What is the American Union of Swedish Singers?
A Brief History
The American Union of Swedish Singers (A.U.S.S.) was organized over 100 years ago at the height of the immigration years. Swedes formed choruses here in America to sing the songs that they remembered and loved from their homeland. These individual choruses came together in 1892 to form the A.U.S.S. Their first public appearance was at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. Over the years the Union has performed for kings and presidents. They have sung in the major opera houses of New York, Chicago and San Francisco, as well as Carnegie Hall, New York, Orchestra Hall and Auditorium, Chicago and the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. Today, there are about 700 members in 31 choruses from Vermont south to St. Petersburg, Florida and west to Seattle, Washington.
In the early years, most songs were sung in Swedish. Today, the repertoire of most choruses is about half Swedish and half English.
Membership
An A.U.S.S. chorus must have at least four members, all men, all women, or mixed. A chorus first applies for membership in the appropriate regional division (Eastern, Central or Western). Then, they may apply for membership in the national organization.
Music
Wonderful Swedish choral music is a joy to learn and share with others and is probably the best way to embrace your Swedish heritage. The A.U.S.S. national music librarian has an extensive list of music - Swedish as well as English, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, et al. A folder containing popular A.U.S.S. music is available as a starter packet. Cassette tapes are also available for guidance in interpreting the music.
By the way, singing Swedish is an excellent way to learn the language!
Musiktidning
Choruses of the A.U.S.S. keep in touch with each other through Musiktidning (Music News). Every individual receives a copy of the monthly newsletter, containing articles and pictures of choruses, upcoming events and ideas.
Musiktidning is currently published by, and distributed with,
Nordstjernan
which is a weekly Swedish-American newspaper.
Tours
Members participate in singing tours of Sweden. The most recent trip was in 2005. We traveled from Gothenburg to Stockholm, with detours to Dalarna (the most traditional of the provinces), beautiful Värmland, Hälsingland, and a flight to Piteå to renew acquaintances with local choruses.
In 1999, we went to Katrinaholm, when the Swedish choral organization, Svenska Sångerförbundet, celebrated its 90th anniversary. We traveled most of the east coast, from Kalmar to Luleå, including Gotland.
The tours are a great way to see Sweden, share our love of Swedish music, and meet Swedes with the same interests. Plan to join us on our next trip!
Conventions
Every four years, a national convention is held. This is a chance for singers with a common interest to get together and share ideas, songs and fellowship. Recent conventions have been held in Dearborn, MI, Minneapolis, MN, Stratton Mountain, VT, and Chicago, IL. Our next convention will be in 2008 in Portland, OR. On the second year in between, each division holds its own convention. In 2006, the division conventions were in Massachusetts, Illinois, and Oregon. The main events at all the conventions are the Grand Concert (all singers together), Individual Chorus Night (each chorus performs) and the Grand Banquet.
The conventions are a great opportunity to travel and sightsee as well as a chance to meet other
singers. Many friendships are formed at each convention.
The A.U.S.S. hosts groups and individuals from Sweden or of Swedish descent. At the 1996
convention, we welcomed a guest chorus from Sweden, the Växjö Male Choir. As an added bonus,
Kjell Lönnå, the well-known conductor, composer, and TV producer from Sweden, directed some
songs at the Grand Concert. At the 2000 convention, the Västergötland Singing Society’s Men’s
Chorus, a group of over 40 voices, sang for us and with us. Håkan Sund, a well-known conductor
in Sweden directed some songs on the Grand Concert program. In earlier years, Marie Sundelius of the Metropolitan Opera was a favorite soloist. Other prominent soloists over the years have been Karin Branzell and Mimi Benzell of the Metropolitan Opera, and tenor Rolf Björling of Sweden. Having guests from Sweden adds a wonderful dimension to our conventions.
A.U.S.S. Cultural Heritage Foundation
This organization was founded to preserve the history of the A.U.S.S. by collecting and housing the organization’s memorabilia. The foundation maintains a room at the
Midway Village Museum
in Rockford, Illinois where you can view old photographs and uniforms, memorabilia from past conventions, and listen to tapes. In 1992 they published “A Century of Song”, a book about the union’s first 100 years. The Foundation has its own officers and board of directors. For more information, visit
the 1892 Society.
To encourage growth of the A.U.S.S., the Cultural Heritage Foundation will help any new chorus with "start-up" costs.
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