Painting of woman sitting at piano

ABERDEEN, S.D. The Northern State University School of Fine Arts, in cooperation with the Edvard Grieg Society of the Dakotas, will host a one-day mini-festival, “Claiming Her Seat at the Piano,” on Sunday, Oct. 23.

The festival, which will feature music by Norwegian women composers of the 19th and early 20th centuries, will take place in the Johnson Fine Arts Center and include the following events:

  • A brown bag luncheon with a presentation by Danish-Canadian pianist Sandra Mogensen, “Exploring a Wealth of Piano Music Composed by Women in 19th Century Norway,” 1 p.m. in JFAC 117 (Red Room).
  • “A Showcase of Norwegian Women Composers” featuring performances by students, faculty and community pianists; 3 p.m. in the Harvey and Cynthia Jewett Theater.
  • “Agathe Backer Grøndahl 175th Jubilee Concert,” featuring NSU faculty Drs. Marla Fogderud and Christopher Stanichar and guest performers Drs. Benjamin Druffel and Jean Hellner; 5 p.m. in the Harvey and Cynthia Jewett Theater. Reception to follow in the JFAC lobby.

All events are free and open to the public The festival is part of Fogderud’s sabbatical work in conjunction with her ongoing research on Norwegian music. The two concerts (3 p.m. and 5 p.m.) will also be livestreamed at the NSU Music Department Facebook page. For more information, visit the Grieg Society on Facebook.

About Northern State University  

Northern State University is a student-centered institution that provides an outstanding educational experience, preparing students through the liberal arts and professional education for their future endeavors. A regional university, Northern offers rigorous academics; diverse civic, social and cultural opportunities; and a commitment to building an inclusive environment for all points of view. Northern also offers a broad-based athletics program, sponsoring 15 NCAA Division II intercollegiate varsity sports that compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIC). The university strives to enrich the community through partnerships such as its Educational Impact Campaign, which opened a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired; new athletic and recreation fields; and an on-campus regional sports complex. With the $55 million campaign, NSU has been the recipient of more than $150 million in privately funded building projects and scholarships within a decade. To learn more, visit NSU Admissions.