The Augsburg Chamber Orchestra
The Augsburg Chamber Orchestra was formed by composer Robert Karlén to explore music from every style and period. The group has played everything from settings of traditional Chinese songs and Renaissance masses to jazz standards. The students’ study of these styles is enhanced by private lessons with the Augsburg music faculty who include members of the Minnesota Orchestra and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. In cooperation with the Minnesota Composer’s Forum, the orchestra plays projects by students who are studying composition and orchestration. This lends a unique interaction between composer and performer.

The orchestra’s annual solo competition is a highlight for music students and is designed to give them the opportunity to perform standard works from the instrumental concerto or vocal solo (aria) repertoire. The memorized solos are accompanied by piano and performed for a panel of judges. Many past winners are pursuing graduate study or are active as professional performers.

During the Christmas season, the orchestra performs in Augsburg’s Advent Vespers. This annual concert celebration is attended by nearly 8,000 people.

Augsburg Jazz Ensemble and Gospel Praise
The Augsburg Jazz Studies Program offers a complete curriculum that includes a big band—The Augsburg Jazz Ensemble, 5 combos, and a vocal jazz group—Gospel Praise, each of which is directed by a faculty member. These ensembles are open to all Augsburg students through auditions each fall. Augsburg’s Gospel Praise is a unique union of big band and vocal jazz that performs for conventions, churches and schools. They have also appeared at three ELCA National Youth Conventions in Atlanta, New Orleans and St. Louis.

The Jazz Studies Program also features many guest artists and composers. Recently the Augsburg Jazz Ensemble performed with Delfeayo Marsalis, trombone; performed works by Dr. William C. Banfield, artist in residence; and will perform with Swedish jazz artist Nils Lindberg, trombone & piano, on December 9,2004. Additionally, many Augsburg groups benefit from the collaboration with McNally Smith utilizing state of the art recording facilities and joint ensembles.

The Augsburg Choir
The 60-voice Augsburg Choir, under the direction of Dr. 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, and Egil Hovland

The Augsburg Choir was honored to perform before King Harald V of Norway in 1995 on the occasion of his visit to Augsburg College. The Augsburg Choir’s annual Advent Vespers services are broadcast on public radio and the recordings from their 1995-96 and 1997-98 tours are widely available. The Choir most recently toured through Scandinavia in 1998, and in 2002 toured Finland, Russia, and Estonia. 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.

The Masterworks Chorale of Augsburg
Now in its 11th year of performances under founder and director Dr. Peter Hendrickson, the 100-voice Masterworks Chorale of Augsburg, a unique mix of auditioned Augsburg College day students, Weekend College students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community friends, has established itself as a dynamic choral ensemble in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Building on Augsburg College’s strong choral tradition, the Masterworks Chorale is dedicated to performing great choral masterworks and exploring new masterworks.

The Chorale has performed regularly to critical acclaim with the Minnesota Orchestra in such works as Berlioz’ Messe Solennelle, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, and most recently in 2003 in collaboration with narrator Christopher Plummer and conductor Sir Neville Marriner, William Walton’s film score, Henry V.

The Chorale is dedicated to performing great choral masterworks and has performed Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem, Mozart’s Grand Mass in C Minor, Durufle’s Requiem, and Bach’s St. John Passion.

In addition to performing great choral masterworks, the Masterworks Chorale has sought new works by living composers. In 1996, the Chorale performed for the first time the entire Visions from Hildegard by noted Minnesota composer Stephen Paulus. In 1997 the Chorale performed to critical acclaim the premiere of the English version of Norwegian composer Egil Hovland’s opera Captive and Free. In the fall of 2001, the Chorale also performed the English version of Finnish composer and conductor Kari Tikka’s opera Luther.