Jon C. Romer

Past President Memories

Jon C. Romer (1974-1976)

My fondest memories of my ACDA-MN presidency are:

Helping to foster beautiful choral music in quality architectural settings, i.e., St. John’s Abbey Church, Christ Chapel/Bjorling Concert Hall at Gustavus Adolphus College, the concert hall at the Benedicta Arts Center at the College of St. Benedict.

Video taping, and subsequently placing in the national archives Olaf Christiansen conducting 450 ACDA-MN members and choir members singing Gretchaninoff’s “Our Father” and his own setting of “Wake, Awake”. When finished, he was asked what was the most important thing he had learned during his long music career. His answer: “Singing is much more enjoyable than sinning!”

Being part of a quality professional musical organization that strives to promote stewardship of one’s life, abilities, and the choral art.

Recalling those early ACDA-MN members who knew how important it was to offer this wonderful organization to others…especially to young singers, choral conductors and composers.

While I have many special memories of my time as president, it always filled me with pride to hear the choirs of our ACDA-MN members and to see the faces of their students while making beautiful music.

Wayne Kivell will always have a special place in my memory. In those early years he and I planned the first two state conventions and began to work with a larger group for the third. We also planned the first ACDA-MN choral commission, and later, the prestigious F. Melius Christiansen Memorial Choral Award…good times, good people, good music.