Augsburg University and National Lutheran Choir announce partnership, residency

Augsburg University and the National Lutheran Choir announce a new partnership to elevate and expand the Lutheran choral tradition on campus. 

This collaboration will bring the 70-member National Lutheran Choir in residence to Augsburg for rehearsals and educational programming, offering opportunities for Augsburg students to gain exposure to the high-level music making of an award-winning performing ensemble. As part of its programmatic residency, the National Lutheran Choir anticipates offering internships for students that are related to choral music and nonprofit administration.

“We are thrilled to be able to deepen our relationship with the National Lutheran Choir at this exciting time for the arts at Augsburg,” said Augsburg President Paul Pribbenow. “This collaboration brings our historic connection full circle and opens up tremendous opportunities for students to grow through exposure to an extraordinary ensemble.” 

Now in its 41st year, the National Lutheran Choir celebrates, invigorates, and expands sacred choral music, bringing inspiration and meaning to people of diverse faiths and backgrounds. Artistic Director Jennaya Robison is committed to uplifting sacred choral music that comes from many traditions and draws from the sacred in everyday life. A recipient of the Margaret A. Hillis Award, the nation’s top honor for performance choirs, the National Lutheran Choir performs to thousands of audience members each year locally and on tour, has a discography of 36 albums, and is regularly broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio. More than 180 songs and a number of concert-length presentations are available on the choir’s YouTube channel. 

The National Lutheran Choir was founded in 1986 by the late Larry Fleming, a noted conductor and composer who succeeded Leland Sateren as Augsburg’s choir director from 1979–86. Augsburg alumnus David Cherwien ’79 subsequently served as the National Lutheran Choir’s second artistic director for more than 20 years. 

Robison joined the National Lutheran Choir as artistic director in 2023. A nationally-recognized conductor, composer, and vocalist, she has conducted choirs, workshops, and festivals across the United States, Europe, and southern Africa. Previously, she held faculty roles in choral studies at the University of Missouri–Kansas City Conservatory and Luther College. She holds a Master of Music in conducting and voice from the University of New Mexico and a Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting from the University of Arizona.

“The partnership between Augsburg University and the National Lutheran Choir exemplifies how higher education and non-profits can serve and support each other to create valuable opportunities for students and artists alike,” said Robison.  

The National Lutheran Choir’s programmatic activity on the Augsburg campus will include opportunities that are open to students and professionals from across the Twin Cities and around the country, including the newly launched Summer Intensive Choral Conducting Institute. Membership in the National Lutheran Choir is based on competitive audition and includes singers from virtually all of the region’s Lutheran colleges and more. Throughout its residency at Augsburg, the National Lutheran Choir will remain a wholly independent 501(c)(3) organization with corporate offices at Normandale Lutheran Church.

“Augsburg and the National Lutheran Choir share a special history,” said Tina Meckel, the choir’s executive director. “More importantly, our values for what sacred choral music can mean in a richly diverse world are wholly aligned.” 

Learn more about the National Lutheran Choir and Augsburg’s music programs in the Schwartz School of the Arts.