St Olaf Christmas Festival 1997

[@ToledoWingNut]

Rest In Peace, Robert Scholz. I loved watching you conduct - the joy you felt was evident.

[@ronaldbarrett3949]

It matters not how many times I watch, my heart is touched and my spirit is lifted to the heights.

[@glacierpark]

It was so enjoyable singing in that performance. Great memories.

[@ToledoWingNut]

St. Olaf’s has given me so much joy over the years and this 1997 Festival is my all-time favorite. Wonderful selections, beautifully sung and photographed. Hard to believe these fresh young faces are over 40 now! I hope they look back on this record of their college years with great pleasure. And thank you for posting it here (My old vcr tape of it passed on long ago!).

[@deborarossi8973]

Thank you so much for sharing this! My favorite St Olaf Christmas, too!

[@kirsten879]

I am one of those fresh, and now 40-something, faces in that choir, and I do indeed look back on this with great pleasure and wonderful memories. And it warms my heart to know that it has given you such joy over the years, too. 🙏☺️🙏☺️ I’m sure I’m biased, but 1997 is my all-time favorite Christmas Fest, too, even among my four years at St. Olaf (1997-2001).

[@ToledoWingNut]

@@kirsten879 There’s a moment in “What SweeterMusic” (27:10-27:15) where the choir conductor encourages the altos. It sums up what teaching and leadership are all about. The joy on his face is a delight to behold as his altos come through with real oomph. Love it.

[@kirsten879]

@@ToledoWingNut Ahh, yes, that’s Dr. Robert Scholz, affectionately known to students as Dr. Bob. I was in his Chapel Choir for two years (the red-robed singers he was directing for What Sweeter Music), and have many good memories of that time. He was a wonderful teacher and composer. Sadly, he passed away in early 2021. Alas, we also lost Sigrid Johnson earlier this year, who conducted the women’s choir, Manitou Singers, which I was part of in 1997. Dr. John Ferguson (former conductor of Cantorei, the group in the shepherd’s robes) has been retired for a while, but is still doing well as far as I know. Dr. Steven Amundson retired just this past spring as conductor of the St. Olaf Orchestra, and of course Dr. Anton Armstrong is still going strong at the helm of the St. Olaf Choir (purple robes).

[@ToledoWingNut]

@@kirsten879 Thanks for all the info, Kirsten. I was aware of Dr. Scholz’s passing but hadn’t heard of Mrs. Johnson’s death. May they both Rest In Peace. My wife and I were lucky enough to hear the St. Olaf Choir, under Dr. Armstrong’s direction, when they appeared at Yale in February of 2020. They did not disappoint. Choral music has been one of the joys of my life, both as a participant in high school and over several decades as a lover of the art form. Thank you for the part you played in one of the most special performances in my memory bank.

[@MrSaintmich]

My favorite of all time, the St. Olaf Choir. Have watched the Christmas Celebration specials when they are televised.

[@tomkeleher2779]

Be sure to check out the newer shows in high def. (I worked on all of these on the TV crew since the 1980's.)

[@mercurypoizund2291]

Very interesting, great singers and musicians ...thanks

[@lg00dman]

Beautiful! I have chills.

[@korwinalexander7814]

St Olaf Christmas Festival Is Voted Time !

[@geonmzahsan6640]

Beautiful

[@jacobbump1282]

This is so amazing to be able to watch this. Marvelous performances!! :-) Do you think you could post any of the Robert Shaw Christmas specials with the Atlanta Symphony too? Those were televised and it would be wonderful to be allowed to see those as well.

[@korwinalexander7814]

Octagon Shape Is 8 Sides And 8 Angles ! It Must Be Come The God Gospel Tent Revial Dome ! Of The St Olaf Baptist Church ! In St Olaf College At The Hart Of Minnesota ! One Church & College In Two States Locations !

[@tomfuller5585]

Beautiful! If this is the Chapel Choir, I wonder how large the Sanctuary Choir is.

[@shawnhampton8503]

It is five choirs actually. Chapel Choir is in red robes at the back. They number around 100. The other choirs are The St. Olaf Choir, Manitou Singers, Kantorei, and Viking Chorus.

[@ginachildfree3277]

Saint Olaf is a real place? Betty Wright always talked about Saint Olaf

[@susanburrows5288]

But it is a college, not a town like the Golden Girls show talked about

[@korwinalexander7814]

Vote For St Olaf Christmas Festival Say I !

[@jannawalters232]

Just started, but hoping these narrators are off here promptly!

[@berniceunderwood8430]

Huh