 President’s Corner It was a great idea. An AUSS chorus tour to a fascinating Nordic country. Alas, the chorus didn’t materialize but the fifteen AUSS friends who went on a tourist trip had a great time. Don Ahlm organized the ambi- tions tour. The accommodations, meals and bus tours were first class. This was much hard work for Don as Iceland is not one of his regular destinations. My memories are vivid of this unique and unusual country. It is dominated by geo-thermal energy, Viking history and striking topog- raphy. The original Norwegian settlers arrived in the late 800s. They found an uninhabited land except for a few Irish monks. How they got there is unknown. Per- haps Joe O’Leary can shed some light on this. The cities are new and modern with the small towns and ports older and quaint. There are many new aluminum plants there due to the cheap electricity. The ore is brought there from Australia. The workers are recruited in Europe. The vastness of the highland areas was inspiring. Glaciers, hot springs, geysers, herds of Icelandic ponies, count- less waterfalls, volcanoes, escarp- ments, and huge lava fields meant that you could not take a nap on the bus. We had a great guide on the bus, one Arni Peter Gudjonsson. He had a fine sense of humor and knew so much local history as he had lived in this area that we visited. What he didn’t know, the bus driver did. On the ninth and last day, we visited the famous Blue Lagoon. The magic waters were so enjoy- able. If I lived nearby I would have normal skin and a youthful appearance, maybe even hair! The vat of lotion that I bought made with the Lagoon water is about gone now and I’ll be all cracked up again soon. The only disappointing note was that we weren’t a chorus. There- fore we didn’t meet local choruses for concerts and festivities. So, we just relaxed and tried to figure out prices. With fifty seven crowns for the dollar, a beer cost six hundred crowns. Luckily, it tasted great and was filling, and went very well with whale meat on a skewer! Marijke and I have been on every AUSS tour since I joined Apollo in 1968. This makes four: 1989, 1999, 2005, and 2007. When is the next one? Sign us up! Sitting in Väst Jämtland, Ver- mont, I remain committed (to the AUSS). See you in Portland! Last week, I received an e-mail from a gentleman in Illinois ask- ing for information about a com- memorative coin issued in honor of the AUSS by the 1893 Co- lumbian Exposition, and held in Chicago. In particular, he wanted to know if I could identify the gentleman pictured on the coin. Of course, I did not know who the individual was, nor did A Century of Song mention the issuing of a coin. Therefore, I turned to two of our stalwarts, Bob Voedisch and Don Ahlm, for assistance in answering the gentleman’s ques- tion. Since Bob and Don are so closely connected to the museum I felt they were probably the best choices to ask for help. In the meantime, here’s a little history lesson. According to A Century of Song somewhere be- tween 300 and 500 singers from the AUSS participated in, not one, but three separate concerts during the Columbian Exposition on July 20th, 21st and 22nd. A separate program for each concert was pre- pared and presented to the public, accompanied by the Thomas Sym- phony Orchestra. Festival Hall, which seated 6500, was filled for each performance and thousands more had to be denied admission for each concert. Published reviews and, espe- cially, the comments from the German-American singing societ- ies, “the models for other singing groups,” were very favorable and encouraged the planning of future singing festivals. The three per- formances at the Columbian Ex- position are counted as the AUSS’ first singing festival and obviously set a high standard for future festi- vals. Anyone interested will find more information on pages 23-27 of A Century of Song, including listings of the programs for the three concerts. This chance to look back at our history would have made the past week or so really great, but last Monday evening I had the opportunity to visit with our newest chorus, Vasa Drängar, at one of their rehearsals in Stone Mountain, Georgia. This group, although new to the AUSS, is actu- ally eleven years old and has a very remarkable history in the Atlanta area. At the rehearsal I visited, they were preparing for their next two appearances, one in Raleigh, North Carolina about December 1 and the second a Lucia program with a large Lucia chorus from the Atlanta area. More about this visit and some pictures will be in the next issue. In the meantime, a very happy Thanksgiving to one and all, and, as I used to remind my students, it is the turkey that gets stuffed, not them. - Joe Left: Karna Bouton eating whale Above: A spectacular waterfall from a glacier Below: An Old Icelandic Church Above: The Blue Lagoon Below: AUSS tour members enjoying the Highlands Hot Spring Joe O’Leary AUSS President [email protected]By Carl-Erik Westberg Londonderry, VT
Transcript
Volume CXV November, 2007 No. 9
Published by the American Union of Swedish SingersIn its 115th year of Performing Svenska Sånger in America
AUSS Members Tour Iceland
July 2007
President’s Corner
It was a great idea. An AUSS chorus tour to a fascinating Nordic country. Alas, the chorus didn’t materialize but the fifteen AUSS friends who went on a tourist trip had a great time.
Don Ahlm organized the ambi-tions tour. The accommodations, meals and bus tours were first class. This was much hard work for Don as Iceland is not one of his regular destinations.
My memories are vivid of this unique and unusual country. It is dominated by geo-thermal energy, Viking history and striking topog-raphy. The original Norwegian settlers arrived in the late 800s. They found an uninhabited land except for a few Irish monks. How they got there is unknown. Per-haps Joe O’Leary can shed some light on this.
The cities are new and modern
with the small towns and ports older and quaint. There are many new aluminum plants there due to the cheap electricity. The ore is brought there from Australia. The workers are recruited in Europe. The vastness of the highland areas was inspiring.
Glaciers, hot springs, geysers, herds of Icelandic ponies, count-less waterfalls, volcanoes, escarp-ments, and huge lava fields meant that you could not take a nap on the bus.
We had a great guide on the bus, one Arni Peter Gudjonsson. He had a fine sense of humor and knew so much local history as he had lived in this area that we visited. What he didn’t know, the bus driver did.
On the ninth and last day, we visited the famous Blue Lagoon. The magic waters were so enjoy-able. If I lived nearby I would have normal skin and a youthful appearance, maybe even hair! The vat of lotion that I bought made with the Lagoon water is about
gone now and I’ll be all cracked up again soon.
The only disappointing note was that we weren’t a chorus. There-fore we didn’t meet local choruses for concerts and festivities. So, we just relaxed and tried to figure out prices. With fifty seven crowns for the dollar, a beer cost six hundred crowns. Luckily, it tasted great and was filling, and went very well with whale meat on a skewer!
Marijke and I have been on every AUSS tour since I joined Apollo in 1968. This makes four: 1989, 1999, 2005, and 2007. When is the next one? Sign us up!
Sitting in Väst Jämtland, Ver-mont, I remain committed (to the AUSS). See you in Portland!
Last week, I received an e-mail from a gentleman in Illinois ask-ing for information about a com-memorative coin issued in honor of the AUSS by the 1893 Co-lumbian Exposition, and held in Chicago. In particular, he wanted to know if I could identify the gentleman pictured on the coin. Of course, I did not know who the individual was, nor did A Century of Song mention the issuing of a coin. Therefore, I turned to two of our stalwarts, Bob Voedisch and Don Ahlm, for assistance in answering the gentleman’s ques-tion. Since Bob and Don are so closely connected to the museum I felt they were probably the best choices to ask for help.
In the meantime, here’s a little history lesson. According to A Century of Song somewhere be-tween 300 and 500 singers from the AUSS participated in, not one, but three separate concerts during the Columbian Exposition on July 20th, 21st and 22nd. A separate program for each concert was pre-
pared and presented to the public, accompanied by the Thomas Sym-phony Orchestra. Festival Hall, which seated 6500, was filled for each performance and thousands more had to be denied admission for each concert.
Published reviews and, espe-cially, the comments from the German-American singing societ-ies, “the models for other singing groups,” were very favorable and encouraged the planning of future singing festivals. The three per-formances at the Columbian Ex-position are counted as the AUSS’ first singing festival and obviously set a high standard for future festi-vals. Anyone interested will find more information on pages 23-27 of A Century of Song, including listings of the programs for the three concerts.
This chance to look back at our history would have made the past week or so really great, but last Monday evening I had the opportunity to visit with our newest chorus, Vasa Drängar, at
one of their rehearsals in Stone Mountain, Georgia. This group, although new to the AUSS, is actu-ally eleven years old and has a very remarkable history in the Atlanta area. At the rehearsal I visited, they were preparing for their next two appearances, one in Raleigh, North Carolina about December 1 and the second a Lucia program with a large Lucia chorus from the Atlanta area. More about this visit and some pictures will be in the next issue. In the meantime, a very happy Thanksgiving to one and all, and, as I used to remind my students, it is the turkey that gets stuffed, not them.
- Joe
Left: Karna Bouton eating whaleAbove: A spectacular waterfall from a glacier
Below: An Old Icelandic Church
Above: The Blue LagoonBelow: AUSS tour members enjoying the Highlands Hot Spring
HONORARY PRESIDENTS, AUSSK. Henry GranatDonald Lamont
Carl-Erik WestbergJody Jones
HON. DIRECTORS-IN-CHIEFRobert Read
Don TorgersenEdgar Eklof
Arthur W. Elander
The Nordic Harmoni Chorus is so fortunate to have a large number of dedicated social members. Our public events involve food, promotion, and enthusiasm. Ann Garrett supplies all of these. Last summer, Ann became a citizen of the U.S.A.
Ann’s friends and relatives came in droves to the Rutland, Vermont. federal courthouse to see her sworn in. She had passed all the tests, you know, the colors of the Union Army was......blue! Bicameral means...two camerals (Nebraska)! There were over a hundred people in the court and eighty were there in support of Ann (and the party afterwards).
The post ceremony party was held at the Landgrove Inn, with much laughing and crying. Ann’s bror, Carl, came over from Stig Tomte for the event. Carl is an important part of our local community. He comes over often and for every Midsommar to help us with the Majstång and to make sure that we follow the precise protocol of the aquavit ceremony.
Ann Fagerberg was born in Nyköping and in a series of very fortunate happenings met Nicholas Garrett of France, Greece and the world. They married in 1968 and embarked upon a career in international shipping. There were stops in Milwaukee, Los Angeles, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut before they settled in Vermont. In 1991 they bought a beautiful old farm-house in Windham and named it Bunny Hollow. Soon afterward, they met the local Scandahoovians. We formed a social group named the Herring Lodge of New England, Lodge # 1. Ann’s parties, Midsommar fests, and crayfish extravaganzas helped cement our friendship into a group called the Swedish Mafioso. From this came the Nordic Harmoni Chorus. Ann does not sing but contributed to help us pay our start up expenses.
Nordic Citizenship Fest - ann Garrett Becomes a U.s. Citizen
Ann Garrett is all smiles after becoming a U.S. Citizen
Ensemble members are (left to right): Ann Stefani, flute; Maj Benson, accordion; Margaret Retting, guitar; Earl Lundin, violin.
Arpi male Chorus Celebrates its 75th Anniversary
It’s not too late to get on board with Christmas greetings in
Musiktidning.Deadline is December 1. Call (860) 535-0362 or E-mail [email protected]
The Arpi Swedish Male Chorus of Detroit celebrated its 75th An-niversary on October 13th with a celebration dinner at the Tangle-wood Country Club, South Lyon, Michigan. Because of their close relationship with the Arpi Chorus, members of the Scandia Women’s Chorus of Michigan were invited to join in the festivities. Ninety-two members, former members and guests attended the event.
During the social hour preceding the dinner, a musical interlude was provided by an ensemble com-posed of Scandia Women’s Chorus members Maj Benson, Margaret Retting, Ann Stefani and Earl Lundin of the Arpi Chorus.
Following a splendid dinner, Arpi President Robert Ferrari presided over the evening’s program.
Arthur Elander, Arpi’s Director and Past President of the Swedish Club of Metropolitan Detroit, gave a brief history of the close relation-ship of the two organizations. The Swedish Club was originally orga-nized as a result of efforts by early members of the Arpi Chorus.
Christine Johnson, as National Vice President of the American Union of Swedish Singers, brought a congratulatory message from
the AUSS. And, she read similar messages from Joseph O’Leary, National President of AUSS, Gunnar Wikstrom, President of the AUSS Central Division and Jody Jones, President of the AUSS Cultural Heritage Foundation. Christine also serves as Treasurer of the AUSS Central Division and President of the Scandia Women’s Chorus of Michigan.
A slide program featuring pho-tographs depicting the history of Arpi progressing from its early days to more recent events was presented.
In addition to Arpi celebrating its 75th year, a significant number of Arpi members are celebrating their 80th birthdays in 2007. President
Ferrari asked those members to stand and be recognized. Also, one active member, Earl Lanyon, cel-ebrated his 90th year in August.
Bengt Brogren, President Emeri-tus of Arpi, and Clarence Myrold, a long-time member of Arpi, gave reminiscent stories of memorable events from Arpi’s past.
A surprise for Arpi members was the presentation by Christine Johnson, as President of the Scan-dia Women’s Chorus of Michigan, of a beautiful brass plaque com-memorating the 75th Anniversary of the Arpi Swedish Male Chorus of Detroit.
The program closed with a sing-along of Swedish and English music.
By Roger BickelARPI Swedish Male Chorus, Michigan
Ann is a specialist in making desserts and makes many an odd pengar at it. She combines with Inger Johansson (charter Swedish Mafioso) and puts on a fantastic dessert table at our Sankta Lucia at the Inn. For any event, her only questions are...when and what can I bring?
A unique and great friend!- Calle från Västjämtland
November 30, 2007, NordstjerNaN
musiktidning. page 15
Vasa Drängar, the newest mem-ber of the AUSS is now eleven years old - not much, compared with many of the choruses in the AUSS.
Many events, especially towards Christmas, keep us very busy. In October the Swedish Council of America Board of Directors had its annual meeting in Atlanta. Vasa Drängar was invited to sing at the Award of Merit Banquet on Oc-tober 12. We worked hard a long time in advance to be able to do a good job – and I think we did!
At this event the choir was strengthened by first tenor Bruce Larson, who moved from Atlanta several years ago. Now he was back here again, in the position as the Swedish Council’s president. It was great for us to hear his beau-tiful voice sound in the choir again, not only this evening but also at the Festival the following day.
The Scandinavian Festival of Atlanta took place on October 13. Many of the Vasa Drängar mem-bers were involved as organizers and volunteers. The choir itself also was quite busy. We started early with a rehearsal and a record-ing session – the first recording in an effort to release a CD next year. At noon, at the Opening Cer-emony, the Vasa Drängar made up the men’s part in the (mixed) Scan-dinavian Festival Choir, conducted by yours truly. The songs were the national anthems and the Swedish folk song “Till Österland vill jag fara.” Later in the afternoon we participated in a program celebrat-ing the 300th anniversary of the birth of Carl Linnaeus, Sweden’s and the world’s famous botanist. We performed a selection of songs from Linnaeus’ time. About 4000 people visited the festival. The
weather was gorgeous. It was that kind of day that people in Sweden would love to have – if only once in the summer!
Sponsored by the Nordic Lodge of the Vasa Order in Atlanta, we sometimes pay them back with a concert at some of their meetings. And, so we did on October 28. The program was called “Svenska Vi-sor” (Swedish songs and ballads), and included songs by famous Swedish songwriters such as Carl Michael Bellman, Evert Taube, Ulf Peder Olrog and Cornelis Vreeswi-jk. We also had the opportunity to introduce Vasa Drängar’s own troubadours Sten Ekberg and Bert Nestorsson, who each performed
Swedish songs to their own guitar accompaniment.
The next event Vasa Drängar is looking forward to is the Scandi-navian Christmas Fair in Raleigh, NC, on December 1. It will be the second time for us there. The day will be packed with music. We’ll sing the national anthems – now as a men’s choir, and we’ll participate in a Lucia celebration. In addition we’ll present a 30 minute a cap-pella on stage program.
This busy season will not be over until we have participated in the Lucia celebration in Atlanta on December 14, and the Julotta, on Christmas day.
The group currently has 16 mem-
bers. Six of us were born in Swe-den, while five have no Swedish ancestry. We try to keep a varied repertoire, but focused on Sweden. That doesn’t keep us from singing in Finnish, Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic, German, and even in Rus-sian. Many of our Swedish songs are translated to English. We like to preserve the Swedish men’s choir tradition - to include in our repertoire much of what is basic for choirs in Sweden, such as the most favorite spring songs, folk songs, drinking songs and old favorites. We also like to include “visor”, which is one of the most important Swedish music traditions. In fact, that tradition is unique for Sweden.
Vasa Drängar Is Eleven Years Young and Very Active
Vasa Drängar members, sporting their Swedish flag ties, are (front row, left to right): Stephen Germany, Dale Nordin, Dennis Carlson, Göran Rygert, Paul Spitzer and Carl Ericsson. Back row: Ted Johnson, Hans Hörnfeldt,
Sam Linden, Sten Ekberg, Mike Tripp, Jay Lutz and Magnus Edlund.
Here is the schedule for the 2008 National Convention in Portland, Oregon. There may be some adjustments, but the main events are in place.
July 1: The Cultural Heritage Foundation meeting
July 2: Registration begins in the afternoon. Those who arrive early may check their luggage at the “bell desk” and come up to the hospitality suite for refresh-ments and relaxation. Evening program will be put on by the host choruses and the two choruses from Sweden. The theme is “From the Old World to the New.” We have great souvenir center-pieces, favors, door prizes and a “Dessert Extravaganza.” We want to start the 2008 Convention with a bang!
July 3: Practice in the AM fol-lowed by combined men’s and women’s luncheon aboard the “Spirit of Portland” fleet. We have chartered the three ships for lunch and a 2 hour river cruise on the Willamette River. Again, there will be appropriate center-pieces and favors. There will be pianos on each ship for singing our way down the river. After afternoon practice for individual chorus night, the evening’s activ-ity will be the first of two individual chorus nights, the first will be themed “Everything Swedish,” with unusual, but practical cen-terpieces and favors.
July 4: Practice in the AM and afternoon practice for the second individual chorus night. This eve-ning the theme is “All American,” with the second individual chorus night, and a delicious 4th of July barbeque dinner. Late evening entertainment is fireworks on the Willamette River directly across the street from the hotel.
July 5: Dress rehearsal at the Oregon Convention Center with afternoon free time. Tonight is the Grand Concert.
July 6: In lieu of a Grand Ban-quet we will have a “Spectacular Northwest Sunday Brunch and awards program. The theme...is a big surprise. To our knowl-edge no convention has ever had one like this. Don’t pump any of our Portland people for information, because if they tell, we will have to silence them...... forever. Sunday evening is a sing-out and video presentation of the convention activities and participants. Be there to see yourself on film! We have some incredibly talented photographers in our men’s chorus, and a spe-cialist with all the right “toys.” Things I don’t even understand are fun for them, and they can’t wait to “do their thing” at the convention.
- Alana Mapes
ConventionScheduleAnnounced
1892 Society400,000
350,000
300,000
250,000
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
$160,745
GoalOn A Sad Note…The Skandia Women/Orphei
Drängar Chorus of Springfield, MA has dissolved as of October 1, 2007.
The Orphei Drängar Chorus, or-ganized in 1890, joined the Eastern Division in 1903 and the AUSS in 1905, and has participated in all of the national singing festivals since 1910. Seth Hokanson was their director from 1931 to 1994, and was the AUSS Director-in-Chief from 1968 to 1970.
The Skandia Women Singers of Springfield, MA was organized in 1984 by Annetta Anderson as an all female chorus. They joined the Eastern Division in 1984 and the AUSS in 1986. This Chorus, as well as two others in the East-
Springfield Chorus Dissolvesern Division, the Scandinavian Women’s Chorus of Connecticut and the Scandinavian Women’s Chorus of Rhode Island, was the result of Annetta’s influence. She received the AUSS Gold Medal in 1990 for her efforts in introducing women’s choruses to the Eastern Division.
On A Positive Note…The Skandia Women/Orphei
Drängar Chorus has decided to give two-thirds of its treasury to the 1892 Society. The other third was given to the Eastern Division.
Many of their members are now singing with other choruses, in-cluding the two women’s choruses mentioned above, and the Verdandi Male Chorus in RI.
With a surprise ending!
Let us pause and be thankful for those who came before us, who worked to keep the AUSS a great and thriving organization.
give thanks…
The newest member of the
1892 Society, at the
$1000 level is the
Skandia Women/ Orphei
Drängar Chorus
Make your tax-deductible
contribution today!
We invite donations from non-AUSS members, too!
Gifts and/or multiyear pledges of $1000 and over
qualify you to be listed in the 1892 Society’s Register.
To make a pledge, or for informa-tion call or write to:
Jim Maurice445 E. North Water St. #2203Chicago, IL 60611-5542Phone: (312) 670-9570E-mail: [email protected]
By göran Rygert Vasa Drängar, Atlanta, GA
NordstjerNaN, November 30, 2007
musiktidning. page 16
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On October 13, the Svea Male Chorus and the Swedish Women’s
Chorus of Seattle (above), held a reception in the lobby of
Seattle’s Swedish Cultural Center. Approximately 75 people attended
the event, enjoying the Swedish choral music provided by the
two choruses and also Swedish fiddle music provided by Seattle’s
Spelmanslag (right). They also enjoyed delicious hors d’ouvres prepared by Candace Mauer and
Marie Nordquist of the SWC, along with complimentary wine and soft
drinks.- Charlie Anderson
ConnecticutDecember 9, 3 pm. Lucia Pag-
eant and Concert will be presented by the Apollo Singing Society of Hamden, the Scandinavian Wom-en’s Chorus of Connecticut and the Diana Birger Jarl Lodge No. 3 VASA Order of America at Christ Lutheran Church, 600 Shepard Ave., Hamden. Special guest cho-rus: Christ Lutheran Church choir. Coffee and refreshments will be served after the program. Free-will offering will be taken. Info: (203) 281-1261.
GeorgiaDecember 14, 7:30 pm. Vasa
Drängar will perform at a tradi-tional Sancta Lucia celebration by Nordic Lodge #708, Atlanta, at the Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church at Emory University. The program is a mix of Christmas music performed by the Sancta Lucia choir with children, the Vasa Drängar, a mixed choir, and a women’s choir. Refreshments will be served. Entertainment will then be provided by pianist Howard Richard and bassist Göran Rygert. The event is free, but donations are welcome.
December 25, 7:30 am. Vasa Drängar will sing at the tradi-tional Julotta service at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 3264 Northside Pkwy, Atlanta.
IllinoisDecember 9 at 3 pm. Waukegan
Swedish Glee Club’s annual Jul-middag at Chevy Chase Country Club in Wheeling, IL. Joining them will be members of the Chi-cago Swedish Male Chorus and the Waukegan Swedish Women’s Chorus. Special guests are the “Silver Strings.” The cost is $40 per person and reservations are required by Dec. 1. To make reser-vations, call 312-570-9570.
December 16, Christmas Con-cert by Sveas Söner Chorus at Riverside Community Church, 6816 N. Second Street, Machesney Park, IL. Free-will offering. Info: (815) 399-8937.
MassachusettsDecember 2, 3pm. Stämbandet
presents a traditional Lucia proces-sion at Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive, Boylston. For ad-mission info./directions: 508-869-6111 or www. towerhillbg.org
December 8, 10am-4pm. Stäm-bandet appears at SWEA “Swed-ish Yuletide”. Cyclorama Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont Street, Boston. for admission info./directions: www.sweaboston.org or www.stambandet.org.
December 9, 4pm. Stämbandet presents a traditional Lucia pro-cession at Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church, 62 Cheney Street, Orange. Tickets: $15adult/$9child,srs. For ticket info./direc-tions: 978-544-6161 or www. stambandet.org.
December 16, 4pm. Stämbandet presents a traditional Lucia pro-cession at Pleasant Street Con-gregational Church, 75 Pleasant Street, Arlington, MA. Advance tickets: $12adult/$7child,srs, at door: $15adult/$9child,srs. For reservations send check to: 258
Upland Rd., #2, Cambridge. Info: 617-876-8381 or www. stamban-det.org
North CarolinaDecember 1. Vasa Drängar of At-
lanta, Georgia will perform at the annual Scandinavian Christmas Fair in Raleigh, NC, located at NC State Fairgrounds. The Fair, which runs from 10-6, features continu-ous performances, crafts, food and a Lucia celebration. Vasa Drängar will sing three times: at the open-ing ceremony, Lucia celebration, and on stage in between.
OregonDecember 1 and 2 (Sat. 10-5,
Sun. 11-4) Christmas ScanFair at Portland State University’s Smith Hall, 3rd floor. The Scandia Ladies Chorus will sell baked goods and crafts. Sunday, at 1:00 p.m., both the Scandia Ladies Chorus and the Scandinavian Male Chorus sing at the crowning ceremonies for the Santa Lucia.
December 8, 2:30pm. Lucia Fest at St. Paul Lutheran Church (SE 39th and Brooklyn. Portland). The Scandia Ladies Chorus and the Scandinavian Male Chorus of Portland will add a few songs to the Lucia Festival’s program. Music abounds, and so do the refreshments!
December 9, l:00pm. Norsk Jule-sangfest: a Norwegian Christmas Service at Central Lutheran Church (NE 21st & Schuyler, Portland). Both Portland choruses will sing Norwegian songs for this special event. Unbelievable refreshment tables are full of every delicious cookie you can think of.
December 25, 6:30am. The Scandinavian Male Chorus and the Scandia Ladies Chorus will sing at the Julotta Christmas morning service, First Immanuel Lutheran Church (1816 NW Irving, Port-land).
Rhode IslandDecember 2, 2:00 p.m. “Christ-
mas in Three Languages” will be presented by the Verdandi Male Chorus and Scandinavian Wom-en’s Chorus of Rhode Island, to-gether with the German choruses: Damenchor Lorelei and Schubert Chor. The concert is at Bethany Lutheran Church, 116 Rolfe St., Cranston. Donation: $5. Refresh-ments will follow the program. Info: [email protected]
WashingtonDecember 8, 3 pm. A Winter
Choir Festival will be presented by the Swedish Women’s Chorus, SVEA Male Chorus, and Arion Gesangverein Mixed Chorus at Ballard First Lutheran Church, 2006 NW 65th Seattle. Guest Choruses from Snohomish High School.
December 9, 4 pm. The Swedish Women’s Chorus and the SVEA Male Chorus will sing at the Lucia at the Swedish Cultural Center, 1920 Dexter Ave. N., Seattle.
December 25, 7 am. The Swed-ish Women’s Chorus and the SVEA Male Chorus will sing for the Julotta service at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 911 Stewart Street, Seattle.
Coming EvEnts
Pehr (standing) and Bengt (sitting) Bolling are long-time members of the American Union of Swedish Singers. Pehr is second tenor with the Chicago Swedish Male
Chorus and the Suncoast Swedish Veterans Chorus while Bengt sang base with the Waukegan Swedish Glee Club. Fred Bolling, Sr., Fred Bolling, Jr., Thomas Bolling, and
Hans Bolling are among many of the Bolling family that have been associated with Swedish
choruses in the Chicagoland area as early as 1914. As we move on
to the third and fourth generations of Scandinavian families, the
choruses stand ready to accept new singers (Swedish language
proficiency not needed).- Jim Maurice
In celebration of Annette Seaberg’s marriage
to David Anthonsenby the Ladies Auxiliary of the Chicago Swedish Male
Chorus
In appreciation for the con-tact Musiktidning brings
