Minnesota Orchestra to feature St. Olaf faculty member

By Linnae Stole '10
December 2, 2008

Upholding the longstanding traditions of St. Olaf's Norwegian immigrant heritage, Associate Professor of Music Andrea Een will be a feature soloist with the Minnesota Orchestra at their holiday performance of "A Scandinavian Christmas" at Orchestra Hall Dec. 17 and 18.

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Een will also deliver a solo performance on local NBC affiliate KARE 11 Wednesday, Dec. 17 to promote the concert. She will perform on the station's Showcase Minnesota program, which airs from 10-11 a.m.

At the Minnesota Orchestra concert, Een will perform two works on the Hardanger fiddle, a traditional Norwegian folk instrument similar to the violin. The first half of the program will feature her as a soloist on the final movement of the Concerto for Hardanger fiddle and Orchestra, which was derived from a traditional Norwegian folk melody. It was composed by former St. Olaf professor of music Peter Hamlin and premiered on campus in 1996.

In the concert's second half, Een will perform a Norwegian Christmas song likely familiar to many Oles, Jeg er sa glad hver Julekveld (I am so glad on Christmas Eve). Originally composed by Peter Knudson, former St. Olaf Professor of Music Robert Scholz '61 arranged the work for Hardanger fiddle, soprano, tenor, boychoir and orchestra.

Other highlights of the concert include a Santa Lucia candlelight procession and an audience sing-along of well-known holiday classics. Soprano Michelle Areyzaga, tenor Robb Asklof and the Minnesota Boychoir will be featured in a performance of a Scandinavian Christmas medley with songs sung in Swedish, Finnish and Danish. Traditional Scandinavian drinks and desserts will also be available in the lobby of Orchestra Hall.

Een has taught violin, viola and Hardanger fiddle at St. Olaf since 1977. She is a member of the Minnesota Opera Orchestra and has performed as soloist and chamber musician in the U.S., Norway, France, Germany, Austria, Puerto Rico and Costa Rica. Her solo CD of original and traditional music, From the Valley, was released in 2004. In 2003 Een received the St. Olav Medal, given by Norway's King Harald V, for her promotion of greater knowledge of Norwegian culture.

Contact Kari VanDerVeen at 507-786-3970 or vanderve@stolaf.edu.