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Official Journal of the American Union of Swedish Singers (USPS 368-840) Vol. LXXV CHICAGO, IL, FEBRUARY, 1981 No. 2 1890 — Sveas Soner Singing Society — 1980 Sveas Soner was organised in January of 1890 with Alfred Larson as its first president. He continued his leadership for many years and it was fitting that he was chosen later as the builder for the Sveas Soner Music Hall in Rockford, 111. The society at first rented a hall on East State Street and soon after, one on Seventh Street. In 1894 a suite of rooms was rented in the Syndicate Block on Seventh Street but in January of 1895 a fire destroyed everything with no in-surance to cover the loss. History tells us that the singers never missed a rehear-sal fcr they immediately rented quarters on Kisliwaukee Street. In 1892 Sveas Soner members pur-chased our present site on Seventh Street for $10,000 and prepared plans for their new headquarters. The foundation and walls were built for this $54,000 project. Then came the great "crash" of 1893 and the society was forced to declare bank-ruptcy. The building stood with just foundation and walls for two years. (History seems to have repeated itself in 1980). Fortunately a Mr. Woodruff bought up the claims and completed the building as we know it. In 1896 he rented the second floor to our society and singers. Some years later he sold it to the Sveas Soner Society for $28,000 — his cost to complete the building. Yes, it seems like ancient history but it brings us to 1980 and our disastrous fire. Much singing and hard work by dedicated people has transpired through the many years we have been in exist-ence. Following the purchase of the Seventh Street building Sveas Soner So-ciety became one of the finest Swedish Clubs in Rockford and among its mem-bers were prominent industrialists who made Rockford known for its furniture and machine tools, such as Levin Faust, P. A. Peterson, J. A. Landstrom, Hugo Olson, and the Ekstrom Brothers, just to name a few. In the beginning there has always been a chorus, the first one being directed by C. H. Oberg. Next a professor from Sweden, Wm. Swenson, was hired, he DR. BERNHARDT WESTLUND Director, Sveas Soner also served as organist for Zion Lutheran Church. While he was the director the chorus joined AUSS. Following prof. Swenson, for a two year period, was A. B. Ohman. When he resigned the chorus was without a director for sev-eral years and during this period the chorus almost "died.11 But good fortune came in the person of John Ortengren of Chicago who directed the singers for sixteen years, making it into one of the best choruses in the country. In fact, four singers were members of an elite chorus who toured Sweden in concert in 1910. About 1941 Gustaf Ohlson from the chorus ranks took the baton and directed the gingers for the next thirty years. The years under his leadership put Sveas Soner over the top. Harry T. Carlson succeeded Mr. Ohlson and remained as director until about 1950. Last, but not least, we come to our present director, Dr. Bernhardt Westlund, who has served as our inspiring leader for thirty years. Our chorus still has three members who sang in the '40's: Joe Carlson, La Verne Johnson and LaVerne Bargren. The Sveas Soner Chorus has given many successful concerts to enthusiastic Rock-ford area audiencess many times featur-ing along with the chorus well known musical artists. One of the highlights in the history of Sveas Soner was their 75th anniversary in 1965. An anniversary that culmin-ated in a concert tour of Sweden with trips to Copenhagen, Oslo, Paris, Lon-don, and Dublin. Concerts were given in many cities in Sweden, with very favorable critique from the press every-where. A visit was made at King Gus-tav Adolf VTs summerpalace in Skane and the King was presented a miniature statue of Abraham Lincoln from the Governor of Illinois. The presentation was made by Bernie Bishop, tour leader, Dr. Bernhardt Westlund, chorus direc-tor, and Robert Barrick, chorus presi-dent. On the graves of Hugo Alfven and Dag Hammarskjold a tribute of flowers were made. Sveas Soner is now at another cross-road. It is no longer a totally ethnic chorus of singers with Swedish roots — but a great group of men who love to sing not only songs with Scandinavian origins but also music from our own American heritage and that of many other countries. Wish us well as we continue our membership with the Amer-ican Union of Swedish Singers. For the Sveas Soner Board, Jim Light cap. • Reacting to nuclear safety Some 700 scientists and decision-makers from 43 countries attended a five-day con-ference on nuclear power safety issues held by the International Atomic Energy Agency in Stockholm. Swedish Energy Minister Carl Axel Petri called for an in-ternational nuclear safety agreement which would stipulate minimum reactor levels. Make all remittances for subscriptions and renewals payable to MUSIKTID-NING, c/o Nelson World Travel, 333 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60601. Address all correspondence and edi-torial matter to MUSIKTIDNING, c/o Gunnar Bloom, 6132 N. Winchester Ave., Chicago, IL 60660
Object Description
Title | Musiktidning February 1981 |
Subject |
Choirs (Music) Singers Singing Music ensembles Clubs Organizations Newsletters |
Creator | American Union of Swedish Singers |
Publisher | Augustana College (Rock Island, Ill.). Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center |
Date | February 1981 |
Type | Text |
Format | |
Language | eng |
Rights | Issues of this journal created before 1989 are in the public domain in the United States. Issues of this journal created after 1989 are provided for educational use, and may be used for non-commercial purposes when a statement of credit is used. For more information, contact SwensonCenter@augustana.edu. |
Collection | American Union of Swedish Singers, Swenson Center (Augustana College) |
Identifier | Musiktidning_No2_Feb_1981.pdf |
Date.Year | 1981 |
Description
Title | Musiktidning_No2_Feb_1981 1 |
Subject |
Choirs (Music) Singers Singing Music ensembles Clubs Organizations Newsletters |
Creator | American Union of Swedish Singers |
Publisher | Augustana College (Rock Island, Ill.). Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center |
Date | February 1981 |
Type | Text |
Format | |
Language | eng |
Rights | Issues of this journal created before 1989 are in the public domain in the United States. Issues of this journal created after 1989 are provided for educational use, and may be used for non-commercial purposes when a statement of credit is used. For more information, contact SwensonCenter@augustana.edu. |
Collection | American Union of Swedish Singers, Swenson Center (Augustana College) |
Transcript | Official Journal of the American Union of Swedish Singers (USPS 368-840) Vol. LXXV CHICAGO, IL, FEBRUARY, 1981 No. 2 1890 — Sveas Soner Singing Society — 1980 Sveas Soner was organised in January of 1890 with Alfred Larson as its first president. He continued his leadership for many years and it was fitting that he was chosen later as the builder for the Sveas Soner Music Hall in Rockford, 111. The society at first rented a hall on East State Street and soon after, one on Seventh Street. In 1894 a suite of rooms was rented in the Syndicate Block on Seventh Street but in January of 1895 a fire destroyed everything with no in-surance to cover the loss. History tells us that the singers never missed a rehear-sal fcr they immediately rented quarters on Kisliwaukee Street. In 1892 Sveas Soner members pur-chased our present site on Seventh Street for $10,000 and prepared plans for their new headquarters. The foundation and walls were built for this $54,000 project. Then came the great "crash" of 1893 and the society was forced to declare bank-ruptcy. The building stood with just foundation and walls for two years. (History seems to have repeated itself in 1980). Fortunately a Mr. Woodruff bought up the claims and completed the building as we know it. In 1896 he rented the second floor to our society and singers. Some years later he sold it to the Sveas Soner Society for $28,000 — his cost to complete the building. Yes, it seems like ancient history but it brings us to 1980 and our disastrous fire. Much singing and hard work by dedicated people has transpired through the many years we have been in exist-ence. Following the purchase of the Seventh Street building Sveas Soner So-ciety became one of the finest Swedish Clubs in Rockford and among its mem-bers were prominent industrialists who made Rockford known for its furniture and machine tools, such as Levin Faust, P. A. Peterson, J. A. Landstrom, Hugo Olson, and the Ekstrom Brothers, just to name a few. In the beginning there has always been a chorus, the first one being directed by C. H. Oberg. Next a professor from Sweden, Wm. Swenson, was hired, he DR. BERNHARDT WESTLUND Director, Sveas Soner also served as organist for Zion Lutheran Church. While he was the director the chorus joined AUSS. Following prof. Swenson, for a two year period, was A. B. Ohman. When he resigned the chorus was without a director for sev-eral years and during this period the chorus almost "died.11 But good fortune came in the person of John Ortengren of Chicago who directed the singers for sixteen years, making it into one of the best choruses in the country. In fact, four singers were members of an elite chorus who toured Sweden in concert in 1910. About 1941 Gustaf Ohlson from the chorus ranks took the baton and directed the gingers for the next thirty years. The years under his leadership put Sveas Soner over the top. Harry T. Carlson succeeded Mr. Ohlson and remained as director until about 1950. Last, but not least, we come to our present director, Dr. Bernhardt Westlund, who has served as our inspiring leader for thirty years. Our chorus still has three members who sang in the '40's: Joe Carlson, La Verne Johnson and LaVerne Bargren. The Sveas Soner Chorus has given many successful concerts to enthusiastic Rock-ford area audiencess many times featur-ing along with the chorus well known musical artists. One of the highlights in the history of Sveas Soner was their 75th anniversary in 1965. An anniversary that culmin-ated in a concert tour of Sweden with trips to Copenhagen, Oslo, Paris, Lon-don, and Dublin. Concerts were given in many cities in Sweden, with very favorable critique from the press every-where. A visit was made at King Gus-tav Adolf VTs summerpalace in Skane and the King was presented a miniature statue of Abraham Lincoln from the Governor of Illinois. The presentation was made by Bernie Bishop, tour leader, Dr. Bernhardt Westlund, chorus direc-tor, and Robert Barrick, chorus presi-dent. On the graves of Hugo Alfven and Dag Hammarskjold a tribute of flowers were made. Sveas Soner is now at another cross-road. It is no longer a totally ethnic chorus of singers with Swedish roots — but a great group of men who love to sing not only songs with Scandinavian origins but also music from our own American heritage and that of many other countries. Wish us well as we continue our membership with the Amer-ican Union of Swedish Singers. For the Sveas Soner Board, Jim Light cap. • Reacting to nuclear safety Some 700 scientists and decision-makers from 43 countries attended a five-day con-ference on nuclear power safety issues held by the International Atomic Energy Agency in Stockholm. Swedish Energy Minister Carl Axel Petri called for an in-ternational nuclear safety agreement which would stipulate minimum reactor levels. Make all remittances for subscriptions and renewals payable to MUSIKTID-NING, c/o Nelson World Travel, 333 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60601. Address all correspondence and edi-torial matter to MUSIKTIDNING, c/o Gunnar Bloom, 6132 N. Winchester Ave., Chicago, IL 60660 |
Identifier | Musiktidning_No2_Feb_1981.pdf |