Concordia's Band Makes History
Concordia has always been well-known for its musical talent of which a school band has been a prominent feature. By 1892 (one year after Concordia opened), the school had already formed a band. In 1899, Wilhelm Rognlie became the director of the Concordia Echo Band, which made its first formal appearance in February 1900.
Directorship of the band changed frequently between the years of 1902 to 1927. In 1910, the band began regular tours and performances at local events. According to the 1929 Scout yearbook, touring was an important factor in publicizing Concordia to potential students and their parents. Concordia leaders recognized the value in sharing Concordia's musical talent with others and often accompanied musical groups on their tours. For example, President Shurson joined the band tour in 1910 delivering sermons to congregations that hosted concerts.
Many early band directors made significant strides in securing the band as a signature piece of Concordia.
Because funds were limited, directors and musicians solicited monies from Moorhead businesses to acquire instruments and uniforms. Concordia purchased three secondhand Ford buses from the Buxton, North Dakota schools in 1924, which served as touring vehicles for over a decade. In 1927, Norwegian professor Johan A. Holvik became the band director. Under his 22-year tutelage, the band made significant contributions to Concordia and its history.
The early 1930s brought much excitement and renown for Concordia and its concert band. In the summer of 1930, the band traveled to Yellowstone in the feeble Ford buses the group affectionately coined the "Yellow Puppies." On June 1, 1933, the Yellow Puppies set out to Chicago for the band's invited performance at the World's Fair. The band played 18 concerts en route to Chicago and performed at Soldier's Field in Chicago on June 18 for an audience of 35,000. On June 20 and 21, the band fulfilled their intended mission of the trip—to serve as the "official Norway Day band." Their experience at the Chicago Exposition caught the attention of the Nordmanns-Forbundet (Norsemen's Federation) who, in 1934, invited the band to travel and tour Norway.
On June 4, 1935, the male members of the band departed for Norway (women were not permitted to participate). For a month, the band performed concerts in the States traveling in the Yellow Puppies and camping until they reached Chicago. In Chicago the band boarded Greyhound buses for New York where members performed a concert on Staten Island and in Brooklyn. The band then climbed aboard the S. S. Stavangerfjord the same ship that would later carry the Concordia Choir to Norway in 1949.
The band arrived in Norway on July 11, 1935. For the next month, they busily traveled the country performing mostly outdoors because many cities lacked venues large enough to hold the massive audiences. Newspapers gave glowing reviews of the band's performances and demeanor. While in Norway, band members were able to sightsee and President Brown, who accompanied the band on its voyage, joined Holvik for an audience with King Haakon VII. The band again boarded the S. S. Stavangerfjord to return to America after their final concert in Oslo.
Upon their return to the States, band members traveled to Washington, D. C. to perform for an afternoon broadcast of the Columbia Broadcasting System and performed many concerts en route to Moorhead. As the Yellow Puppies passed Sabin, Minnesota, they were greeted with police escorts and a caravan of 90 cars to lead them back to Moorhead where flags, cheers, and much festivity awaited. As this celebration indicates, the band's trip to Norway was more than Concordia's first international tour; it was a testament of the quality of Concordia that opened doors for its future. -- Contributed by Lisa Sjoberg, College Archivist
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eNews is a publication of Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota
Copyright © 2006 All Rights Reserved.
Concordia College, 901 8th St S, Moorhead, MN 56562; (218) 299-4000
eNews is a publication of Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota
Copyright © 2006 All Rights Reserved.
Concordia College, 901 8th St S, Moorhead, MN 56562; (218) 299-4000