Sverre Valen (9 May 1925 – 18 March 2023) was a Norwegian choir conductor. He founded and directed Sandefjord Girls Choir (Sandefjord Jentekor), Bel Canto-koret, the Valen Choir (Valen-koret) and Valens Solistensemble, many of which have won awards and toured internationally. He became Knight, First Class of the Order of St. Olav in 1992.[1]
Born in Levanger, Central Norway to a father who worked as an Adventist pastor, the family would move several times during Valen's upbringing. He got a varied musical education in his youth, playing the piano, various other instruments, and taking singing lessons for four years. He went on to study at the Norwegian Academy of Music.[2]
Career as choir conductoredit
Valen married song instructor Mary Johannessen in 1952. In 1956, the couple moved to Sandefjord where they started Sandefjord Girls Choir. In 1969, the choir won its class in the BBC (later EBU) competition Let the Peoples Sing. They won NRK's national competition for youth choirs 15 times. On tours in Europe, the choir performed in cathedrals like[2]Cologne Cathedral, Notre Dame de Paris[3] and St. Peter's Basilica.[4] In 1976, the choir toured the US for three weeks as part of the United States Bicentennial. The tour ended with a performance in Carnegie Hall, for which they received an excellent review in The New York Times.[5][6] Valen stopped conducting the choir in 1997.[7]
Recruiting many of the best singers of the Sandefjord Girls Choir, he started Valen's Soloist Ensemble (Valens Solistensemble) in 1985 and conducted it until 2000.[2]
In 1961, Valen founded the women's choir Bel Canto which he conducted for ten years.[8]
Valen founded the Valen Choir (Valen-koret) for mixed voices in 1964 and conducted the choir to 1995. The choir had a mixed repertoire, including both sacred and secular choir traditions from various time periods.[1] In 1974, the choir was awarded Spellemannprisen for best recording of the year in classical music.[6]
The last choir Valen conducted was Adventistsangerne, a choir representing the Adventist community in Norway which he started in 1984. Aged 88, he held his last concert with the choir in Norderhov Church on 8 June 2013.[1]
sverre, valen, 1925, march, 2023, norwegian, choir, conductor, founded, directed, sandefjord, girls, choir, sandefjord, jentekor, canto, koret, valen, choir, valen, koret, valens, solistensemble, many, which, have, awards, toured, internationally, became, knig. Sverre Valen 9 May 1925 18 March 2023 was a Norwegian choir conductor He founded and directed Sandefjord Girls Choir Sandefjord Jentekor Bel Canto koret the Valen Choir Valen koret and Valens Solistensemble many of which have won awards and toured internationally He became Knight First Class of the Order of St Olav in 1992 1 Sverre ValenValen in 2009Background informationBorn 1925 05 09 9 May 1925Levanger NorwayDied18 March 2023 2023 03 18 aged 97 Occupation s Choir conductor Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career as choir conductor 3 Awards 4 Selected recordings 5 References 6 External linksEarly life and education editBorn in Levanger Central Norway to a father who worked as an Adventist pastor the family would move several times during Valen s upbringing He got a varied musical education in his youth playing the piano various other instruments and taking singing lessons for four years He went on to study at the Norwegian Academy of Music 2 Career as choir conductor editValen married song instructor Mary Johannessen in 1952 In 1956 the couple moved to Sandefjord where they started Sandefjord Girls Choir In 1969 the choir won its class in the BBC later EBU competition Let the Peoples Sing They won NRK s national competition for youth choirs 15 times On tours in Europe the choir performed in cathedrals like 2 Cologne Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris 3 and St Peter s Basilica 4 In 1976 the choir toured the US for three weeks as part of the United States Bicentennial The tour ended with a performance in Carnegie Hall for which they received an excellent review in The New York Times 5 6 Valen stopped conducting the choir in 1997 7 Recruiting many of the best singers of the Sandefjord Girls Choir he started Valen s Soloist Ensemble Valens Solistensemble in 1985 and conducted it until 2000 2 In 1961 Valen founded the women s choir Bel Canto which he conducted for ten years 8 Valen founded the Valen Choir Valen koret for mixed voices in 1964 and conducted the choir to 1995 The choir had a mixed repertoire including both sacred and secular choir traditions from various time periods 1 In 1974 the choir was awarded Spellemannprisen for best recording of the year in classical music 6 The last choir Valen conducted was Adventistsangerne a choir representing the Adventist community in Norway which he started in 1984 Aged 88 he held his last concert with the choir in Norderhov Church on 8 June 2013 1 Valen died on 18 March 2023 at the age of 97 9 Awards editSandefjord city s Cultural Award 1972 Vestfold county Cultural Award 1975 St Olav s Medal 1981 Knight First Class of the Order of St Olav 1992 Honorary member of the Association of Norwegian Choir Conductors 1995 Sandefjord inhabitant of the century class for culture 1999 Selected recordings editJul med Sandefjord Jentekor 1970 With Sandefjord Girls Choir Jul 1980 With the Valen Choir Grieg i vare hjerter 1993 With Valen s Soloist Ensemble Lovsang under kirkehvelv 1999 With Adventsangerne 2 Portals nbsp Biography nbsp Christianity nbsp Classical music nbsp NorwayReferences edit a b c Ina Strom 16 November 2013 Ikke bare syng med det nebbet du har in Norwegian NRK Retrieved 14 February 2014 a b c d Aksel Korbol in Norsk biogragisk leksikon Sverre Valen in Norwegian Store norske leksikon Retrieved 14 February 2014 Hugo Lauritz Jenssen Linda Naesfeldt 3 March 2013 Alt for barna Dagens Nyheter Retrieved 17 February 2014 Flemming Hofmann Tveitan 12 January 2010 Samlet mellom to permer Sandefjords Blad Retrieved 14 February 2014 Peter G Davis 12 July 1976 Sandefjord Girls Choir of Norway ends tour paywall The New York Times Retrieved 18 February 2014 a b Sverre Valen International Adventist Musicians Associations Retrieved 14 February 2014 Ser helst livsverket dor in Norwegian Sandefjords Blad Retrieved 17 February 2014 Tone Merethe Ude 13 October 2011 Bel Canto feirer sine forste 50 Sandefjord Blad Retrieved 19 February 2014 Sverre Valen er dod Han ble 97 ar in Norwegian External links editSverre Valen discography at Discogs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sverre Valen amp oldid 1216807028, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
