Choral societies -- Illinois -- Rock Island

Abstract The Augustana Choir was formed in 1931 under the direction of Henry Veld, who merged Augustana College's two choral groups, the Wennerberg Chorus and the Orioles, into one group. The choir made its first appearance 18 March 1931 during a concert at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and became an immediate success. Since its debut, the Choir has performed all over the United States and has made appearances in Canada, Europe, and China. The Choir has made numerous recordings and has performed on both...

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The Collection on Augustana Musical Organizations, 1873-1936, 1983-2001, contains information on several historic (now defunct) musical groups formed at Augustana College: Lusciniola Society, Chapel Choir, Lutherman Male Chorus, Augustana Male Quartet, and Koto Ensemble. Materials include constitutions, minutes and other official records, programs, photographs, and ephemera.

Abstract The collection of Augustana College scrapbooks, 1896; 1960-1965, consists of scrapbooks related to Augustana College assembled by persons or departments unknown. The scrapbooks consist mainly of newspapers clippings; three include general Augustana-related items, while two specifically cover Augustana sports. The activities highlighted in the scrapbook pages include Greek life, social events in the Quad Cities area, Augustana choir events, campus construction projects, student groups,...

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John Walter Brown drove the Augustana men's choir tour bus every year starting from 1941 until 1975, with breaks only during World War II, and the year the choir traveled to Europe. The John Brown papers, 1952-1980, and undated, includes two items, a scrapbook from John Brown’s retirement concert in May of 1975, and a photograph album from a tour the choir made to the East Coast sometime between 1971 and 1975.

Abstract The Handel Oratorio Society is a choral society composed of Quad City community members and local college students. It began in 1880 under the name Augustana Handel Oratorio Society and was founded by former Augustana College president, Olof Olsson. The Society is most famous for its Christmas season performance of George Frederic Handel's Messiah, which was first performed 12 April 1881. Charles Wuorinen's piece, The Celestial...

Abstract Erleen “Lindy” Lindeman transferred to Augustana College in 1941 after completing her first two years at Bethany College. She graduated in 1943 with a degree in English. While at Augustana, she sang in the Augustana Choir and Handel Oratorio Society, participated in a number of religious organizations, athletic groups, and women's clubs, and was a member of the Kappa Tau sorority. The Erleen Lindeman scrapbook, 1941-1943, contains keepsakes and pictures from her time at Augustana. The...

Abstract The Oriole Club (later the Oriole Chorus) was founded in 1915 by eighteen women students at Augustana College and Theological Seminary. The group stated its object as the "development and continuance of a ladies' chorus to promote instruction, sociability and entertainment of the members." The Oriole Chorus combined with the all-male Wennerberg Chorus to form the Augustana College Choir in 1931, although it continued to perform as a distinct group (later known as the Jenny Lind Chorus)...

Abstract Carl Arnold Serenius was a student at Augustana College from 1922 to 1926. He was very active in the Augustana Male Quartet as well as the Wennerberg Chorus and football. Serenius married Blanche Williams, also a 1926 Augustana College graduate, in 1932. The C. Arnold and Blanche Serenius papers, 1922-1991, contains papers related to the college and professional lives of Blanche, Arnold, and Arnold's brother, Vernon Serenius, including a scrapbook, photographs, professional papers, and...

Abstract Henry Veld conducted various choral groups associated with Augustana College, including the Augustana College Choir and Handel Oratorio Society, in the mid-twentieth century. 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...

Abstract Augustana College's Wennerberg Male Chorus was formed in October 1901. Gustav Andreen, then president of Augustana College, had requested that a male chorus be organized to participate in the Gunnar Wennerberg Festival to be held the following December. The group eventually merged with the all-female Oriole Chorus in 1931 to form the Augustana College Choir, although the male members of the choir did continue to perform separately as the Wennerberg Chorus until the mid-1960s. The Wennerberg...