The Luren SingersLUREN HIGHLIGHTS
- Norway's King Harald V and Queen Sonja visit Decorah
- Norway's Stavern Mannskor appear in Decorah to perform with Luren
- Luren concert at the restored Grand Theatre in Keokuk, Iowa
- Luren performance at historic Bishop Hill, Illinois
- Luren in Quad Cities performance
- Luren excelled at 2010 Sangerfest in Madison
- Conductor Dr. David Judisch in 37th year at Luren helm.
- Roger Buhr elected Luren president, David Carlson vice president
- Christmas Concert this year in Decorah
- Last year's combined concert with Luther College Norsemen included Twin Cities' Great Northern Union Chorus
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LUREN HIGHLIGHTS
Luren Singers welcome Norway's King Harald V and Queen Sonja at Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum press conference October 13, 2011.
The annual combined concert with The Norsemen of Luther College last year included the acclaimed Great Northern Union Chorus from the Twin Cities. The concert took place on the Luther College campus in the Center For Faith and Life Friday, April 16.
* See photos of the GNU visit, click here
* See YouTube videos of portions of the concert:
Luren and Norsemen: Fergus an' Molly click here
Luren and GNU: Every Time I Feel The Spirit click here
Luren, Norsemen, and GNU: Toccata of Praise click here
* See Luren Christmas Concert playbill, click here
* As part of its 11-day Midwestern tour, Stavern Mannskor of Stavern, Norway came to Decorah last Sept. 27 to perform with The Luren Singers at Decorah Lutheran Church. The concert began at 7:00 p.m., and was followed by a dinner in the church basement. On Wednesday, Stavern Mannskor performed in La Crosse, Wisconsin at La Crosse's annual Oktober Fest.
* The Luren Singers' year-ago 3-day October mini-tour began with a concert in the Quad Cities on the rainy evening of October 23 at the First Lutheran Church of Rock Island, Illinois. The next morning, we were rewarded with a magnificent fall day at the historic village of Bishop Hill near Galva, Illinois. The brilliant blue sky and yellow trees matched the Swedish flags in this wonderful historic site: 
Our concert sponsored by Bishop Hill Heritage Association began at 7:30 p.m. at the Bishop Hill Methodist Church, preceded by dinner provided by the Bishop Hill Heritage Foundation: 
The Luren Singers spent a fun-filled, but tiring, day touring the village: 
And we helped to provide an interesting contrast between the old and the new:
The next day, our mini-tour culminated in the beautifully-restored Grand Theatre in Keokuk, Iowa, sponsored by the Keokuk Concert Association:
We thoroughly enjoyed our time there, and look forward to return.
* On Monday, September 13, 2011 during the business meeting portion of our practice session The Luren Singers unanimously accepted Dr. David Judisch's agreement to continue into his 37th year as Director of The Luren Singers.
* Also during the meeting on September 13, the membership re-elected Rev. Roger Buhr to serve the next year as President of the Luren Singing Society, and David Carlson to serve as its Vice President.
* The membership agreed to accept several invitations to perform, including October 19 at Washington Prairie Church for the American tour of the Koren family descendants from Norway.
* December 4 will mark Luren's annual perfomance at Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum followed by Christmas caroling at Decorah's three nursing/extended-care facilities, and traditional appreciation dinner provided by Gail & David Judisch and Bernie & Carol Gluth.
* 2009's Christmas Concert at Decorah Lutheran Church on Sunday, December 13 drew an estimated crowd of 600 people who contributed greatly to the enthusiasm that lifted all performers to great heights. They also contributed generously to the local free clinic and food banks which were the selected charities for this year's free-will offering. As to be expected, The Luren Singers performed exceptionally well, to great reviews. We also joined the crowd in appreciation for the inspired and inspiring performances of our guest soprano soloist, Maggie Boland, as well as for the Touch of Brass ensemble, and the Oneota Valley Youth Choir, conducted wonderfully by Linda Martin.
Our evening as an organizational family was topped off by a Christmas supper for more than 160 members of The Luren Singers family, including the induction of two more Lifetime members, and the traditional visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, loaded down with presents, smiles, and belly laughs for kids of all ages.
After 2010's scheduled concert at Washington Prairie Church got canceled by bad weather, we preserved the program on our latest CD "A Luren Christmas." We look forward to 2011's Christmas concert and supper which will return to Decorah Lutheran Church on December 11, 2011.
