Opening Night Fun · Carolyn Spargo, performed a medley of ABBA songs, the ASI Male Chorus sings,...

September 2014 MUSIKTIDNING page 5 of 9

Opening

Night Fun Clockwise from top left: John Berquist

directs the St. Paul Swedish Male Chorus, Flickorna Fem (Fyra) perform an immigrant skit, John Berquist was Master of Ceremo-

nies, the ASI Cloudberries, directed by Carolyn Spargo, performed a medley of

ABBA songs, the ASI Male Chorus sings, Elisabeth Skoglund and Andy Hennig join in the audience sing-a-long of “Hälsa dem därhemma” as the finale to Opening Night.

Saturday morning. Division President,

David Winter, presided over the meeting.

New officers elected for the next four

years are:

President: Philip Friedlund, ASI Swed-

ish Male Chorus, MN

First VP: Gene Sanderlin, Waukegan

Swedish Glee Club, IL

Continued from page 3

Central Division Convention...

Second VP: Carline Bengtsson, Flick-

orna Fem, MN

Recording Sec.: Barry Wallerstedt, ASI

Swedish Male Ch., MN

Treasurer: Christine Johnson, Scandia

Women's Chorus, MI

Financial Secretary: Carole Erickson,

Scandia Women's Chorus, MI

Director-in-Chief: Steve Burke, Chi-

cago Swedish Glee Club, IL

Asst. Director-in-Chief: To be selected

after a site for the next convention is

determined.

For the rest of Saturday, we were free

to sightsee in the beautiful Minneapolis/

St. Paul area.

The Grand Banquet was held Saturday

night in the hotel ballroom. The lovely

centerpieces, designed by Carline

Bengtsson, were a mix of American and

Swedish colors, with floating candles in

the center. After a good meal of wall-

eyed pike, chicken, or vegetarian, awards

were given out by AUSS President Alana

Mapes. A separate article will follow

with all award recipients.

The host choruses are to be com-

mended for a great convention.


Being part of the Nordic Harmoni Chorus has been great fun.

Fun making good music and the fun of being with terrific person-

alities in the chorus and in our large social following.

This picture is of our every Thursday morning men's “prayer

breakfast.” The group is a mix of singers, spouses of singers and

chorus groupies. Just ask this group for help with our Moonlight

Ski and Snowshoes parties, Midsommar Fests, bonfires, conven-

tions, or concerts and it is done and done well!

It is interesting that no one in our chorus or in the breakfast

group was born or raised in Vermont. Usually they are skiers

who have retired and moved into their ski house in the area. This

means that they have energy, enthusiasm and good health. Ver-

mont's outdoor life of hiking, fishing, kayaking, golfing, snow-

shoeing, and skiing keep us young.

The breakfast group counts about 18 men. Never are all 18

present as there are too many activities and hobbies that compete

for time. We have a breakfast sandwich, endless coffee, and sing

Ja, må han leva for our fellows, much to the surprise of other

customers. Sometimes we get a bit religious, with a rendition of

the Doc's ology, In Detroit, or the closing Benedictine. We keep

our prayers silent as the subjects might be too hilarious!

Build a strong chorus based on fun!

- Carl-Erik Westberg, Londonderry, Vt.

Prayer Breakfast and

Camaraderie in VT

Dear Central Division chorus members,

Thank you for electing me to serve you as your President. I

look forward to what we can accomplish together.

First, I would like to introduce myself. I am a 9-year mem-

ber of the AUSS and AUSS Foundation and a member of the

ASI Male Chorus. In the past I have been an officer of both

the Central Division and the ASI chorus. I am a very active

retiree serving on several boards and volunteering, primarily

as a high school math and science tutor.

With the recent completion of the wonderful convention in

MSP I feel a lot of excitement. Wanting to capitalize on that

momentum, I thought I would present some ideas that might

be used to address the long-standing concern to grow our or-

ganization.

Communication is key. Use your websites, Facebook, mes-

saging, phones, and any other way to tell others about us.

Since many of us are older we need to be in the mix of current

communication routes. We need to find what is relevant to

the younger potential member.

Bridge across other member choruses to learn best practices

from each other. Invite other local ethnic choruses to join

with us. Use our identity as a teaching experience both musi-

cally and with our language and culture. Perhaps there would

be an opportunity to do a workshop with another chorus or

choir to introduce them to the music we love so much.

Many of these ideas were heard at the convention and are

particularly appealing to younger members.

Finally, GO ON THE ROAD. Those of you who can,

A Note from Philip Friendlund New Central Division President

David Winter (left) hands the Central Division President’s gavel over to incoming president Philip Friedlund

should find centers of Swedish culture in other cities nearby, say

within 1-2 hours, with whom we could collaborate and reestab-

lish choruses. Maybe they would only meet part-time for special

events and we could join them at that time. The Swedish Council

in America has information on the most active places but there

also might be individual churches or clubs. I present this opportu-

nity to you when we might have a bit more time to find these

connections. Maybe when you travel or are at your cabin this

summer.

Philip Friedlund


The American Union of Swedish Sing-

ers was formed in 1892 and has a grand

tradition of singing Swedish music.

From June 25 to June 28, the American

Swedish Institute (ASI) Male Chorus, St.

Paul Swedish Male Chorus, ASI Cloud-

berries, and Flickorna Fem hosted the

Central Division Convention of the

AUSS at the Crown Plaza Hotel in

Bloomington, Minn. The convention

took three years of planning on the part

of members of each of the four Twin

Cities choruses.

The choruses would meet in the quaint

Kaffestuga at the ASI. The members sat

around a round table, just like the knights

of King Arthur's Camelot. Each member

was equal, and each made contributions.

The result was a smashing success.

Selections of music had to be made, a

host hotel had to be chosen, and a venue

for the grand concert had to be decided

upon. The renowned Lake Wobegon

Brass Band was asked to join us in the

program, and they tailored their wonder-

ful program to fit the glorious Swedish

singing tradition. Everything had to be

planned, down to the food choices for the

Gala Dinner in the Orchard Ballroom at

the Crown Plaza Hotel the last night of

the Convention.

A great decision was made when

Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie was

chosen as the site for the Grand Concert

on Friday evening, June 27th. This is the

location of several concerts a year of the

world renowned St. Paul Chamber Or-

chestra. Our performance justified the

faith of our leaders. We gave a perform-

ance that honored the reputation of

Wooddale Church.

Our four local Swedish choruses, two

male choruses and two female choruses,

spent several weeks together practicing

our songs. We were motivated by our

accomplished directors. During rehears-

als, we enjoyed cultivating our friend-

ships and being inspired by our pianists

and violinists.

We enjoyed the many song selec-

tions. The songs spoke about the love of

summer, romance, and the love of Swe-

den. Välkommen till Göteborg cele-

brated the beautiful city of Göteborg.

There were songs about religious faith

and about love of country, both Sweden

and America.

The Grand Concert was divided into

three parts. Parts one and three were fo-

cused on the singing of the chorus, which

included singers as far away as Vermont

and Seattle. The middle part of the pro-

gram was the rousing and beautiful mu-

sic of the Lake Wobegon Brass Band.

Of course, Swedish immigrants

brought the Swedish choral tradition to

America, so it was perhaps fitting that all

the choruses and the Lake Wobegon

Brass Band brought the audience to its

feet performing God Bless America com-

posed by Irving Berlin, a very talented

Russian immigrant.

A real highlight for everyone at the

convention was the conversations with

so many fine people from around the

country. Everyone has a life story to tell,

and these were wonderful to share with

each other.

The Gala Banquet on the last night was

an evening of conversation, fine food,

enjoying songs and entertainment, and

honoring the contributions of many of

our most distinguished members.

And, now, we look ahead to the con-

vention in Chicago in 2016.

- Richard Sandeen

Central Division Convention from a Minneapolis Perspective

Lennart Johansson, our friend from

Lulea, Sweden, is coming to Minnesota

with a beautiful new musical about

Swedish immigration to America in the

19th century. It has been performed in

Sweden to rave reviews. It has the beau-

tiful title “Den Oändliga Resan” (The

Eternal Journey).

He will bring many Swedsish musi-

cians and singers. Performing with him

will be four groups from the Twin Cities.

They are the ASI Male Chrous, the ASI

Cloudberries, the St. Paul Male Chorus,

and Flickorna Fem.

The Minnesota performances will be:

Oct. 23rd 7:30 at St. Stephen's Lu-

theran 8400 France Ave. S. Bloomington

Lennart Johansson’s New Musical Makes U.S. Debut in Minn.

621 Old North Mian St. Cambridge

I have listened to the CD, and the mu-

sic is so beautiful.

After premiering in Minnesota, it will

be presented in Chicago. Then, next

year, it will be performed in Stockholm.

- Richard Sandeen

Oct. 24th 7:30 at Calvary Lutheran

7520 Golden Valley Rd. Golden Valley

Oct. 25th 2:00 at Gustavus Adolphus

Lutheran 69 Arcade St. St. Paul

Oct. 25th 7:00 at Roseville Lutheran

1215 Roselawn Ave. W. Roseville

Oct. 26th 3:00 at Cambridge Lutheran

Ken Svengalis in front of the American Swedish Institute. The newer Nelson Cultural Cen-ter is on the left and the original Turnblad Mansion is behind Ken.


All Smiles at the Central

Division Grand Banquet


pool. Parking has become a premium

around our practice location, and a car

pool helps singers bond. It also im-

proves attendance. People are more

likely to attend when they ride together

with others.

We have our soup supper every 2nd

Monday at 6, with practice beginning at

7. This year we are adding “language

help,” or music “part assistance” on the

1st and 3rd Mondays at 6 for anyone want-

ing to learn the language or music bet-

ter. The 4th Monday will be an officers

and advisors meeting for those who want

to help plan events, or become involved

in leadership.

Getting started is always a very excit-

ing part of the year. The AUSS is full of

wonderful people, our new singers are

hearing that from everyone, and are anx-

ious to become part of this positive

group of talented singers. I look forward

to more wonderful events like we had in

Minneapolis this year. By the way…

Excellent job Andy and crew!

Respectfully,

Alana

President’s...

Continued from page 2

Nils E. Nilsson, of the Arpi Male Cho-

rus, Michigan died on April 16, 2014, at

the age of 83. Nils had been a member

of the Arpi Swedish Male Chorus since

1959. He joined the Arpi chorus with his

father, Bror Nilsson Sr, and brother, Bror

Nilsson Jr, 55 years ago. Nils and his

entire family have been members and

supporters of

the Swedish

Club of Michi-

gan for many

years.

Nils was the

beloved hus-

band of Betty

Pummill Nils-

son for 57

years.

He is sur-

vived by four

children, a sister, and 7 grand pets.

A memorial service was held at Thayer

Rock Funeral Home in Farmington Hills,

Michigan on Saturday, April 19, 2014.

- Kris Waites

Margery (Oltmans) Burgess, died Au-

gust 3, 2014 at age 86. She was a mem-

ber of the former Skandia Women’s

Singers of Massachusetts from 1988 un-

til the chorus dissolved in 2007.

Raised in Cam-

bridge, Marge

earned a master’s

degree in nursing

from the Univer-

sity of Lowell, and

worked at the

Worcester State

Hospital, Emerson

Hospital (nearly

thirty years), and the Walter E. Fernald

Developmental Center in Templeton.

Marge served the Eastern Division

as secretary from 1994 to 2002. She was

on the 2006 Eastern Division Convention

committee in Waltham, Mass., and the

1996 National Convention Committee in

Stratton Mountain, Vt. She also served

her chorus in various capacities.

Marge is survived by her three

daughters, five grandchildren, and seven

great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was held on Au-

gust 16 at the West Acton Baptist

Church, where she sang in the choir for

forty years.

Sov i ro.

MARGE BURGESS

NILS E. NILSSON

Above: AUSS members become “close” friends on the stuck elevator. Below: Half of the elevator occupants in the hospitality

room looking shell-shocked after being rescued.

The AUSS Cultural Heritage Foundation (CHF) held their membership meeting on

June 25, the afternoon of the start of the Central Division Convention. A report will be

forthcoming. Pictured here are the CHF officers. Seated, left to right: Christine John-

son, Vice President, Don Ahlm, Recording-Corresponding Secretary, Jim Maurice,

Central Division Representative. Standing: Jim Huinker, Treasurer, Jerry Jones,

Western Division Representative, Carl-Erik Westberg, Eastern Division Representa-

tive, Jody Jones, President.

Musiktidning had an abundance of material

this month. Only about 1/2 got published.

Look for your article next month. - Ed

Opening Night Fun · Carolyn Spargo, performed a medley of ABBA songs, the ASI Male Chorus sings,...

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