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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.
September 2014 MUSIKTIDNING page 6 of 9
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
September 2014 MUSIKTIDNING page 7 of 9
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.
September 2014 MUSIKTIDNING page 9 of 9
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