Collection on Henry Veld

Henry Veld was born in South Holland, Illinois, 20 July 1895. His family was musically inclined with his father playing clarinet in the village band. Following his propensity for music, Veld studied theory and composition at Chicago Music College, now Roosevelt College. He went on to train in New York under voice instructors William Brady and Oscar Seagle in 1928.

In 1929, Veld was offered a job at Augustana College. His first duty was to conduct the women's choirs, the Oriole Chorus and then the Jenny Lind Chorus, but he was soon asked to help reorganize the men's glee club, the Wennerberg Chorus. In 1931, Veld joined the men's and women's respective choirs into one ensemble during a concert, establishing the Augustana College Choir. Also in 1931, Veld took over the responsibilities of conducting the Handel Oratorio Society. He is credited with growing the chorus from 125 members to 350. After several years at Augustana College, Veld earned a bachelor's degree in music education. Veld remained on the faculty at Augustana College for 37 years and was known as one of the leading conductors in the United States.

During his tenure at Augustana, Veld took the choir on annual tours where they sang in 33 of the United States, three Canadian provinces, and five European countries. In 1955, the choir appeared on Ed Sullivan's Toast of the Town television program where they sang "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning," from the musical Oklahoma, in Swedish. In addition to the Augustana College choirs, Veld conducted many other choirs during his career including Chicago's prestigious Apollo Chorus; two choruses at American University in Shrivenham, England during World War II; and a 2000-voice choir for the opening session of the World Council of Churches Assembly in Soldier's Field in Chicago.

Veld belonged to the American Academy of Teachers of Singing, American Choral Directors' Association, National Association of Teachers of Singing, Music Educators' National Conference, After Dinner Club of Moline, Outing Club of Davenport, Cliff Dwellers Club of Chicago, Omicron Delta Kappa, and St. John's Luther Church of Rock Island. He married Alice VanZanten on 15 August 1935 in Holland, Michigan. They had two children.

Veld retired in 1966, but continued conducting at various posts, including as visiting professor-conductor at Bethany College in Kansas, Carthage College in Wisconsin, Hamline University in Minnesota, and Fresno State in California. He died, after a brief illness, 15 June 1976 in Muskegon, Michigan. In 1980, the Henry Veld Chair in Music was created in his honor. The endowed chair was only the third in the history of Augustana College.