Apollo Club of Minneapolis

The Apollo Club of Minneapolis is a choral organization founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The organization has been in operation since 1895, making it one of the oldest continually performing ensembles in the United States.[1]

Apollo Club of Minneapolis
Background information
Also known asAMC, Apollo Male Chorus
OriginMinneapolis, Minnesota, United States
GenresShowtunes, choral, classical, folk music
Occupation(s)Men's chorus
Instruments60 voices
Years active1895-present
Websitewww.theapolloclubmn.org
MembersArtistic director Aaron Humble
Executive director Aaron James

History

The Apollo Club has a history intertwined with the music community of the Twin Cities, with roots dating back to 1887. In the spring of 1895, steps were taken to create a male chorus, and the organization was officially formed and organized on September 23, 1895.[2] Emil Oberhoffer was the first conductor of the choir, who established a high standard of choral singing. The first public performance from the Apollo Club occurred in the Lyceum Theater, located in downtown Minneapolis, on April 13, 1896.[3] Notable conductors and accompanists of the ensemble include Henry S. Woodruff,[4] Theodore Bergman,[5] Elsie Wolf Campbell, William Rhys-Herbert, William MacPhail,[6] James S. Allen, and Roger Hoel.[7] The Apollo Club of Minneapolis was inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame November 4, 2017.[8]

Regular concerts

Date Concert name Leadership

C: Conductor

A: Accompanist

Location Songs performed Guest artist
05/2010 America Sings C: Roger S. Hoel

A: Nadia Johnson

Sundin Hall
  • Hamline University
  • St. Paul, MN

Hopkins High School>

  • Hopkins, MN
  • Behold Man
  • The Road Home
  • The Pasture
  • You Raise Me Up
  • Order My Steps
  • Alleluia
  • America the Beautiful
  • The God Who Gave Us Life
  • O Susannah!
  • Television Theme Songs
  • Duke Ellington Medley
  • Battle Hymn of the Republic
Dakota Harmony
  • North Dakota

Current members

(As of February 2020)

Notable performances

The Seven Wonders of the World film "Invited by Writer Lowell Thomas to perform two pieces for his 1956 motion picture—with a live performance of its premier in Chicago. "This Is My Country" served as the background of the film's finale."

Inaugural Ball, President Eisenhower "Performed in 1957 as part of the inaugural festivities in Washington D.C., launching President Dwight Eisenhower's second term in office."

Brussels' World Fair "Garnered fame on the global stage by performing at Expo 58 in 1958."

Eisteddfod International Choral Competition, Wales "Earned the distinguished honor of second place in this world competition in 1982 — being the first chorus in any category to place in the top three of first-time performers."

International Choral Kathaumixw Festival "Held in British Columbia, Canada, Apollo performed and placed second in the "Equal Voice Choir" Division in 1998."[9]

Carnegie Hall "Apollo Club continues its tradition of offering world-class performances in the Twin Cities and beyond with a performance at New York's Carnegie Hall in 2014."

References

  1. "Historic Men's Choruses in the United States". www.apolloclub.org. Archived from the original on 11 April 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  2. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-11-24. Retrieved 2017-11-21.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "The Apolloite". www2.mnhs.org. Archived from the original on 10 November 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  4. "The Musical Blue Book of America, ...: Recording in Concise Form the Activities of Leading Musicians and Those Actively and Prominently Identified with Music in Its Various Departments". 1922.
  5. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-11-24. Retrieved 2017-11-21.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Minnesota legacies: Remembering Stuart MacPhail". startribune.com. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  7. "New Apollo Male Chorus director debuts Saturday in Wayzata". startribune.com. Archived from the original on 24 November 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  8. "Minnesota Music HOF inductees include Denver, McGuire - News, Sports, Jobs - The Journal". www.nujournal.com. Archived from the original on 4 November 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  9. Johannes Riedel, Sweeter Than The Honeywell: 100 Years of Music and Friendship, Minneapolis: Apollo Club of Minneapolis, 1995
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