Brag Alert - The St Olaf Choir: Concert Available Online Today

[Janice in NJ]

Good Morning. (Yes, proud mama here; my boy is singing.) St Olaf Choir is finishing up their annual tour, and they are singing in the St O Chapel today if you would like to stream the concert. 

 

Peace,

Janice

 

Enjoy your little people

Enjoy your journey

--------------------------------

 

Concert today (2/14) at 3:30 PM Central time

https://www.stolaf.edu/multimedia/play/?e=1371

 

A bit about the choir:

The St. Olaf Choir, with 75 mixed voices, is the premier a cappella choir in the United States. For over a century, the choir has set a standard of choral excellence and remained at the forefront of choral artistry. Conducted since 1990 by Anton Armstrong, the St. Olaf Choir continues to develop the tradition that originated with its founder, F. Melius Christiansen.

 

Since its founding in 1912, the St. Olaf Choir has set a standard in the choral art, serving as a model for choirs of all levels. The ensemble’s annual tour brings its artistry and message to thousands of people across the nation and around the world. The St. Olaf Choir has taken 14 international tours and performed for capacity audiences in the major concert halls of Norway, France, South Korea, New Zealand, Australia, New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, and the Twin Cities.

 

 

And a bit about this concert:

The 20-song concert program is far from feeling like a church service due to Armstrong’s characteristically broad programming that touches on important touchstones for the choir, general choral tradition and church music.

“My strategy with the touring choir is to take a smorsgasbord approach,†he said. At a typical tour concert, St. Olaf Choir will find those who love choral music; those who saw the choir on its televised Christmas and Public Broadcasting Service specials; and those from faith-based communities, who “we hope to feed spiritually as well as musically,†the director said.

Selections include pieces by great classical choral composers Johann Sebastian Bach and Felix Mendelssohn; tributes to Armstrong’s predecessor, Kenneth Jennings, who died last year, and choir founder F. Melius Christiansen; hymn arrangements and American spirituals; new works, some from African, South American and Asian composers; and, always for Armstrong when there’s an organist on tour, one song for the audience to sing with the choir.

 

 

[J-rap]

Yay!  St. Olaf graduate here.  :)  Met my husband there!

[Sunshine State Sue]

OMG!  Janice!  They memorize all their music?  I can't even fathom it. 

 

St Olaf's choir was here maybe a year ago, but I was unable to go to their concert.  If they come back, I'll definitely have to go see in person.  I sing in a community choir at the local college.  It's the best choir I've ever been in because the director and the pianist are paid by the school.  But, we don't hold a candle to these kids.

 

Thanks for sharing.

[flyingaway]

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

[naturalmom]

My son is at St Olaf!  But in a different choir. I just now saw this - but my son posted on FB how much he enjoyed the concert:)

 

[Sunshine State Sue]

Just finished watching the entire concert.  So impressive! Even the director doesn't use music.  It was really neat to see the program, which was impressive in itself.  All the words for all the songs.  What the students are majoring in.  Notes about the 4 directors the school has had.  I was also amazed at the camera and how many angles they showed, close ups, far aways.  The announcer was very professional.  It was interesting to hear during the intermission her interview with the 2 seniors and the explanation for the hand holding.  I was wondering about that.  I've never seen it before.  He said it was to remind them that this was not an individual effort but a unified effort.

 

The entire concert was very professional.  Your son is truly blessed to have the opportunity to study at St Olaf's.  Thanks again for sharing.  :thumbup:

[Janice in NJ]

Hi Sue,

 

Thanks so much for the kind, kind words! They mean a lot. 

 

I hope you have a pleasant evening,

Janice