Concerts

Concerts at Normandale, 2012

Spring Concerts

March 4, 4:00 pm: Lawrence Conservatory Brass and Organ

Normandale is delighted to host the Lawrence Conservatory Brass and Organist, Kathrine Handford. Students and faculty are from Lawrence Conservatory of Music, Appleton, Wisconsin. Free

March 25, 4:00 pm: Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra
William Schrickel, Conductor

- Vincent Youmans/Dmitri Shostakovich – Tahiti Trot (Tea for Two)
- Polina Nazaykinskaya—Winter Bells
- Dmitri Shostakovich—Symphony #10 in E minor, op. 93

Shostakovich’s powerful and personal Tenth Symphony traverses an exceptionally wide-ranging emotional terrain, while his witty setting of Tea for Two, created in 40 minutes on a bet, could not be more tongue-in-cheek. Polina Nazaykinskaya’s Winter Bells is the young composer’s evocation of seasonal sounds and memories of her native Russia. Free-will offering

April 1, 7:00 pm: Augsburg Choir, Augsburg College
Peter Hendrickson, Conductor

The 70-voice Augsburg Choir, under the direction of Peter Hendrickson, celebrates a long tradition of excellence in choral music. Praised for its high level of musicianship, the ensemble performs a diverse repertoire including compositions by well-known Scandinavian and American composers. The Augsburg Choir has premiered works by Sven-Erik Bäck, Knut Nystedt, Stephen Paulus, Sverre Bergh, Steve Heitzeg, Carol Barnett, Egil Hovland, and Sigvald Tveit. The Augsburg Choir was honored to perform before King Harald V of Norway on the occasion of his visit to Augsburg College and before Crown Prince Haakon of Norway in the fall of 2005.

The Augsburg Choir's annual Advent Vespers services are regularly broadcast on public radio. In 2004, the 25th anniversary year, Twin Cities Public Television recorded and broadcast Advent Vespers, which was subsequently awarded a Regional Emmy Award. The Choir regularly tours locally, nationally, and internationally. In addition to national tours throughout the United States, the Choir has toured in Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Germany and completed their first tour to China in May 2010.

The Choir upholds the College's history of choral excellence dating back to the early part of this century. While honoring its roots in the Scandinavian Lutheran choral tradition, the Augsburg Choir has developed a generous and free choral sound, performing music from China to Colombia and South Africa to Russia. This choral tradition encompasses not only the mission of Augsburg but also the legacy of noted conductors such as Larry L. Fleming and Leland B. Sateren.

April 14, 11:00 am: Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis Family Concert, A Symphonic Safari
Cary John Franklin, Conductor

A concert especially programmed to be enjoyed by all ages. The one-hour concert includes music by John Williams from the Harry Potter movies and a walk through the orchestra with a chance for children to conduct!

- Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Russian Easter Overture
- Hector Berlioz, March to the Scaffold & The Witches’ Dance
- Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony no. 7(IV)
- John Williams, Selections from Harry Potter

May 6, 4:00 pm: National Lutheran Choir
David Cherwien, Conductor

The National Lutheran Choir, under the direction of Dr. David Cherwien, seeks to strengthen, renew and preserve the Lutheran heritage of choral music through the highest standards of performance and literature.

The choir performs literature from the entire spectrum of sacred choral music, with and without instrumental accompaniment. The choir's rich and diverse repertoire ranges from early chant to new compositions and from simple folk anthems to complex orchestral masterworks.

Members of the National Lutheran Choir are drawn from the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and beyond for weekly rehearsals and local and national performances. The ensemble presents a wide range of choral works in concert and worship settings, leads workshops in choral techniques, hymnody and liturgy, commissions and publishes new compositions, and broadcasts and records extensively. The choir was founded in 1986 by Dr. Larry Fleming.

The National Lutheran Choir was the recent recipient of the 2007 Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence from Chorus America and the 2007 Wittenberg Award from the Luther Institute.

May 23: Watoto Children’s Choir, Uganda, East Africa

The Watoto Children's Choir from Uganda, East Africa are touching the hearts of people across the world with their exhilarating songs and inspiring stories. Watoto Choir performances are a soulful blend of African rhythm, contemporary worship and ethnic dance. The importance of children to the world’s future, all with great music in a cross-cultural setting is the focus for what will be a most memorable concert.

June 27, 7:30p: Minnesota All-State Lutheran Choir