Missing Joanne

      Among the Lutheran schools of higher education, particularly those with Scandinavian roots, choral music is very important. St. Olaf College is perhaps the pinnacle but Luther College and Concordia, Moorhead, MN are not far behind. Joanne was steeped in that tradition which was enhanced by her student days at Concordia. The late F. Melius Christensen, 1871-1955, established the genre` as choral conductor at St. Olaf. Joanne took choral conducting from his son  the late Paul J. Christiansen at Concordia where he was choral conductor. 

    After I retired and Joanne and I were looking for a new church home we visited Grace University Lutheran. The choir sang that day under the direction of Steve Self, who was also organist and taught organ at Bethel University. Experiencing the music that day Joanne said "We're joining Grace" and we did.

   Steve Self moved to a different church and Chad Winterfieldt, cantor at Gustavus College who holds a PHD in organ became Grace' new organist and choir director. After 34 years as choral conductor at Concordia Rene' Clausen retired and joined Grace University Lutheran. Today he conducted Grace' choir in an F. Melius Christiansen' arranged number. Joanne who, faithfully and joyfully, sang in that choir would have been thrilled to sing with Clausen. 

  Just another one of the ways she's missed.

Takk for alt,

Al

"René Clausen (born 1953) is an American composer, conductor emeritus of The Concordia Choir, and professor of music at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. His works are widely performed by high school and church choirs while his more technically demanding pieces have been performed and recorded by college and professional choirs. Among his many accolades, his recent recording, "Life & Breath: Choral Works by René Clausen," received three Grammy Awards at the 55th Grammy Awards in 2013.^[1][2]

Clausen is a frequent guest conductor, guest composer and lecturer, both nationally and internationally. He has conducted All-State choirs in more than 15 states. Prior to his appointment as conductor of The Concordia Choir, Clausen was director of choral activities at West Texas State University, Canyon, Texas, and assistant professor of choral music at Wichita State University. He also served as senior editor of Mark Foster Music Company and as interim conductor of the National Lutheran Choir of Minneapolis.

Dr. René Clausen announced that he will retire following the 2019-20 academic year, concluding his service as professor of music and conductor of The Concordia Choir.^{[3] " Wikipedia}