Founded in 1931, the Augustana Choir has established a tradition of excellence in performance of a cappella choral literature. The Choir has performed in Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall in New York, and The Ordway Theatre and Orchestra Hall in the Twin Cities, sings regularly in churches of various denominations and on concert series programs, and presents concerts and master-classes in schools.
In 1985, the Choir gave a special performance at the Royal Palace in Stockholm. An early highlight of the 1996-1997 season was the participation by the Choir in ceremonies honoring Their Majesties King Carl XVI Gustav and Queen Silvie of Sweden. In 2001 the Choir returned to Sweden for a tour which included performances in Stockholm and the Uppsala Cathedral in Uppsala, Sweden. The Choir has made numerous recordings, and has performed on commercial and public radio and network television. The Choir is featured on a Christmas Video program that aired on over 190 PBS stations across the USA in December 0f 2002.
Membership consists of undergraduate students from various fields of study. The Choir rehearses daily and presents as many as twenty off-campus performances each year as part of the Choir’s concert program. Students in the Augustana Choir also participate in the Handel Oratorio Society, which presents George Frideric Handel’s Messiah and other major choral/orchestral works each year. |