Dr. Jean Hellner presented at the Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study International Conference

Dr. Jean Marie Hellner presented a paper on conductor-composer F. Melius Christiansen at the annual national meeting of the Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study which took place in Minneapolis April 24-26. Her paper, “F. Melius Christiansen as a Composer: His Legacy in Choral Music Today” explored the indelible mark he made on choral music and performance practices in the United States. Dr. Hellner’s paper was part a session titled The Musical Heritage of Norwegian Immigrants in the Upper Midwest, which, in part, commemorated the bicentennial of Norwegian immigration. The Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study is an academic association representing scholars, institutions, and individuals across the globe who are interested in the history, language, and cultures of the Nordic region. Dr. Hellner serves as the collaborate pianist for the MSUM choirs and is cofounder of the Edvard Grieg Society of the Dakotas.