The St Olaf Choir is hailed as one of the USA’s premier a cappella ensembles
For more than a century the St Olaf Choir, conducted by Anton Armstrong, has set the gold standard for choral singing, performing for millions around the world. Composed of 75 mixed voices, the St Olaf Choir is hailed as one of the USA’s premier a cappella ensembles, renowned for its artistry and beauty of sound.
“When they opened their mouths to sing, an even wall of sound emerged: words clear, notes true. But more than that, the notes were felt .... (The St Olaf Choir is) good because of its remarkable balance and mellow tone .... It’s good because of its dynamic shadings: its ability to sustain, then build from, nearly inaudible pianos, or to distinguish between a forte and a fortissimo ... Dr. Anton Armstrong, is clearly a gifted choral director - and a teacher to the core.” – The New York Times
From 30 May – 14 June 2024, the acclaimed St Olaf Choir from Minnesota, USA under the baton of its renowned conductor Anton Armstrong, will dazzle South African audiences during their first ever tour of the country, with eight concerts and numerous choir collaborations and workshops in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Soweto, KZN and Cape Town.
The programme is guaranteed to showcase the vocal talents of this extraordinary group who have been described as ‘displaying the tonal quality and precision of pitch that have always been the hallmarks of its sound ... with many moments of sublime beauty.’
Since taking the helm in 1990, Conductor Anton Armstrong’s vast knowledge of music and his ability to articulate a vision to singers and audiences alike has taken the St Olaf Choir to another level, adding more flavor to its signature sound and further expanding its repertoire to include music of the Pacific Rim, Africa, and Latin America. Under his leadership, the choir continues to expand its touring horizons, engaging capacity audiences in major concert halls throughout the United States and worldwide.
Choir performance schedule in South Africa:
- 30 May: Musaion Auditorium, University of Pretoria, with the TUKS Camerata
- 31 May: Linder Auditorium, JHB with Sabelo Mthembu and the Quava Vocal Ensemble
- 2 June: Holy Cross Anglican Church, Soweto
- 5 June: Drakensberg Boys Choir School, Drakensberg KZN with The Drakensberg Boys Choir
- 12 June: Endler Hall, University of Stellenbosch with the Amici de Lumine Choir
- 13 June: Baxter Theatre, CT with the University of Cape Town Choir
- 14 June: Hugo Lambrechts Auditorium, CT with the South African Youth Choir
This tour is brought to South Africa by Classical Movements, the premier concert tour company for the world’s great orchestras and choirs and the power behind the ihlombe Choral Festival, the biggest international choral gathering in South Africa, as well as Tours for the Minnesota Orchestra, the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and many others.
For more information and to book tickets visit: https://www.classicalmovements.com/stolaf-sa-tour/
More about the St Olaf Choir
The St Olaf Choir was founded in 1912 by F Melius Christiansen, whose work established the ensemble’s standard of excellence and its tradition of bringing music to audiences outside of campus. Christiansen chose spiritually profound music and pushed student musicians to perfect a tone that was disciplined, controlled, and free of excessive vibrato. That sound — securely in tune, controlled in pitch, smooth in delivery — became the choir’s hallmark.