The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.1967, Síða 83

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
81
soloist in Winnipeg. She had a com-
manding stage appearance and im-
mediately won her audiences with her
warm, sincere personality.
During the early years of radio, she
was a member of the well-known
Vesper Hour Choir. This choral group
was heard on a national broadcast
every Sunday afternoon at four o’clock
and attained widespread popularity
for the excellence of its performance.
For several years she held the position
of Soprano soloist at Augustine United
Church, Winnipeg, where she was
held in high esteem. Here, as else-
where she won the affection and
respect of her associates. Another of
her musical interests was the Women s
Musical Club where she had the honor
of being invited to contribute to the
program at various times. It was a
member of the Winona Lightcap
Studio Club that Mrs. Olson was able
to utilize both her talents as a vocal-
ist and an accompanist. Many a young
voice student had reason to be grate-
ful to Sigrid Olson for the support she
gave at the piano during a perform-
ance, as well as for the warm smile
of encouragement she flashed from
time to time to the nervous soloist.
She always had a ready word of cheer
for those who needed it and was always
willing to lend a helping hand.
She was a lifelong member of the
First Lutheran Church. For a number
of years she was the soprano soloist.
She was also much in demand as a
performer at all Icelandic functions.
When the Wonen’s Association—first
known as the Junior Ladies’ Aid—of
the First Lutheran was formed, Mrs.
Olson was one of the charter members.
Her participation in all the activities
was always wholehearted and generous.
She never gave stintingly.
Sigrid Olson would not have been
able to accomplish so much in the in-
terests of music in her time and com-
munity, had it not been for the as-
sistance and co-operation of her hus-
band, Dr. Baldur H. Olson, to whom
she was married on April 18, 1916. Dr.
Olson, himself a lover of music, was
a longtime member of the First Luther-
an choir. He was ever his wife’s great-
est admirer and staunchest supporter,
the one on whom she could always
depend. Their home was full of
warmth, charm and true hospitality
as well as being a home of song and
music where friends loved to come
and to linger.
Unfortunately for her many admir-
ers, Mrs. Olson withdrew from aGtive
performing while at the height of her
career, when she still had so very much
to give. She left behind her the mem-
ory of a voice young, vibrant and
thrilling. This, possibly, was a wise
decision because it contained no sad-
ness of a voice-that-once-was or a
talent-that-hadJbeen. The sadness was
in the hearts of all her friends who
had looked forward to hearing that
glorious voice and enjoying its beauty
for many years to come. However, she
maintained her lovely interest in music
and musicians and supported both to
her dying day.
These are the bare facts of the lives
and careers of these two well-loved Ice-
landic singers. Their achievements
were significant within the confines of
the spheres in which they lived and
worked. Their contributions were in-
deed noteworthy as they gave much
enjoyment, as well as inspiration, to
all who were fortunate enough to
listen to them perform. They, each in
her own time, brought recognition to
the Icelandic segment of the Canadian
nation, by focussing attention on this