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Meet Spirit of Augsburg Award Winner Grace Kemmer Sulerud ’58

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Grace Kemmer Sulerud ’58 has displayed faithful service to 含羞草视频 across her time as a graduate, librarian, faculty member, and alumna. She personifies Augsburg鈥檚 deep sense of calling to humbly serve others in a variety of ways, with joyful dedication.

As a dedicated volunteer, her nominators say, 鈥淵ou will find her wherever an extra hand is needed.鈥�

Determined to gain a full education, Sulerud worked and saved money to go from her hometown, Williston, North Dakota, to Augsburg, as it was the college of the Lutheran Free Church. Sulerud鈥檚 Augsburg education and excellent professors prompted her to experience life in the Twin Cities, exploring the state capitol and fine arts like symphony concerts and plays. She made lifelong friends and enjoyed being on the staff of the student newspaper, The Echo.

After graduating from Augsburg in 1958, she was an elementary librarian and junior high English teacher in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. From 1961 to 1964, she was an elementary librarian in U.S. Air Force Department of Defense Schools in Tokyo, Japan; Tripoli, Libya; and Wiesbaden, Germany. This gave her an opportunity to travel around the world with a stop in India to visit a friend, Maxine Berntsen, another distinguished alumna of Augsburg. After returning to the United States, Sulerud studied for a master鈥檚 degree in Library Science (1968) and later received a master鈥檚 degree in English (1970), each from the University of Minnesota.

During her many years as Augsburg鈥檚 Collection Development Librarian and faculty member, she was committed to the learning of students. She served two terms as the treasurer of Augsburg Associates, from 2003 to 2007 and 2011 to 2017, ensuring they raised funds for Augsburg student scholarships. Her interests and energy lead her to participate in travels to Cuba with the Delegation For Friendship Among Women, and to Ethiopia supporting the efforts of REAL, Resources for the Enrichment of African Lives, an organization that helps girls stay in school.

In Minneapolis, Sulerud is a member of Trinity Lutheran Congregation located on Riverside Avenue, a congregation associated with the founding of Augsburg, where she sings in the choir, leads the monthly quilter’s work session and has participated in activities with Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing.

With her late husband Ralph, long-time Augsburg biology professor, Sulerud has remained a supporter and enthusiast for all things Augsburg. Though she retired from Augsburg in 2003, she continues to stay involved at important university events: the recent grand opening of the Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion; Homecoming festivities; Velkommen Jul; and Advent Vespers.

Sulerud lives out the Spirit of Augsburg Award and exemplifies Augsburg’s historic mottos consistently: “Education for Service” and “The Truth Shall Make You Free.” Her loyalty, dependability, and generosity enable Augsburg to carry forward with hearty conviction, intellectual rigor, and relational connectedness.

Meet First Decade Award Winner Chris Stedman 鈥�08

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Chris Stedman ’08

Chris Stedman 鈥�08 is a humanist community organizer, interfaith activist, and writer living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is the founding executive director of the Humanist Center of Minnesota, a project seeking to explore the viability of a center for humanist life in Minneapolis, through which he and a group of researchers are currently studying the beliefs, practices, and community involvement of the religiously unaffiliated.

One of his nominators, Dr. Lori Brandt Hale, associate professor of religion at Augsburg, says this about Chris, 鈥淎s a long-standing member of this community, I think we must count ourselves lucky to call Chris one of ours, and even luckier that he has come back to Minnesota, and 含羞草视频, to carry on his important work in collaboration with all of us.鈥�

Formerly the founding executive director of the Yale Humanist Community and a fellow at Yale University, Chris also worked as a humanist chaplain at Harvard University, a content developer and trainer for the Interfaith Youth Core, and as the founding managing director of State of Formation at the Journal of Inter-Religious Dialogue. He currently serves as a fellow at the at 含羞草视频, and previously served as a fellow at Augsburg鈥檚 .

Chris is the author of 鈥�鈥� (Beacon Press, 2012), “an intimate and deeply affecting portrait鈥� [that] proves [he is] an activist in the truest sense and one to watch” (Booklist, Starred Review). The book received widespread acclaim from publications like the Minneapolis Star Tribune, which called it an “enlightening and engaging memoir calling for civil discourse between atheists and the religious [that] couldn’t come at a better time,” and the Houston Chronicle, which named Faitheist one of the best religion books of the year and called it “an exciting and boundary defying introduction to a new world [and] an amazing book that could potentially change the game.”

Chris received a master of arts in religion from Meadville Lombard Theological School at the University of Chicago, for which he was awarded the Billings Prize for Most Outstanding Scholastic Achievement. A 2008 graduate of 含羞草视频 with a summa cum laude bachelor of arts in religion (with English and social welfare minors), he is currently writing a book exploring what it means to be “real” in the digital age and writing a monthly column on the same topic for INTO.

He has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, PBS, and Fox News, has spoken at hundreds of conferences and universities, and has written for publications including The Guardian, The Atlantic, Pitchfork, BuzzFeed, VICE, The Los Angeles Review of Books, CNN, MSNBC, USA Today, Salon, The Washington Post, and others. Details magazine named Chris one of “five next-gen gurus who are disrupting religion’s status quo” and Mic called him “the millennial who’s busting every stereotype about atheists.”

The irony has been noted that Augsburg鈥檚 most well known religion graduate is known for the fact that he is an atheist, and it is through this robust civic and ideological engagement that Chris practices the mission and vision of Augsburg.

Meet First Decade Award Winner Killa Marti, Esq. 鈥�08

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Register now听for Homecoming!

Killa Marti '08
Killa Marti ’08

Originally from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Killa Marti, Esq. 鈥�08 arrived in the United States in 2004 as a student. She obtained a bachelor鈥檚 degree in International Relations and Economics from 含羞草视频 in 2008. Shortly after, she left to fulfill an employment obligation in China. After concluding her employment contract with the Hua Qiao Language Institute in Chang Chun, China, Killa returned to the United States to obtain a Juris Doctor from Hamline University School of Law (now Mitchell Hamline School of Law).

One of her nominators, Zaira Solano, says this about Killa in her nomination letter, 鈥淜illa is a relentless advocate, woman of integrity, and leader in everything that she does.鈥�

With the clear objective of working in the field of immigration, Killa took every opportunity to serve the immigrant population in the United States. She served in an internship at the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota and was a volunteer for Civil Society, a nonprofit that works to help victims of human trafficking. She also completed a practicum at the law firm of Contreras Edin & Associates. Killa represented Hamline in the Inter American Human Rights Competition in Washington, D.C., and worked for the state legislature in Minnesota through its Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs. During this time, Killa also worked in the legal publishing division of Thomson Reuters, a global news agency and publisher. Upon graduation, Killa worked for the firm of Cole & Vondra, PLLC in Iowa City, Iowa, where she had the opportunity to litigate in the immigration courts of Omaha and Chicago. She also defended immigrant clients in the state courts of Iowa.

For the last three years, Killa has worked in Georgia, assisting the launch of the Immigration Services program at the nonprofit Lutheran Services of Georgia. During her time there, she worked closely with refugees and sponsors of unaccompanied minor immigrant children. Killa accepted a position at Solano Law Firm, litigating cases before the Atlanta Immigration Court and the Board of Immigration Appeals. She also serves as the leader of a low-income, volunteer-run legal clinic called Gospel Justice Initiative in the city of Clarkston, Georgia. Killa is licensed to practice law in Iowa, Georgia, and immigration law all over the nation, and is now owner and managing attorney of her own firm, Marti Law Firm, LLC.

Killa is known as a fiercely motivated attorney who works tirelessly for her clients in districts and cases where the decks are stacked against them. In signature Auggie fashion, her career has developed as one which recognizes the needs in our diverse world and takes meaningful action to meet those needs. She served as chair of the Pro Bono Committee of the American Immigration Lawyers Association chapter in Georgia and Alabama from 2016 to 2018, and she continues to pair clients in need of Pro Bono services with local attorneys and mentor lawyers early in their careers.

Killa has been called a person of faith, integrity, intelligence, commitment, and compassion. She embodies the values of Augsburg through thoughtful stewardship, critical thinking, and rigorous pursuit of justice and equity. She is dedicated to ensuring education and financial support are available to girls, and she is working to grow her acts of kindness into a nonprofit where she can empower more students so they can live to their fullest potential.

Meet First Decade Award Winner Dr. Brian Krohn 鈥�08

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Register now听for Homecoming!

Dr. Brian Krohn
Dr. Brian Krohn

Brian Krohn 鈥�08, Ph.D., is a passionate innovator, entrepreneur, and Augsburg鈥檚 first Rhodes Scholar. Switching from an Augsburg degree in film to one in chemistry was only one component of a rapidly expanding career that includes experience in renewable technology, mobile app development, local food, and medical devices.

In a joint letter nominating Brian for this award, the Chemistry Department at Augsburg says, 鈥淏rian is an alumnus who typifies the best of Augsburg鈥檚 liberal arts education; he weaves together his care of creation and humanity with his technical prowess and creative insight to make the world a better place.鈥�

While at Augsburg, Brian was named a Goldwater Scholar, founded the Honors Review journal for student scholarship, and created an Honors course on home brewing. He researched the production of cleaner biodiesel fuel in collaboration with Augsburg鈥檚 Professor Emeritus Arlin Gyberg, Ph.D., and alumnus Clayton McNeff 鈥�91, which spurred a new patented catalyzation process and physical plant, Evercat Fuels, that produces more than 8 million gallons of biodiesel per year. Some of Brian鈥檚 research has been featured on 鈥淕ood Morning America鈥� and the National Council on Undergraduate Research Session.

Watch the KARE听OnLIVE segment on his research below:

 

Brian听earned a Ph.D. in Natural Resources and Sciences and Management from the University of Minnesota as an Environmental Protection Agency Fellow, as well as master鈥檚 degrees from the University of Oxford in Environmental Change and Management and the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine as a Rhodes Scholar. He co-founded several companies including Mighty Axe Hops, which is the largest producer of Minnesota hops for local craft breweries.

He was an Innovation Fellow at the University of Minnesota鈥檚 Medical Devices Center, where he worked on projects ranging from a new tool to assist neurosurgeons to remove brain cancer to an app to improve sleep. He is currently the CEO of Soundly, an app-based therapy to reduce snoring, which is a technology funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. His company, Magic Wizard Staff, displays his technical brilliance and playful creativity. Most recently, he joined Modern Logic, an innovative digital product development company.听Brian has also served as an adjunct instructor at Macalester College and Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, and has garnered numerous academic honors and entrepreneurship awards.

Brian鈥檚 time at Augsburg was marked by exploration of not only chemistry, biology, and mathematics, but also philosophy, film, and literature. Paired with thoughtful consideration of calling and community, this cultivated his pursuit of knowledge, art, and technology in service to the world. His work demonstrates the power of Augsburg鈥檚 intersection of liberal arts education and professional studies to enable others to be more healthy, happy, and fully human. He continues to stay connected to Augsburg and is generous with his time, encouraging and offering advice to students since his return to the Twin Cities.

Homecoming Auggie Talk: The Baby Boom Effect 鈥� Hosted by the Class of 1968

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Register now for Homecoming!

Auggie Talks photo from Homecoming 2017On Friday, Oct. 12, from 3:30 – 4:15 p.m. in the听Sateren Auditorium, Anderson Music Building, five members of the class of 1968 will discuss 鈥淭he Baby Boom Effect: How Four Years Affected 50.鈥� Alumni will each present a three to five minute description of how their time at Augsburg influenced what they have done personally and professionally over the past 50 years. Each has pursued different paths since leaving Augsburg while impacting the world in meaningful ways.

About Auggie Talks:

They鈥檙e back by popular demand! Join us for 30-minute, insightful sessions presented by professors and fellow alumni on topics spearheaded by your class reunion groups. Talks will be published as they become available on social media and in upcoming communications.

Space is limited. Please register today for Auggie Talks.

Meet First Decade Award Winner Joshua Harris 鈥�08

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Joshua Harris ’08 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Joshua Harris鈥� life and work in the last ten years of his young career have been devoted to public leadership, building connections and making a difference in his community.

As one of Joshua鈥檚 nominators, Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter says, 鈥淲hen I think of Joshua, it makes sense that he is an alumnus of Augsburg, as he truly lives the mission of being an informed citizen, a thoughtful steward, a critical thinker, and a responsible leader.鈥�

Joshua is the co-founder of the Hollins Creative Placemaking, a non-profit fostering urban revitalization by including the use of art and the creative processes. He sits on the board of the Charles Village Urban Renewal Project, Pauls Place Community, Baltimore’s Promise Mentoring Task force and Baltimore’s Southwest Partnership.

Joshua ran for Mayor of Baltimore in 2016 becoming the youngest person ever to run for mayor. He ran as a Green Party Candidate and in a one party town Josh took 10% of the vote, more than any third party candidate in history. He is dedicated to creating attainable solutions for the challenges Baltimore and similar urban cities face around the nation.

Joshua is a brand and communications expert and currently is a Deputy Director of Communications for a national women鈥檚 reproductive rights organization where he monitors policy and guides communication strategy for more than a dozen state chapters and affiliates. 听He also sits on the board of directors for the NAACP Maryland State Conference and the Downtown Baltimore Family Alliance. He has previously worked for an international non-profit that provides mentorship and scholarship opportunities to young African American boys and men and is the former director of communications for Black and Brown People Vote. Joshua has been a featured speaker on urban renewal and education disparities at the 鈥淚magine America Conference鈥� and the 鈥淐ongressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference鈥�. Joshua is has a passion and commitment to empowering people and for progressive policy solutions.

Continuing to stay active in his community, Joshua is currently running to be the delegate for District 40 in Baltimore, Maryland.

While attending 含羞草视频 from 2005 to 2008, Joshua played basketball, was on student government, was a residence life advisor, an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and the Co-chair of The Pan-African student Union for two years. Joshua majored in communication studies with a double emphasis in broadcast journalism and marketing, and a film studies minor.

As a communication studies major, Harris learned the theory and skills to create sound public policy, argue effectively for meaningful change, persuade diverse audiences. In true Augsburg fashion, Harris has channeled his education and professional experience to reduce inequity and fight for social justice as a responsible, informed, and active citizen leader.

Refugee Odyssey: Exploring The Past Through Simulation

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AASA at the 2017 Fall Leadership Retreat

Every fall, students from the Multicultural Student Services & International Student and Scholar Services organizations gather off campus for a Fall Leadership Retreat to build community, engage in important discussions, and gain leadership tools. During the retreat, students affiliated with the Augsburg Asian Student Association (AASA) have the opportunity to participate with AASA alumni in the Refugee Odyssey, an intense simulation that AASA started back in 2008.

Alumnus Cheemoua Vang 鈥�16 took part in the Odyssey as a student and has volunteered the last two years to help run the event. He says his first experience was indescribable, but a moment from which he bloomed and grew emotionally, mentally and spiritually. That鈥檚 why he and other AASA alumni choose to come back to volunteer.

鈥淚 call it the cycle of giving back,鈥� he said. 鈥淎lumni volunteers who take part in the Odyssey have all participated in it before at least two to three times. This is important because those who have personally gone through the Odyssey will be able to connect with the student participants. They’ll understand the impact of it on a personal level and know the sensitivity of the event and what it takes to be involved with it.鈥�

The sensitive nature of this event comes from students simulating the experience of immigrants running from their homes during wartime, fleeing from soldiers, to find safety. The simulation is meant to help students explore their history.

Senior Cam Thu Pham has participated in the Refugee Odyssey the past three years and says 鈥渢he Refugee Odyssey is a learning experience of rediscovering one鈥檚 history or awakening an interest in learning one鈥檚 parent鈥檚 raw history and sacrifices. It is a frightening experience, and you would not know what to expect while laying in the pitch black grass and thorny bushes waiting with your adrenaline rushing as you try to get to a safe place.鈥�

In her first two years, Cam was a runner during the simulation and last year she chose to be a soldier, whose job it is to catch the runners. These experiences have led Cam to further explore her personal family history.

鈥淚 finally came to the realization that my parents stories that they had always told me were not because they were bored and had nothing to talk about, but because it was all they had to talk about. It was their history and their roots. I never took the time to appreciate those stories until I sat down with my parents after [the Refugee Odyssey] and asked them to tell me those stories once again. I think these stories have led me to recognize my privilege to be where I am today from the upbringing of my parents, to not ever forget where I originally came from, and to appreciate my identity as a proud Vietnamese woman.鈥�

For both Cam and Cheemoua, the Refugee Odyssey and AASA have helped to shape their experience at Augsburg.

鈥淎ASA is not just a platform of support, but to me it feels like a family that has lifted me up through my hard times throughout my experiences here. AASA members are empowering people who have so much influence on me as an individual,鈥� Cam said.
Cheemoua feels a similar connection to the group.

鈥淚 first got involved with AASA during my first year of college,鈥� Cheemoua said. 鈥淚 was eating lunch all by myself and a group of AASA members invited me to eat with them. They were very welcoming and friendly. After joining them for the Fall Leadership Retreat, I found the leadership in me that Fall and I just kept growing ever since.鈥�

Mike Matson ’06 to serve as Chaplain to Marine Special Operations Training Command

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Mike Matson '06
Having served a commission in the Naval Reserve since 2009, Mike Matson is now called to active duty as a Chaplain to Marine Special Operations Training Command at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Anyone who鈥檚 met Mike Matson 鈥�06 will notice his qualities of curiosity, calm, and spiritual presence. Mike鈥檚 history with Augsburg began as a student and athlete. He then served for over five years as a chaplain to student athletes and as a coach. For the past year and a half, he鈥檚 served as Assistant Director of Leadership Gifts in the Advancement office.

Now he is taking on a new role: having served a commission in the Naval Reserve since 2009, he鈥檚 been called to active duty as a Chaplain to Marine Special Operations Training Command at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Mike, his wife Helen, and their five children (June age 8, Francesca and Theodore age 6, Charlie age 4, and Josephine 4 weeks) will move on August 26 and serve there for one year. He鈥檚 happy his whole family will move with him as these are high priority orders and the reserves requested his immediate departure to service.

鈥淪ince we just had our fifth child, Helen and I are especially glad we can all relocate together. Helen鈥檚 been a medical receptionist for two surgeons. This call will allow her to stay home with our kids full time while I serve our Special Forces.鈥�

When asked where the idea for this combined service came from, Mike commented, 鈥淚 believe every corner of the world needs an Auggie in it. I was shaped by my Augsburg education to go out and do more in the world. Staying in the reserves was one way to do that. I was able to contribute to the mission of Augsburg and use the values and skills Augsburg shaped in me to serve the community.鈥�

Mike鈥檚 been serving as chaplain to the 1st Precinct of the Minneapolis Police Department which is the downtown area. Sometimes it鈥檚 been hard to shift between his roles of staff, father, husband, and chaplain.

鈥淚鈥檝e learned through my roles there are all kinds of people in the world. And I鈥檝e faced the polarization we are experiencing head on. I鈥檝e learned to appreciate how gently we have to hold the space and come to each moment with sincere appreciation. I practice seeing the holy in all of it. It is always there.鈥�

The Matson family at the headwaters to the Mississippi.
The Matson family at the headwaters to the Mississippi.

 

He goes on, 鈥淚 approach it all with curiosity. If I can鈥檛 believe the holy is there in each person and experience, then what鈥檚 the point. Jesus always showed us his curiosity. Without our curiosity I don鈥檛 think we can make any progress. My approach is to figure out how to connect with people. I am motivated by it.鈥�

In his time serving in Advancement he鈥檚 learned some things, too.

鈥淥ne big thing I鈥檝e learned is, what a gift it is to be a student! It鈥檚 not something to take for granted. So many students receive some form of scholarships. Usually those scholarships don鈥檛 come from someone with lots of income and assets. It comes because of a belief the donor has in the value of an Augsburg education. It comes from generosity and belief in the importance of investing in students. There鈥檚 a community behind every student. I never want to take that for granted.鈥�

As he turns his attention to the year of service unfolding before him, he will be carrying some of these lessons with him.

鈥淚 am called to the gray areas of life. And to do so vulnerably. I go with an openness to enter into those spaces. That is where the transformative can emerge.鈥�

He鈥檚 especially energized by the call to the Special Forces.

鈥淪o much of the military focus now is on specialized teams and special forces. The training of these elite forces is crucial. As we can imagine, it鈥檚 a grueling experience to go through this training. It peels back the layers of a person鈥檚 character and reveals our make-up. It鈥檚 a key time in a service member鈥檚 life. The military is doing all it can to offer support to the trainees.鈥�

On this high priority mission Mike will be participating in some of their training and in the same spaces with the Marines and special forces.

Mike Matson '06 has served 含羞草视频 as chaplain to student athletes, as a coach, and in alumni development.
Mike Matson ’06 has served 含羞草视频 as chaplain to student athletes, as a coach, and in alumni development.

 

He smiles, 鈥淚鈥檓 going to get my jump wings! Yes, that means he will learn to parachute!

As he travels with Helen and his children, he feels the strength of her support and her willingness to put the family through such a big experience.

“She has given me courage to be even more curious. And to mess up, too. We don鈥檛 always get things right. She鈥檚 helped me show eagerness to go out and seize the day. The greatest gift in all this is to say yes to life.鈥�

Mike and his family will return to Augsburg in a year.听 鈥淚 feel very supported by this Augsburg community!”

鈥�-By Catherine Reid Day

 

Augsburg Theater Alumni Featured in a Sod House Theater Production

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Come and see some 含羞草视频 Theater alumni from several generations perform this incredibly fun and evocative production!

An Enemy of the People written by Henrik Ibsen adapted by Darcey Engen and Luverne Seifert with music by Brian Laidlaw and Ashley Hanson, will be presented by Sod House Theater and tour eleven rural cities in Minnesota from July 25 – August 26, with a run in Hastings early September (TBA), 2018. The Sod House is teaming with local talent that includes a number of 含羞草视频 alumni!

This classic play examines how a community responds when a local doctor threatens to expose that the water it relies upon for tourism is being poisoned. The play questions how far a community will go to protect their town鈥檚 secret in order to avoid financial ruin. It will be performed at site-specific locations that are important to the historical narrative of each community.听 Performance locations include town halls and river parks. 鈥淲e鈥檝e chosen communities to perform with that have recently experienced water pollution issues and whose lakes and rivers are a major contributor to their tourism economy,鈥� said Luverne Seifert, co-artistic director of Sod House Theater. After each performance, water experts from local organizations will facilitate conversations centered on local water issues in hopes that the play and community dialogue will inspire water conservation.

听

About Sod House Theater:

Sod House Theater is a Minneapolis based theater whose mission is to perform in venues that serve historical significance in small-town communities. The works they choose to perform are relevant to the small-town atmosphere. Their goal is to be interactive in the communities by performing with local actors and at historical sites. They have been touring greater Minnesota since 2011.

Tickets for 鈥淎n Enemy of the People鈥� are $15 for adults; $10 for Children, Students, and Seniors.

Tickets are available at. For show information call 612-414-2032.

Alumni who are leading the project:

Co-Artistic Director, Luverne Seifert 鈥�83; Co-Artistic Director, Darcey Engen 鈥�88; Production and Tour Manager Del Logeais 鈥�18.

Alumni who are performing in the Taylors Falls Production:

Peter Skjervold 鈥�83, Jenny Nordstrom Kelly 鈥�84, Lisa Pestka Anderson 鈥�86, Ali Fitzpatrick 鈥�11

Current students performing in Taylors Falls:

Madeleine Rowe 鈥�19, Hannah Dyson 鈥�20

6 Quick Questions With the New Conductor of The Masterworks Chorale

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Mark Sedio ’76 has been the transitional conductor for the Augsburg choir for the past two years. Mark has recently accepted a new role听as conductor for The Masterworks Chorale.听We had the chance听to chat with Mark about all things Augsburg and music. Check out these 6 Quick Questions with Mark Sedio:Favorite memory as a student at Augsburg:

Conversation with friends in the old “Chin Wag” before Augsburg Choir rehearsals.

What makes singing in a choir so great/powerful/exciting?

The act of making something beautiful together – a true act of community.听 The joy of performing a piece – the final result of hours and hours of rehearsal.听 Then, of course, all the non-musical things wrapped up in it all – singing with friends, the performance spaces, the stories about the history of a piece – all coming together.

What excites you about working with Masterworks?

The caliber of the singing is so very high and the possibilities are endless.

What are you looking forward to with Masterworks?

Over the past four years, it’s been great fun for me to have worked first with Cedar Singers and then the Augsburg Choir.听 Osmo V盲nsk盲, the conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra, says it’s all about the music – and it is.听 How we form a phrase together, how we mold sound – not necessarily a pre-conceived notion of what an ensemble should sound like – but rather what we do with the sound we have.听 That’s the concept I used with both Cedars and Augsburg Choir – it works – and the outcome can be really thrilling.

Group of performersShare something about working with the Augsburg Choir:

It’s hard to put into words what the 50-plus singers in the Choir came to mean to me.听 Again, it’s all about community.听 It was a joy to be able to make music together – and I think it showed in each and every performance.听 We had great fun – and it showed in their singing.听 I am extraordinarily proud of those wonderful musicians (some whom I knew since they were first-years in Cedar Singers).听 Their musicianship and growth over the years.听 To work with them was both an honor and sheer joy.

Share a Mark Sedio fun fact:

If I wasn’t able to do what I am doing (choral music, organ, composition), I’d LOVE to have a talk-show.

If you are interested in joining The Masterworks Chorale, the gatherings are open to听anyone interested in singing! The first gathering is Tuesday, September 4th from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm听in the Choir Room (M2) in 含羞草视频’s Anderson Music Hall. For more information visit the听含羞草视频 Masterworks Chorale Facebook page .

For the 含羞草视频 Music Department website, .