The Icelandic Canadian - 01.03.1954, Side 25

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
23
Parallel to the church development
was the growth of the Choir. Forty
years ago the lyric-minded Icelanders
formed a Glee Club. This, was the
nucleus of the first church choir. We
are indebted to Gunnar Matthiason, a
baritone, now of Los Angeles; the late
Jacob Bjarnason, a basso prof undo,
also called the “Singing Cop” because
he was a police officer; SigurSur Helga-
son, a tenor, musician and composer,
now in Blaine, who is credited with
the organizing of the first brass band
in Ballard; the late Alfred Alberts,
who organized the musical programs
for the Icelandic Celebrations; K. F.
Frederick, an original Glee Club mem-
ber and today’s President of the Con-
gregation; lastly, Tani Bjornson, our
present well-known director. These
men and others who have capably
guided the destiny of the choir are a
Credit to the Icelandic heritage.
Working loyally with these men
through the years were many musical
women. Dependability is essential if
desirable results are to be obtained.
One unforgettable example of this
was set by the late Mrs. Mary 5. Fred-
erick (nee SumarliSason) who was with
the choir for over four decades. Other
ladies, too, have contributed measure-
ably through the years.
Inspiration was a natural creation
of such examples. In the 30’s the
young church members revealed their
desire to contribute to the choir activ-
ities. They are now the mature per-
formers of our well-known choir. It
has grown in quantity and quality
under the dynamic leadership of Mr.
Bjornson. He is the ideal church choir
director. A gifted voice with operatic
experience, “the patience of Job”, un-
equalled fidelity, are all combined in
him. For twelve years he has guided
this group to its present high calibre
of performance.
Many other talented people have
materially assisted the choir in the
past and in the present. To mention
only a few is imperative: Ben Plall-
grimson, M.A. in Music, violinist, and
a fine basso; Victor Palmason, violin-
ist and tenor; Elaine Vorhaus (nee
Frederick), graduate of the Juillard
School of Music, N. York, and her
brother Richard Frederick, soprano
and tenor solo voices. Then
there are Mrs. Victoria Johnson (nee
Palmason), Edna Dolan (nee Johnson),
Erika Eastvold (nee Thorlakson), org-
anists and pianists; Mrs. Kristin
Simpson (nee SumarliSason), harpist;
Mrs. Kristin Smedvick, (nee Jonassonl,
violinist with the Seattle Symphony
Orchestra; Mrs. Henrietta Masten-
brook, our present organist, all of
whom either have or are generously
aiding the choir.
There are many others whose loyal
and self-sacrificing work with the
choir is outstanding at the present
time. One of these is Dr. Edward
Palmason, physician, whose ethereal
tenor voice is in great demand all over
the city. He has sung leads with vari-
ous choral groups, operatic works, as
well as the Seattle Symphony Orch-
estra. His voice is truly a great ad-
dition to our choir.
Another family with its branches
contributing musically to our church
is the Thorlakson-Sigmar combination.
They are well known as are their tal-
ents. Our pastor, Eric Sigmar, on
leave in Iceland with his wife, Svava,
are both soloists and choir members
also.
The popularity of this choir has in-
creased during the last three or four
years. In addition to their annual
church concerts and trips to Blaine