LINDSBORG —  The Sandzen Gallery will present “How I Became a Member of the Swensson Family: Music and Conversation with Evelyn Swensson,” at 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 8, at the gallery, 401 North First Street in Lindsborg. Her program will include a variety of numbers that she’s performed over the years and conversation about her family and ties to Lindsborg. There is no charge for the concert.

Evelyn Swensson is a church musician, composer, conductor, pianist, and soprano who married Sigurd Swensson, great-nephew of Bethany College founder Carl Aaron Swensson and his wife Alma Lind Swensson, who established Lindsborg’s annual Messiah oratorio tradition. Mrs. Swensson said when asked about her visit, “During the past more than 70 years, I often felt I was following in my husband’s great aunt’s footsteps. Alma Swensson and I both organized Messiah choruses in towns where we lived, directed church choirs, conducted orchestras, sang soprano solos, and married Swensson men who worked hard to accomplish so much for their communities.”

As a Depression-era grade-schooler, Swensson began preparing for her musical career by practicing piano playing on a paper keyboard, not hearing a note of music until her weekly lesson, when she had the opportunity to play the keyboard on her teacher’s piano. During her professional career Mrs. Swensson invested over 50 years directing church choirs in three different states. She has conducted more than 50 operas and musicals, and composed 13 family operas produced around the US and other countries. She has performed as a soprano soloist in more than 25 productions and developed 11 humanities-based programs about famous women. 

Evelyn Swensson has also earned community, regional, and national awards for many of her accomplishments, including those from Opera America, the National League of American Pen Women, Opera for Youth, National Opera Association, the Hall of Fame of Delaware Women, and OperaDelaware, as well as the Governor’s Award for the Arts for the state of Delaware. 

The first time Evelyn Swensson visited Lindsborg was with her new in-laws Earl and Viola, who grew up in Lindsborg. Remembering her visit, Swensson explained: “It was 1950, Easter weekend. I had married their eldest son Sigurd less than a year before. My in-laws introduced me to their town, to the Messiah, and to their Kansas relatives. They also introduced me to Birger Sandzen who gave me one of his works of art as a wedding gift. What an exciting experience!”

For further information, call the Gallery at 785-227-2220 or email LINDSBORG —  The Sandzen Gallery will present “How I Became a Member of the Swensson Family: Music and Conversation with Evelyn Swensson,” at 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 8, at the gallery, 401 North First Street in Lindsborg. Her program will include a variety of numbers that she’s performed over the years and conversation about her family and ties to Lindsborg. There is no charge for the concert.

Evelyn Swensson is a church musician, composer, conductor, pianist, and soprano who married Sigurd Swensson, great-nephew of Bethany College founder Carl Aaron Swensson and his wife Alma Lind Swensson, who established Lindsborg’s annual Messiah oratorio tradition. Mrs. Swensson said when asked about her visit, “During the past more than 70 years, I often felt I was following in my husband’s great aunt’s footsteps. Alma Swensson and I both organized Messiah choruses in towns where we lived, directed church choirs, conducted orchestras, sang soprano solos, and married Swensson men who worked hard to accomplish so much for their communities.”

As a Depression-era grade-schooler, Swensson began preparing for her musical career by practicing piano playing on a paper keyboard, not hearing a note of music until her weekly lesson, when she had the opportunity to play the keyboard on her teacher’s piano. During her professional career Mrs. Swensson invested over 50 years directing church choirs in three different states. She has conducted more than 50 operas and musicals, and composed 13 family operas produced around the US and other countries. She has performed as a soprano soloist in more than 25 productions and developed 11 humanities-based programs about famous women. 

Evelyn Swensson has also earned community, regional, and national awards for many of her accomplishments, including those from Opera America, the National League of American Pen Women, Opera for Youth, National Opera Association, the Hall of Fame of Delaware Women, and OperaDelaware, as well as the Governor’s Award for the Arts for the state of Delaware. 

The first time Evelyn Swensson visited Lindsborg was with her new in-laws Earl and Viola, who grew up in Lindsborg. Remembering her visit, Swensson explained: “It was 1950, Easter weekend. I had married their eldest son Sigurd less than a year before. My in-laws introduced me to their town, to the Messiah, and to their Kansas relatives. They also introduced me to Birger Sandzen who gave me one of his works of art as a wedding gift. What an exciting experience!”