Past & Upcoming Events – Experience the Music of Vasa Drängar 🎶
At Vasa Drängar, every performance is a celebration of Swedish choral traditions and the joy of music. Our events bring together audiences to experience the beauty of harmonized voices, cultural heritage, and unforgettable melodies.
✨ A Journey Through Music – Past & Future ✨
🎵 Honoring Our Past Performances – From enchanting concerts to cultural festivals, our past events have left a lasting impression on audiences across the U.S.
🎶 Exciting Upcoming Events – We look forward to sharing our music at upcoming concerts, special celebrations, and community gatherings.
📅 Annual Performances & Special Events:
✔ Spring & Holiday Concerts – Celebrate the seasons with music.
✔ Swedish Cultural Festivals – Bringing Nordic traditions to life.
✔ Community & Private Events – Choir performances for special occasions.
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Upcoming Events
VASA DRÄNGAR TURNS 30
In the spring of 1996 a few guys and I, members of the Nordic Lodge in Atlanta, found out that among us we – maybe – had enough people to create a men’s double chorus. After a few more inquiries we had a group of seven people – not quite two in each part, but we were lucky enough to have a great first tenor, Bruce Larson, with an excellent voice, good for two! At the time, he was the Honorary Consul of Sweden in Atlanta. The other six were Sam Linden, Gunnar Carteng, Sten Ekberg, Dale Nordin, Dennis Carlson and myself.
So, we got together and started practicing. It sounded promising, so we offered our services to the Nordic Lodge. They gave us our first gig: The annual crawfish dinner, on September 14 th . The location that year was at the Nights of Columbus Hall, Atlanta. We called ourselves “The Vikings”. Our singing went well. We got handclapping enough to encourage us to continue.
And so we have, now for 30 years and counting! Only two of us are still in the group: Sten and myself. We renamed ourselves, less than a year after the crawfish dinner, to “Vasa Drängar” which means Vasa Farmhands and was of course inspired by the famous Swedish men’s chorus Orphei Drängar in Uppsala.
30 years! Isn’t that something to celebrate! We decided to do that by giving a concert, with old and new songs we love and with soloists from Sweden. It is going to happen on Saturday August 15th, at a beautiful church in Atlanta’s Midtown, the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, located on Peachtree Street, opposite Fox Theater.
We have invited two of Sweden’s best opera singers, Niklas Björling Rygert and Marcus Jupither. You may have met Niklas before, in Atlanta, for instance at the AUSS Convention in 2023. On August 15th you will hear them in songs from La Boheme and Tosca, and more!
Here follows a little about both of them, from their respective bios.
Niklas is a graduate of the University of Opera, in Stockholm. He is Sweden’s leading character tenor. He did his opera debut in 1994 and has been a member of the soloists’ ensemble at the Royal Opera in Stockholm since 1999. There he has sung over 50 roles in more than one thousand performances. He has sung Monostatos in The Magic Flute 117 times – more than any of the 27 singers who have sung Monostatos at the Royal Opera since it opened in 1812. Niklas first was in September 2000 and latest in March this year. For his Mime in Siegfried in 2006, he won the Opera Magazine’s prestigious “Opera Prize”. It brought him international attention and took him to Valencia, Spain, where he sung Mime in the Ring of Nibelungen in 2008 and 2009 under the baton of Zubin Mehta. He has been invited to sing in Norway, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Holland, Poland, Spain, Italy, Israel and the United States. Niklas’s daughter Kerstin Linden, 18 years old, is an actress, who among several other movies played Ronja in Astrid Lindgren’s Ronja Rövardotter.
Marcus is one of Sweden’s foremost engaged singers of today with a repertoire of over 60 parts. He studied at the Royal University of Music and at the Opera Academy. He made his opera debt in 1995. He has performed at all major Swedish opera houses. He had a great success as the title role of Wozzeck at the Gothenburg Opera in 1999. That led him to his international debut which was in Prague. Since then, he has sung at numerous places in Europe. In 2014 he made his debut in the United States in Il Trovatore, at Sacramento’s opera house. He has also directed operas. His first, and very much praised, was Das Rheingold at the outdoor arena Dalhalla in western Sweden. Marcus’ father, Rolf Jupither, was also an opera singer, at the Royal Opera in Stockholm. He was especially recognized for the role of Scarpia in Tosca – which now his son is mastering. In the 1970’s he was part of the New Björling Quartet.
The concert will be accompanied by Andrew Fazackerley on the piano and his musicians on double-bass and percussion. In case anyone wants to come, tickets are sold at the Vasa Drängar website https://www.vasadrangar.com – which forwards to Eventbrite.
Preparations for this concert are going at full blast. But that does not mean that we won’t also be looking for one or two parties to celebrate!
Göran Rygert
2026 December: Scandinavian Christmas Fair, Raleigh, North Carolina
2026 December: Julotta early-morning Christmas church service
2026 December: Lucia Festival
2026 August 15: Vasa Drängar’s 30th Anniversary Concert –
2026 June 24-28: American Union of Swedish Singers (AUSS) Twin Cities, MN
2026 June: Sweden’s National Day Celebrations
2026 April: Valborgsmässoafton Celebration
Past Events
2025 December: Scandinavian Christmas Fair, Raleigh, North Carolina
2025 December: Julotta early-morning Christmas church service
2025 December: Lucia Festival
2025 June: Sweden’s National Day Celebrations
2025 April: Valborgsmässoafton Celebration
2024 December: Scandinavian Christmas Fair, Raleigh, North Carolina
2024 December: Lucia Festival2024 June: Midsummer Networking Event
2024 August 25: Nordic Lodge 50th anniversary
2024 June: Sweden’s National Day Celebrations
2024 April: Valborgsmässoafton Celebration
2023 December: Scandinavian Christmas Fair, Raleigh, North Carolina
2023 December: Julotta early-morning Christmas church service
2023 December: Various Christmas Dinners
2023 December: Lucia Festival
2023 August 5: Festival of Swedish Singing Concert
2023 August 2–5: AUSS National Convention (American Union of Swedish Singers (AUSS))
2023 June 6: Sweden’s National Day Celebrations
2023 April 4: Valborgsmässoafton Celebration
2022 December: Scandinavian Christmas Fair, Raleigh, North Carolina
2022 December: Julotta early-morning Christmas church service
2022 December: Various Christmas Dinners
2022 December 11: Lucia Festival
2022 November 20: Performance with texts by Swedish author Alf Henrikson at a Nordic Lodge meeting
2022 September: Atlanta Scandinavian Festival
2022 August: Nordic Lodge #708 crawfish party
2022 June 26: Qvartetten sang at IKEA’s midsummer dinner
2022 June 6: Celebration of Sweden’s National Day
2022 April 4: Celebration of Valborgsmässoafton
COVID Happened
2019 December: Scandinavian Christmas Fair, Raleigh, North Carolina
2019 December: Julotta early-morning Christmas church service
2019 December: Various Christmas Dinners
2019 December: Lucia Festival
2019 September: Atlanta Scandinavian Festival
2019 August: Nordic Lodge #708 crawfish party
2019 June: Sweden’s National Day Celebrations
2019 April: Valborgsmässoafton Celebration
2018 December: Scandinavian Christmas Fair, Raleigh, North Carolina
2018 December: Julotta early-morning Christmas church service
2018 December: Various Christmas Dinners
2018 December: Lucia Festival
2018 September: Atlanta Scandinavian Festival
2018 August: Nordic Lodge #708 crawfish party
2018 June: Sweden’s National Day Celebrations
2018 April: Valborgsmässoafton Celebration
2017 December: Scandinavian Christmas Fair, Raleigh, North Carolina
2017 December: Julotta early-morning Christmas church service
2017 December: Various Christmas Dinners
2017 December: Lucia Festival
2017 September: Atlanta Scandinavian Festival
2017 August: Nordic Lodge #708 crawfish party
2017 June: Sweden’s National Day Celebrations
2017 April: Valborgsmässoafton Celebration
2016 December: Scandinavian Christmas Fair, Raleigh, North Carolina
2016 December: Julotta early-morning Christmas church service
2016 December: Various Christmas Dinners
2016 December: Lucia Festival
2016 September: Atlanta Scandinavian Festival
2016 August: Nordic Lodge #708 crawfish party
2016 June: Sweden’s National Day Celebrations
2016 April: Valborgsmässoafton Celebration
2015 December: Scandinavian Christmas Fair, Raleigh, North Carolina
2015 December: Julotta early-morning Christmas church service
2015 December: Various Christmas Dinners
2015 December: Lucia Festival
2015 September: Atlanta Scandinavian Festival
2015 August: Nordic Lodge #708 crawfish party
2015 June: Sweden’s National Day Celebrations
2015 April: Valborgsmässoafton Celebration
2014 December: Scandinavian Christmas Fair, Raleigh, North Carolina
2014 December: Julotta early-morning Christmas church service
2014 December: Various Christmas Dinners
2014 December: Lucia Festival
2014 September: Atlanta Scandinavian Festival
2014 August: Nordic Lodge #708 crawfish party
2014 June: Sweden’s National Day Celebrations
2014 April: Valborgsmässoafton Celebration
2013 December: Scandinavian Christmas Fair, Raleigh, North Carolina
2013 December: Julotta early-morning Christmas church service
2013 December: Various Christmas Dinners
2013 December: Lucia Festival
2013 September: Atlanta Scandinavian Festival
2013 August: Nordic Lodge #708 crawfish party
2013 June: Sweden’s National Day Celebrations
2013 April: Valborgsmässoafton Celebration
2012 December: Scandinavian Christmas Fair, Raleigh, North Carolina
2012 December: Julotta early-morning Christmas church service
2012 December: Various Christmas Dinners
2012 December: Lucia Festival
2012 September: Atlanta Scandinavian Festival
2012 August: AUSS Convention 2012 in New Haven, CT
2012 August: Nordic Lodge #708 crawfish party
2012 June: Sweden’s National Day Celebrations
2012 April: Valborgsmässoafton Celebration
2011 December: Scandinavian Christmas Fair, Raleigh, North Carolina
2011 December: Julotta early-morning Christmas church service
2011 December: Various Christmas Dinners
2011 December: Lucia Festival
2011 September: Atlanta Scandinavian Festival
2011 August: Nordic Lodge #708 crawfish party
2011 June: Sweden’s National Day Celebrations
2011 April: Valborgsmässoafton Celebration
2010 December: Scandinavian Christmas Fair, Raleigh, North Carolina
2010 December: Julotta early-morning Christmas church service
2010 December: Various Christmas Dinners
2010 December: Lucia Festival
2010 September: Atlanta Scandinavian Festival
2010 August: Thorsby, Alabama Festival
2010 August: Nordic Lodge #708 crawfish party
2010 June: Sweden’s National Day Celebrations
2010 April: Valborgsmässoafton Celebration
2009 December: Scandinavian Christmas Fair, Raleigh, North Carolina
2009 December: Julotta early-morning Christmas church service
2009 December: Various Christmas Dinners
2009 December: Lucia Festival
2009 September: Atlanta Scandinavian Festival
2009 August: Nordic Lodge #708 crawfish party
2009 June: Sweden’s National Day Celebrations
2009 April: Valborgsmässoafton Celebration
2008 December: Scandinavian Christmas Fair, Raleigh, North Carolina
2008 December: Julotta early-morning Christmas church service
2008 December: Various Christmas Dinners
2008 December: Lucia Festival
2008 September: Atlanta Scandinavian Festival
2008 August: Nordic Lodge #708 crawfish party
2008 June: Sweden’s National Day Celebrations
2008 April: Valborgsmässoafton Celebration
2007 December: Scandinavian Christmas Fair, Raleigh, North Carolina
2007 December: Julotta early-morning Christmas church service
2007 December: Various Christmas Dinners
2007 December: Lucia Festival
2007 September: Atlanta Scandinavian Festival
2007 August: Nordic Lodge #708 crawfish party
2007 June: Sweden’s National Day Celebrations
2007 April: Valborgsmässoafton Celebration
2006 December: Julotta early-morning Christmas church service
2006 December: Various Christmas Dinners
2006 December: Lucia Festival
2006 September: Atlanta Scandinavian Festival
2006 August: Nordic Lodge #708 crawfish party
2006 June: Sweden’s National Day Celebrations
2006 April: Valborgsmässoafton Celebration
2005 December: Julotta early-morning Christmas church service
2005 December: Various Christmas Dinners
2005 December: Lucia Festival
2005 September: Atlanta Scandinavian Festival
2005 August: Nordic Lodge #708 crawfish party
2005 June: Sweden’s National Day Celebrations
2005 April: Valborgsmässoafton Celebration
2004 December: Julotta early-morning Christmas church service
2004 December: Various Christmas Dinners
2004 December: Lucia Festival
2004 September: Atlanta Scandinavian Festival
2004 June: Sweden’s National Day Celebrations
2004 April: Valborgsmässoafton Celebration
2003 December: Julotta early-morning Christmas church service
2003 December: Various Christmas Dinners
2003 December: Lucia Festival
2003 November: IKEA’s Midsummer dinner, Charlotte, NC
2003 June: Sweden’s National Day Celebrations
2003 April: Valborgsmässoafton Celebration
2002 December: Julotta early-morning Christmas church service
2002 December: Various Christmas Dinners
2002 December: Lucia Festival
2002 November: IKEA’s Midsummer dinner, Charlotte, NC
2002 June: Sweden’s National Day Celebrations
2002 April: Valborgsmässoafton Celebration
2001 December: Julotta early-morning Christmas church service
2001 December: Various Christmas Dinners
2001 December: Lucia Festival
2001 June: Sweden’s National Day Celebrations
2001 August: Nordic Lodge #708 crawfish party
2001 April: Valborgsmässoafton Celebration
2000 December: Julotta early-morning Christmas church service
2000 December: Various Christmas Dinners
2000 December: Lucia Festival
2000 June: Sweden’s National Day Celebrations
2000 August: Nordic Lodge #708 crawfish party
2000 April: Valborgsmässoafton Celebration
1999 December: Julotta early-morning Christmas church service
1999 December: Various Christmas Dinners
1999 December: Lucia Festival
1999 June: Sweden’s National Day Celebrations
1999 August: Nordic Lodge #708 crawfish party
1999 April: Valborgsmässoafton Celebration
1998 December: Julotta early-morning Christmas church service
1998 December: Various Christmas Dinners
1998 December: Lucia Festival
1998 June: Sweden’s National Day Celebrations
1998 August: Nordic Lodge #708 crawfish party
1998 April: Valborgsmässoafton Celebration
1997 December: Julotta early-morning Christmas church service
1997 December: Various Christmas Dinners
1997 December: Lucia Festival
1997 June: Sweden’s National Day Celebrations
1997 August: Nordic Lodge #708 crawfish party
1997 April: Valborgsmässoafton Celebration
1996 December: Julotta early-morning Christmas church service
1996 December: Various Christmas Dinners
1996 December: Lucia Festival
1996 August: Nordic Lodge #708 crawfish party