Augsburg Choir coming to Elgin

The 60-member Augsburg Choir is sharing its music with the East Dundee community. Collegiate Choir members from Augsburg College will perform at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 310 E. Main St., East Dundee.

The Augsburg Choir, under the direction of Peter Hendrickson, represents the finest in choral music. Praised for its versatility and musicality, the ensemble performs a diverse repertoire, including compositions by many well-known Scandinavian and American composers.

In recent years, the Augsburg Choir has premiered works by Sven-Erik Back, Knut Nystedt, Stephen Paulus, Sverre Bergh, Steve Heitzeg, Carol Barnett, Egil Hovland, and Sigvald Tveit. The Augsburg Choir was honored to perform before HRH Crown Prince Haakan of Norway in 2005 during his visit to the Twin Cities, and King Harald V of Norway in 1995 on the occasion of his visit to Augsburg College.

The Augsburg Choir's annual Advent Vespers services have been broadcast on public radio and in 2004 and 2005 were seen on Twin Cities Public Television. The recordings from their 1995-96 and 1997-98 tours are widely available.

The choir most recently toured through Scandinavia in 1998; Finland, Russia, and Estonia in 2002; and Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Germany in 2006.

The Augsburg Choir upholds the college's long history of choral excellence dating back to the early part of this century. The choral tradition at Augsburg encompasses not only the mission of the college as part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, but also the legacy of noted conductors such as Larry L. Fleming and Leland B. Sateren, who was an especially strong force in premiering new choral works by Scandinavian composers. For information, visit www.augsburg.edu/music/ensembles.html.

"One of the choir members is our own Cassie Sanders. We are so pleased to have her return to East Dundee and bring 59 of her equally talented associates," said Bill Gade, music director for Immanuel. Sanders is a graduate of Immanuel and member of the congregation.

All are welcome. There is no fee to attend. Call the church office at (847) 428-4477 for directions or information.