NEWS
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Contact: Bruce Conley
Associate Director of College Relations
Phone: (605) 274-5526
Fax: (605) 274-4903
www.augie.edu
March 6, 2006
The Augustana Choir Receives 2006 Friend of Refugees Award From Lutheran Social Services
SIOUX FALLS – The Augustana Choir has received the 2006 Friend of Refugees Award from Lutheran Social Services' Refugee and Immigration Center .
The Choir, directed by Dr. James Johnson, will be recognized at Lutheran Social Services' 11 th annual Taste of Cultures Dinner and Silent Auction on Saturday, March 11, at Faith Lutheran Church , 601 N. Cliff Avenue in Sioux Falls .
For more than a decade, the Choir has adopted a different, local refugee family at Christmas time by donating both time and funds to better a family's holiday. “The students give their own money and we go shopping at the beginning of December,” said Dr. Johnson. Last Christmas, Choir members pooled more than $1,000; and combined with store discounts, they were able to present the family with approximately $1,400 in clothes, toys, books, a television, stereo, and CDs.
Long recognized as one of the preeminent choral ensembles in the Midwest , the mission of The Augustana Choir is to “serve God, the Church, and our school” through choral music. Noted for the honesty of its presentation and its recognition of the importance of maintaining Lutheran choral traditions, the members of The Augustana Choir study in a variety of academic majors, but are drawn together by a shared love of music. These 72 singers are devoted to bringing their rich 80-year tradition and inspirational sound to audiences around the world.
Performing a cappella in the smallest churches of the prairie to the largest cathedrals of Europe , The Augustana Choir looks forward to touring together each year. Annually touring the United States , their critically acclaimed reputation is international in scope. Over the past ten years they have appeared in international concert venues on six different tours, sharing their music with the people of France, England, Norway, Austria, Wales, Germany, Ireland, and Italy . This year, in May and June of 2006, they will present an18-day tour entitled "I Can Tell the World" in the ELCA Global Mission country of Tanzania.
“[On behalf of our staff and the families aided by Lutheran Social Services] thank you for the kindness and consideration you show toward the diverse populations in our community,” said Donna Magnuson, director of Lutheran Social Services.