The Gustavus Choir, Gregory Aune, conductor
The Gustavus Choir, the premier choral ensemble at Gustavus Adolphus College as well as one of the nation’s premier Lutheran college choirs, returns this week from it annual concert tour to present its Home Concert in Christ Chapel, Saturday, May 1, at 3:00 p.m. This performance, conducted by Gregory Aune, is free and open to the public.
Now in its 78th year, the Gustavus Choir is one of six choirs in an active and highly integrated choral program at the College. Under the leadership of Dr. Gregory Aune, the choir has toured extensively throughout the continental United States, and internationally in South Africa, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. This year’s schedule included stops in Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska.
The choir has also performed for the King and Queen of Sweden, premiered commissioned works by noteworthy international and American composers, and been featured at the prestigious American Choral Directors Association’s North Central Convention.
The tradition of concert touring by the music ensembles at Gustavus was established as early as 1878 for the musical, artistic, and educational benefit for the student members. Concert touring provides an opportunity to perform a concert program numerous times, fostering a deeper artistic understanding and expression of the music. It develops high levels of musical discipline and artistic integrity and allows the musicians to experience a variety of acoustic environments and widely diverse audience and ensemble dynamics.
Saturday’s Home Concert is part of the College’s annual Honors Day celebration. The performance in Christ Chapel begins at 3:00 p.m.